Things grew tense between them as Lilith awaited his response. She wanted to avert her gaze, but there was something about those eyes that held her. Was it anger? Hatred? She couldn't tell, but she felt something speaking to her from within him.
"You expect me to believe that?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her. Her heart skipped a beat. Of course he wouldn't believe her, he already knew who had been in her room last night and was only testing her.
"If you already know, why ask?" She countered.
"It makes it easier to teach you a lesson… one you won't forget anytime soon," he replied, slowly lowering his gaze to her chest. Her skin prickled. It couldn't be what she was thinking, could it?
"You wouldn't dare!" She snapped, the thought of him forcing himself on her sparking a wave of panic. She struggled to stay calm, though inwardly she was unraveling. Her heart pounded wildly as she searched for a way to break free.
"I like being dared. I just don't like the tone that comes with it," he said, and her anxiety surged. She glanced sideways and spotted the table knife on the tray, causing hope to spark in her chest.
"I do not care what you like," she said sharply. Then, with a sudden twist, she broke free from his grip and lunged for the knife. Without hesitation, she drove it into his chest, her breath ragged as she pressed down on the blade.
"Hmm," he groaned softly, glancing down at the stab wound before lifting his gaze to meet hers, a smirk curling on his lips.
"What took you so long?" He asked, and before she could react, he grabbed her shoulders and flipped her, pressing her down onto the bed as he hovered over her.
"Let me go, you fucking bastard!" She screamed, thrashing against his hold. She should have known it was a trap the moment he asked her to come in alone.
"Defying me again and again… makes me wonder if you truly do not fear death," he said, making her pause. She drew in a deep breath and turned to face him.
"It's not death I don't fear, it's you. You have no right to dictate how I live or who I speak to. I own my life. I make my choices," she spat, glaring fiercely at him.
"You see, that's what makes you humans so infuriating. You say one thing and do another. You have clearly forgotten your promise, and I would be more than happy to remind you," he said, lifting her into his arms.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked, panic setting in. Not the dungeon, she could be punished anywhere else but the dungeon. If he took her there, escape would be impossible. This was exactly what Ava had warned her about: to endure it all. But she couldn't. Not at the final moment. Ava's hatred for her now made sense.
Without another word, he turned toward the bathroom, prompting a frown from Lilith as he stepped inside. Once in, he walked up to the desk and set her down before turning her around and cornering her between himself and the table. Lilith's body flushed at the feel of him behind her, but she shook her head, determined to push away those unwelcome thoughts and focus on whatever he was about to do.
Zayd picked up a rope from the table and clasped her wrists together, prompting her to struggle.
"No!" She cried, trying to yank her hands free, but he was far stronger and didn't even flinch. She couldn't let him tie her to anything in the bathroom, not when she was so vulnerable to his touch. And what was his obsession with ropes? Why did he even have one here?
He tied her hands with ease, then hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her to the shower. Once there, he set her down and secured her hands to the shower fixture without wasting a second.
"Now, let's go over it again," he said with a smirk that only irritated her further as he stepped back to look at her.
"I will not let you have your way with me," she snapped, her face flushed with anger.
"You don't have to," he replied calmly, then stepped closer and reached for her shirt, unbuttoning it slowly, one button at a time.
Lilith tensed, her breath growing heavy as she watched his fingers move. She tried to stay composed. If he truly intended to have his way with her, it wouldn't be like this, he didn't even look interested. If anything, it felt more like torture than seduction.
"Do you remember the promise you made the day I stopped torturing you?" He asked, eyes meeting hers as he undid the final button.
"Is serving you, bathing you, feeding you not enough to be called a slave? I have done things I would never do for my own parents. What more do you want?" She retorted, her voice sharp with frustration.
He let out a dark chuckle that made her heartbeat spike.
"There was one more thing," he said, and she frowned, confused, until the memory hit her. Her eyes widened in horror. She had only made that promise to gain her freedom at the time. She never thought she would still be stuck in the pack house.
"You have thousands of women who would fall at your feet. What do you need me for?" She asked.
"I don't need you," he replied with a cold smile. "They need you. You will bear my heir. That's not up for debate. The only choice you get is leaving after the child is born."
With that, he tore her shirt off, leaving her in just her bra. She shrank back, trembling.
"Enjoy your shower," he said, flipping on the water before walking out and leaving her there.
"I will kill you!" She screamed as the cold water rained down on her, slapping against her skin.