Free Web NovelChapter 487: Chapter 487
Elka had already thought of a fitting response for him on her way over there and she decided to stick as close to the truth as possible. "I was scared to come alone," she said.
He studied her face intently, searching for any signs of dishonesty but he found none. Then he reached up and dragged his thumb slowly across her bottom lip, looking at her with naked lust.
Bile coated the back of her throat but she didn’t step back.
"Do I scare you?" he asked.
"Yes," she admitted. "You terrify me."
A smile crossed his face, looking pleased by her response as though her fear was a thing he could collect and keep.
"All right," he said. "She can come. But only this time. I won’t be so forgiving the next time around."
Elka nodded demurely.
He led them through the house, moving through hallways and past closed doors until they reached what could only be his private chambers. Elka followed him through the doorway. Olena moved to follow and was stopped by a look from Azul and the door was slammed in her face.
Olena stood in the corridor and blinked in surprise at the closed door that now stood between her and Elka.
She pressed her lips together and stayed exactly where she was, listening carefully in case Elka needed her help.
Azul’s chambers was large and luxurious, every surface polished to perfection. The air carried the faint, cloying smell of expensive scented oils, something floral and sweet that made Elka’s stomach turn.
He guided her toward a large cushioned seat, wide enough to hold two people comfortably, and gestured for her to sit. His tone was casual, almost polite, as though this were an ordinary visit. freewebnovel.cσ๓
She obeyed.
But the moment she lowered herself onto the seat, the reality of her situation settled over her. With the doors shut and no one else present, her panic surged sharply beneath her skin.
If he had been bold enough to wrap an arm around her waist in the open, where eyes could have seen them, then what restraint would he have now that he had gotten her alone?
None.
A small table sat beside the chair, holding a pitcher of wine and two cups. Azul reached for it, pouring generously into both before handing one to her.
She accepted it without protest.
He smiled, mistaking her compliance for submission.
They both took a sip. The wine was rich, but she barely tasted it.
A moment later, he lowered himself onto the seat beside her, close enough that the heat of his body pressed into her side.
Her entire body stiffened instinctively, but he paid it no mind. She quickly set her cup down, careful not to spill the wine.
She barely had time to draw a breath before his hand came up, gripping her jaw firmly and forcing her face toward his. The pressure was unyielding, his fingers digging just enough to make resisting pointless.
Elka went rigid when he pressed his lips on hers. She could hear the blood rushing in her ears.
He took her stillness as an invitation, deepening the kiss, his tongue slipping past her lips.
She didn’t kiss him. Her eyes remained open, wide with shock and disgust, her body locking up as he used her silence against her.
When he finally pulled away, she felt something inside her recoil violently.
She felt violated.
"You promised to give me my letter," she said, and her voice was tight. "I want it first before I give myself to you."
The words tasted bitter on her tongue.
Azul chuckled, amused rather than offended. Still, he nodded, indulging her.
"Very well," he said lightly.
He rose and crossed the room, leaving his cup of wine unattended on the table.
The moment his back turned, Elka moved.
Silently, she slipped a small wrapped packet from the folds of her dress. Her fingers worked quickly as she emptied the fine white powder into his cup. It vanished almost instantly into the dark liquid. She grabbed the cup, swirling it just enough to ensure the substance dissolved completely, then set it back exactly where it had been. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Just in time. Azul returned seconds later, unaware of what she had done and carrying not one but three letters. One was the original she had written; the others were copies.
He held them out just enough for her to see, a smug glint in his eyes.
"I am a man of my word, after all," he said. "But I would hate for you to make me regret letting go of something so... valuable."
Elka didn’t respond. She simply snatched the letters from his hand, her grip tight, as though he might change his mind at any second.
He didn’t stop her. Instead, he picked up his cup and drank from it.
Once. Then again. And again, until the cup was nearly empty.
He sat beside her once more like nothing had happened. His hand slid onto her thigh, caressing her through the fabric of her skirts.
Every instinct in her screamed to knock his hand away, to lash out, to do something—anything—but she forced herself to remain still.
She could not react yet. Just a little longer.
Then after a few minutes, the substance she put in his wine started to take effect.
His words began to slur until he became incoherent. His movements grew sluggish, like he wasn’t in control of his own limbs. He frowned, trying to understand what was happening to him.
Moments later, his body gave out. He collapsed heavily to the floor.
Elka stood up from the chair calmly.
She looked down at him. The fear that gripped her before had drained away, replaced by something colder and more cunning.
Something vindictive.
A sneer curled at her lips.
He had underestimated her. Now he would pay for it.
She moved quickly, ripping the letters up one after the other. Since Azul started threatening her with them, he had used her own words as metaphorically chains to hold her down. Now with each letter she tore, it felt like she was snapping open those chains.
