She pulled her shoulders back and turned those toffee colored eyes on him. They narrowed, her mouth pursed. “I will never give up. I also need to warn you, that should you decide to rape me, I will kill you. I might need to wait until you are sleeping but know that I will come for you. I will end you. It might take a week or a month but it will happen.”

Coal didn’t doubt it for a second. That same determination and hatred shone in her eyes. This was the same spirit that had attracted him to her. Not that he was attracted to her, as in, attracted. He couldn’t help but to smile at her. All that spirit, all that fire inside one tiny human. Who ever would have thought? Not him.

“That’s funny to you?” She growled. The little female actually growled. She did quite a good job of it too.

He shook his head. “I like you, human. I didn’t expect to like you, but I do.”

“The feeling isn’t mutual.”

He chuckled some more. “Next time you decide to stab me, make sure you use a silver object. Push it in deep and twist, ideally, you should remove my head or my heart. My head would be the most final.”

She clenched her jaw and swallowed hard but not before he saw her grimace. So the thought of actually killing him did not appeal to her. Thank the gods for small favors. He wasn’t sure where this talk of rape had come from. If she was afraid of him forcing himself on her, it would account for her level of fear. Maybe throwing herself into the river was not so crazy after all. Why did she think he would rape her? It was his understanding that Scarlet and Ash had explained things. He had also been told that this female, that all of the females, needed saving.

“I was told that you were destitute. That your life was… difficult. Is this not true?”

Coal could scent her surge of adrenaline. He could smell the anger roll off of her in waves. Her head snapped up and her frame became tense. “My life has got nothing to do with you. What do you mean you were told that I was destitute? What the hell is this?”

“Were you told about our species and why you are here?”

This made her even angrier. She jumped to her feet. “You are the biggest asshole I’ve ever met in my whole entire life. Yes, I was told in minute detail why I am here. Why do you think I keep on trying to escape?”

It didn’t make sense. She shouldn’t be this angry, this afraid. They had expected a degree of weariness and uncertainty but not to this level.

“Please sit down.”