"You," he says. "I want you."

My breath hitches. My stomach clenches at the fire in his eyes and I swallow hard. "You have me. You paid for me, remember?" I remind him with a catch in my voice.

His nostrils flare. "But do I really?" he asks. "Do I really have you?"

I look down at the knot of his tie. I belong to no one...I belong to Astaroth.

He grasps my chin between his fingers. "Eyes on me, princess," he demands, forcing my gaze up to him. "If I gave you this phone, what's the first thing you'd be doing with it?"

"What do you mean?" I hedge. I know exactly what he means. We're not talking about the phone. It's never just about the phone.

"If I gave you your freedom, would you use it as a knife to stab me in the back?"

I try to turn my face away but the grip he has on my chin keeps me immobilized. I usually have no problem lying while staring at the person straight in the eye. I felt zero guilt. But I can't seem to be able to do that to him. I can only stare into the deep mysterious depth of his eyes, unable to answer him.

Or maybe I don't want to answer him because the answer is yes. The moment I get the chance and my freedom, I will take one step after another to destroy him and his fellow Nephilims and all his allies.

It's true that Astaroth and the other first hierarchy of demons are keeping the balance in the world, but that's just to protect their own interest. The truth is, they would seize the opportunity to shift that balance the first chance they get.

For thousands of years, Astaroth and his cronies strategize, plan, and plot to reign over humanity and strip the Nephilims and all their allies of their influences and power.

Apocalypse. When the three princes of Hell; Astaroth, Beelzebub, and Lucifer rise to power, the end of the world will follow and that's Astaroth's ultimate desire and I am one of his soldiers to bring him the glory.

The truth must be showing on my face because his grip on my chin tightens. A flash of anger turns his eyes a molten golden hue. "Baby, sometimes your look of innocence and beauty make me forget that you're one of them and that's dangerous."

In a flash, he pushes off me and is standing over me.

The absence of his body weight and heat pressing down on me draw out a soft involuntary cry of protest from my throat. I feel the loss so acutely and I flatten my lips together to stop from revealing more of the effect he has on me.

His thick eyebrows furrow and the line of his jaw tightens as he stares at me with cool, unreadable eyes. Then he shakes his head and turns around to look out the window, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his dress pants as though to stop himself from reaching out to touch me again.

I can only stare at the tautness of his broad shoulders and back. his whole body is tensed. His dark brown hair looks soft, curling around his ears and the nape of his neck, tempting me to run my fingers through it.

He continues to gaze outside without saying a word for a good while. He's furious but I don't know if his anger is directed at me or at someone or something else.

What does he want from me? Does he expect me to switch sides and declare undying loyalty to him and his kind?

Maybe Olivier was right, we could never work.

When he turns his head, presenting his profile to me, I can see the tick in the muscle of his jaw. "Make sure to return my shirt to the hamper," he says cooly. He's distancing himself from me and it feels like he's driving a stake through my heart.

I get up and bolt to my room. I close the door and slide to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs. My heart is beating painfully in my chest. My mind is a web of confusion.

"There will be a great battle where the angels fight against the demons and their beasts. Hell shall spill over and consume the humanity and the world will burn," I whisper, remembering what my nanny told me a long time ago.

It's what my existence is all about- to aid Astaroth anyway I can. I don't care about anything or anyone and no one cares about me. Everything is temporary. They will all perish one day anyway, even the angels. Why does the thought suddenly consume me with unease and sadness?

*****

I stare out through the big windows in the living room dispassionately. It's early. The sun isn't fully up yet and the streetlights below and the lights in the buildings around us are still on.

I got up really early this morning intending to talk to Sacha before he leaves for work.

He went out and didn't come back until late again last night and now, I can hear him working out in the home gym.

I rest my forehead against the cool glass window. Jealousy claws at my chest at the thought of him spending time with another woman. Another woman who is more suitable for him. Someone who isn't a demon's spawn.

The door to the gym opens and closes. Soon, I hear his footsteps coming down the hallway. Then his steps falter. I know he didn't expect to see me already up so early in the morning.

I turn around when he continues his track to the kitchen. He opens the fridge and takes out a water bottle.

He's only wearing black sweat pants. No shirt and no shoes. His chest glistens with sweat when he turns around while gulping down his drink. His muscles flex as he moves.

I've seen a lot of gorgeous-looking men, but he really is otherworldly beautiful. He's lean yet muscular. His pecs and his flat stomach are flawlessly sculpted. I have to tear my gaze away from his body.

His eyes are surveying me from the top of my head to the tip of my perfectly pedicured toes with cool disinterest.

I cross my arms over my chest. I'm in my pink crop top and pajama shorts. My hair is down, still tousled and wild from sleep. I was in a hurry, trying to catch him before he leaves for work.

"What are your plans for today?" I ask him.

At first, I thought he isn't going to answer me when he keeps chugging down his drink. After he emptied the whole bottle, he wipes his lips with the back of his hand and places the bottle on the counter next to the fridge.

"I'm going to the office," he finally replies. "The cook will be here to prepare food for you."

"What time will you be home?" I try not to sound eager. I won't admit this to anyone but no matter how much he annoys me, I want him near. I crave his presence. He makes me feel safe and...alive.

"I won't be home this evening and tonight, so don't wait up."

His answer sets my teeth on edge. So, he's going off to God knows where with God knows who while I'm locked inside, going out of my mind?

He's also trying to avoid me today. The way he was planning to avoid me yesterday...until that crazy woman showed up.

"So what? Am I your prisoner now? Are you going to keep me locked inside this place all day today?" I ask him through clenched teeth. I approach him slowly like I was planning to attack him. That's because I'm sorely tempted. He makes me feel violent. I want to smack that aloof and bored look off his face. "And tomorrow? How about the day after? For how long? A month? A year? Two years?"

He looks unimpressed. "What do you need?" he asks, unperturbed.

"I need to socialize! I need to exercise!" This is the second morning that I didn't go for my morning run and I'm feeling beyond restless.

"You're welcome to use my gym if you want to exercise," he casually announces. "You can also go for a swim. The swimming pool is on the roof. It's heated. My men can take you there."

"So...that's it?"

"Learn to behave, princess," he says, already walking away. "Maybe you'll get a longer leash once you behave better."

"A longer leash? I'm not a dog, you asshole!" I scream after him.

When he shows no sign of stopping, I grab a table lamp nearby and hurl it at a wall near his head. It hits the wall and crashes on the floor with a harsh sound.

Never have I behaved this way. I'm normally cool and calculated. He makes me feel out of control and I can't seem to stop myself.

He stops in his track. Then he turns on his heel to saunter back toward me. Every flex of his muscles is so fluid, shifting with his every movement. So graceful, like a predator approaching its prey.

He's potent. I sense his pent-up energy like a brewing thunderstorm and I slowly walk backward until my back hits the kitchen counter.

"I am very aware that you're not a dog, princess. A dog doesn't look like you or throw a tantrum like you do," he says, looming over me. He takes a lock of my hair and wraps it around his hand like he can't stop himself. "You're behaving more like a spoiled toddler now. You're just lucky I have a conference with a very important client this morning."

The green mixed with golden eyes roam over my face and my body makes me aware of how little both of us are wearing.

He leans in further and whispers, "You have no idea how tempted I am to put you across my knee and spank you." The heated stare he's giving me leaves me no doubt that he's very tempted indeed.

He robs me of my breath and before I could recover enough to deliver a comeback, he's gone.

He's hot and he's cold, he's making my head spin. This head game has got to stop. But I don't know how to stop it.

"A toddler is better than an asshole and you're an asshole!" I scream at his door in my attempt to get the last word. I hear his chuckle through the closed door. Jerk!

So he thinks I'm behaving like a spoiled toddler, huh? I'll show him a spoiled toddler.

***********************************

Hello dear readers!

Sorry I wasn't able to update yesterday. My Inkitt account didn't work and for some stupid reason, I only uploaded this chapter on there. 

Anyway, my next update is going to be on Saturday evening (est.) and if you want to read three chapters ahead, go to:

https://Inkitt.app.link/RA_nicoleRidd3y

Have a great week and stay safe!

Much love, 

Nicole♥