Chapter 145. Flee While You Can

His fingers clamp down on my wrist, the pressure sharp and unyielding as he drags my hand toward the loaded pistol resting on the cold, damp earth. A flicker of fear shoots through me when I catch the darkness pooling in his eyes, the kind of darkness that promises cruelty. His grip tightens further, and I wince, my pulse hammering in my ears.

“Let’s make one thing perfectly clear,” he says, his voice low and dangerously calm. With his free hand, he steps to the side and forces my fingers around the cool metal of the gun. I feel its weight, the unforgiving hardness of the barrel against my palm. My heart jumps again, and instinctively I try to pull back, but his hold is ironclad. “You’re a human female—utterly useless to me, except for one purpose. If you don’t accept your place…you know what will happen.”

I swallow hard, swallowing more than my fear—I force words past my lips. “I—won’t accept. I am not interested.” My voice cracks on the last word, but I try to make it