The Darkest Sword

staring into his eyes. “You will grant me my freedom?”
“Or your death. Whichever you prefer at the time,” Ashiyn agreed as he reached to pull open her shirt a bit more to reveal her ample chest. He pressed closer to her and whispered into her ear. “I am sorry your family was slain. But we do not need to be enemies. I don’t want to be your enemy. Help me, and I will help you.”
She swallowed, trembling beneath him. “What do you want from me? Besides the obvious?”
“I want you to teach me about the humans. I want to understand the people I came from. Their ways, their struggles. I want to understand how I ended up here,” Ashiyn said as he traced his hand down over her and used it to pull her firmly against him. “Teach me and I will let you go.” He could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
“That is not what you desire right now, is it, my Prince?” She asked as she slipped her fingers under his shirt then pulled it apart with enough force to tear it open. Then she tore the shirt from him and trailed her fingers over his muscles in appreciation.
“I want to have you,” Ashiyn admitted. “But I will not take you by force.”
“Negotiating a payment for my freedom is not much better to be quite honest,” Annalysa murmured as she trailed her fingers along his belt. “I have made it quite clear I do not want this.”
“I think part of you does,” Ashiyn said as he trailed his hands down her arms then gently pulled her hands away from his belt before she could undo it. Then he stepped away and released her, retrieving the ruins of his shirt. “I’ve changed my mind. I will not give that to you until you beg me for it. My servants will attend you. I’ll be back with more questions later.”
“That will never happen,” Annalysa promised, as he closed the door behind him.
“Oh, yes it will,” Ashiyn muttered beneath his breath as he started away. It always did. None could deny him forever.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ashiyn sat on the cool grass near the pool and looked down over the world below. Nearby Illusion snorted and gobbled up grass like he was half starved. Soryn sat next to him, silent, staring in wonder at the world laid out beneath them. They were so high they could see for many miles. Ashiyn had learned of this place from one of the army scouts and had immediately seen better purposes for it, so he had volunteered to scout today and brought Soryn with him.
“It makes me feel so small and insignificant,” Soryn said after a while, glancing at Ashiyn. “How do you feel?”
“Confident it will all belong to me one day,” Ashiyn shrugged as he glanced at his friend. “I will kill Rhadamanthus and become King of this world one day.”
“Why stop at King? I’m sure you could manage god if you really put your mind to it,” Soryn laughed, teasing. Then he leaned closer. “I know I would worship you.”
Ashiyn sighed and leaned away. The woman he wanted wouldn’t submit to him and the one he wanted as his friend wouldn’t stop suggesting things. “Why do you want me so badly, Soryn?”
Soryn blinked at him, then turned to stare out at the landscape blankly as though he had to think for a few moments before he answered. “Don’t you know? You know. You have to know that you are perfection. Beautiful. There is no other man on this world that is your equal. You are trained to seduce.”
“Women. I assure you that I am not attempting to seduce you,” Ashiyn snorted.
“You don’t even have to try,” Soryn murmured. “I’m drawn to you for no reason other than you being who you are and the way you are. I would give anything to be with you as your lover.” Soryn furrowed his brows. “What’s bothering you?”
Ashiyn picked a blade of grass and used his magic to wither it, drawing the life out of it to fuel his power. “There’s a woman I want, but she will not submit to me. I can’t seduce her. My attempts to do so only anger her.”
“Idiot woman. Kill her. Take me to your bed instead. I promise I could outdo her anyway,” Soryn mumbled. Then he blushed when Ashiyn looked at him. “Sorry, did I say that aloud?” Soryn cleared his throat. “What woman?”
Ashiyn rolled his eyes, and ignoring Soryn’s other comments, responded, “My slave. I saved her when Rhadamanthus destroyed her family,”
“She’s a slave? And Rhadamanthus murdered her family? Having sex with you is going to be the last thing on her mind, Ashiyn. Honestly, you may never convince her.” Soryn shook his head. “Why do you want her so badly?”
“Because she doesn’t want me. It confuses me,” Ashiyn grumbled. “Everyone wants me. Even you do.”
“It’s not you. She’s broken,” Soryn said, then gently reached to trace his fingers over Ashiyn’s hand. “Can I show you something without you killing me?”
“No promises,” Ashiyn said, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Soryn hesitated for a moment. “For purposes of seducing your woman, I will teach you something they like.”
“How do you know what they like?” Ashiyn asked, skeptical.
Soryn laughed, his eyes full of mirth. “I like women too.”
“You like both?” Ashiyn asked, confused again. “I thought you told me Rurik only keeps boys at the tower.”
“I am not always at the tower. Yes, I do like both. Now be quiet and let me show you,” Soryn mumbled then leaned close and pressed his lips to Ashiyn’s.
Ashiyn balked back and glared at Soryn. He’d kissed plenty of women at Diredin’s palace, but always as part of something more. “Soryn.”
“I promise I’m just teaching you a trick, don’t be absurd,” Soryn grumbled. “Now