Demon Prince's Forsaken Bride

He looked at her cold face, and felt an irresistible itch in his heart. His blood was boiling with anger for this heartless woman yet he felt helpless when she looked at him with red eyes. His grip on her chin loosened, ''Don't look at me like that!" he spat coldly, ''If there is something you want to say, then speak.''

Lareina's fingers curled into a fist, ''I find it laughable that Your Highness has time for me now. It seems like your lover is tired.''

Her words made him stare at her, his brows furrowed deeply, ''What are you talking about?"

Lareina did not say a word as she turned around looking at the entrance of the cave. If she walked out of there without dropping in the waterfall, and somehow managed to get to the forest, she would still be stuck here with this man because she did not know how to ride a horse…

''Don't turn your back to me,'' the man grabbed her elbows and turned her around.

''Look at me when you are speaking to me,'' he pinched her chin and lifted her face so she was meeting his gaze, ''Now, make yourself clear,'' he said in a commanding tone.

Lareina's eyes burned. She attempted to pull back from him but her body shook due to weakness, her feet unstable.

Her silence was met with his chuckle, ''Is it a trick they taught you back in your realm? When you can't wash yourself clean, you splash mud on others?"

''Did I dirty your new lover by splashing mud on her?" she shot back, eyes fierce even as her soft tone could barely be taken seriously.

Azrael looked at the woman who resembled a small furry kitten with her claws extended towards him and a sense of frustration born out of extreme helplessness consumed him, ''Are you talking about Moira?" he asked as her words settled in his mind.

Lareina did not find it important to answer him.

''Moira is not my lover.''

His words made her frown but she did not respond.

The grip on his chin loosened slightly as he cupped her face and lowered his head to her height, ''I have a wife. Why would I want a lover?"

Lareina glanced at him, his eyes seemed sincere as he spoke those words so softly.

One of his arms wrapped around her waist, hoisting her up till she was standing on her toes and his other hand moved behind her head.

His fingers raked in her hair and grabbed them before he pulled her head up and whispered against her lips, ''Is it that hard to understand?"

She could feel the coolness of his lips near hers and her heart trembled. Her eyes watered slightly at the tenderness of his touch and she tilted her head towards him.

His eyes darkened and in a split second, he kissed her. His lips descended upon hers in a steady and fast pace. Even though the touch of his lips was cool against her warm bottom, it seemed to make her extremely hot as she felt her legs going softer.

They had kissed before, only once in their wedding night before he went to war but that kiss had been gentle, promising and comforting.

It had made her heart race but right now, her entire body seemed to be on fire, an unexplained desire blooming between her legs when he gently pushed his knee between them.

His hand that was resting on her waist slid to her bottom and hoisted her slightly higher so that her back formed an arch and her breasts collided against his chest.

''Ah…'' An unfamiliar sound spilled from her mouth against his lips and she felt his grip on her hair tighten.

He breathed against her mouth, his eyes were dark and his voice was rough as their lips parted and he spoke, ''Don't go to find another man in future. You are my wife.''

''I didn't…''

He did not give her the chance to say anything as he captured her lips again, his touch fiery and needy as he shoved tongue inside her mouth, kissing her like he craved her.

His hand moved from her hair to the side of her clothings and her body jolted.

Like being struck by a thunderbolt, she pushed him away.

Caught off guard by her abrupt movement, he took a small step back.

A pause. ''You are lying,'' she declared even as those words reignited a tiny spark of hope inside her, ''You are lying to me. Let me go. I don't want to be with you.''

She did not want to be with him in this tiny space where she felt so vulnerable.

She had witnessed the marks on Moira, the way he denied any visitors and even heard about how he took that woman to her room. Yet, when he whispered words like these, she still wanted to believe him.

She wanted to deny the truth that was in front of her just to believe everything he said.

The man's eyes turned into blank bottomless pools again, anger and something akin to hatred simmering underneath, ''You would be with no one but me. The faster you accept it, the better it is for you.''

''You…''

''Those prisoners of war are no more than dying insects. They are being tormented till they regret the day they were born and once the pain is deeply ingrained in their souls, they would die the death of pests…''

''No! Don't!" she cut him off, eyes wide with trepidation.

Lareina's heart trembled at the brutality of his words and the cruelty in his eyes. She looked at him like she was looking at him for the first time, ''Don't… do it…'' she shook her head.

Rage flashed across his face and his lips curved up in a mocking smile, ''You want me to save their lives? But it only makes me want to kill them right away.''

Lareina stepped back from him, ''No…''