The Darkest Sword

too. He still desired her. She was full and curvy in all the right places. He crossed over and climbed onto the bed on top of her, then bent down to kiss her. At first she tensed, as though she would resist, but the more he kissed her, the more relaxed she became. They got caught up in each other and lost track of time. Once they finished, Annalysa pulled away and sat on the edge of the bed to reach for her clothes.
“Where are you going?” Ashiyn asked, frowning.
“Back to my cell,” Annalysa said, raising a brow. “I assumed that was what my lord would desire once he had finished with me.”
Ashiyn trailed his fingers possessively down her arm then pulled her back down onto the bed with him. “Who said I was finished with you?”
Annalysa tilted her head, looking him over. “You are quite clearly sated for now, my lord.”
Ashiyn shook his head. “Despite what I told my Master and what we just did, I meant what I said originally. I want you to tell me about the humans. Everything you can think of.”
Annalysa gave him a surprised look then settled on the bed next to him and pulled the covers up over them. She got comfortable then she started to tell him all about her life up to that point.
Ashiyn tried to listen carefully, but the melodic sound of her voice and her presence there were too soothing, and he drifted off to sleep despite himself.
He was pleasantly surprised to wake with no aches indicating she had tried to kill him while he slept. He opened his eyes to find her dressed and sitting before his mirror, brushing out her long auburn hair. He watched for a while before asking, “Do you hate me?”
Annalysa paused to glance at him in the mirror, then shrugged, her loose shirt falling off a shoulder. “We are what our pasts have made us, my lord. You saved my life. You are right. I should be grateful that I am with you and not your monstrous Master.”
“Did you love your husband?” Ashiyn asked, rolling over to his belly to rest his chin on his arms as he watched her.
Her hand jerked and the brush clattered to the floor. Then her pained eyes glared at him. “Of course, I loved him.”
“I have the power to bring them back,” Ashiyn said, watching her. “But I will not. You are mine. Do you hate me now?” The fact he was so taken with this woman irritated him into lashing out at her. He wanted her to try to kill him. Then he would have reason to end this before he fell any further under her spell. As it was, he couldn’t get her out of his head. His body craved her. Her touch set him on fire in a way he had never experienced, and he wanted nothing more than to stay with her all day, consequences be damned. He would not let her into his heart as well.
Annalysa trembled, got to her feet, and walked to the door. “It is growing late in the day, Master. I should return to my cell before your master punishes you for wasting his time.”
Ashiyn rose and dressed then had Sark escort her back to the cell as he went to find Rhadamanthus.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Ashiyn spent the next few weeks doing whatever tasks Rhadamanthus had for him during the day, then spending the nights in bed with Annalysa. Always the same, first heated passion, then she would tell him more about the humans until he fell asleep. This time, though, as she settled on his chest her eyes held a curious look. “What is it?” He asked with a frown.
“Tell me about yourself?” Annalysa prodded, searching his gaze.
“What is there to tell that you don’t already know?” he asked, irritated. “I am Prince of this world. Second only to Rhadamanthus. One day I will rule…” he started to recount but she shushed him with a finger to his lips.
“Not that. I want to know about you. The one in here,” Annalysa tapped his chest with her fingers. “Have you ever been in love?”
Ashiyn scowled at her. “Does this seem like a good environment for such a thing? Rhadamanthus would just take anything I cared about.”
“You do care though, about something. What is it?” She asked, curious. “You wouldn’t know that if you had never tried. What did he take? I’ve had to talk about my pain. Now tell me yours.”
“What does it matter? I have everything I could ever need,” Ashiyn narrowed his eyes.
“You’re not happy. Have you ever been happy?” Annalysa’s voice softened with the question. When he did not answer her, she lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry. At least I have known happiness and love. All you’ve known is hatred and pain. Fear.“
“I am afraid of nothing,” Ashiyn growled as he rose from the bed. “Perhaps you should return to your cell tonight.”
“You’re lying. You’re afraid to get close to me,” Annalysa rose as well and with her face close to his, her voice barely a whisper, said, “Let me show you those things. No one should exist without ever knowing them at least once.”
Ashiyn felt even more irritated at her words when he realized that he had felt happy around Soryn on their adventures. And he did care for his friend more than he would ever admit to anyone. Certainly not to this woman. When her hand reached to stroke his cheek, the touch softer and more tender than anything he remembered feeling before, he yanked himself back out of reach and opened the door. “Sark! Show the woman to her cell.”
Sark came skittering to him at the call and, with a bow, he tilted his head toward the cell.
“You say you are not afraid. Then why are you