Caged By the Lich

4. Olvaar

4

OLVAAR

I stride through the halls of my fortress, my grip firm on Astrid's arm as she continues to struggle against me. Her defiance amuses me, a spark of life in this desolate realm I call home. The walls of black obsidian reflect our distorted images as we pass, the flickering torchlight casting eerie shadows that dance around us.

"Let me go, you bastard!" Astrid snarls, her voice echoing off the stone walls.

I tighten my grip and pull her along faster, relishing the way she stumbles to keep up with my longer strides.

I tsk. "If you're going to call me names, I have a perfectly good nickname picked out."

"V?" she snarls. I raise a brow and she only scoffs, muttering, "Fucking vain."

I pull her in front of me. "What was that?"

"I said V should stand for vain. For vapid. Vile, villainous?—"

I jerk her forward, my body reacting to the proximity as I lean over her. "Vicious," I growl out.

This seems to give her pauses, her eyes widening and lips parting as she stares up at me. And fuck me, all I can think is this would be how she looks on her knees, sucking my cock. Wide eyes, angry expression, all while she takes whatever I force upon her.

When the fucking thing twitches at the thought, I turn away from her, storming down the hallways and practically dragging her with me.

We reach a heavy iron door, intricately carved with demonic runes. I wave my hand, and it swings open silently. I shove Astrid inside, following close behind.

The room is a stark contrast to the rest of my fortress. Plush carpets cover the floor, and rich tapestries adorn the walls. A four-poster bed dominates one corner, draped in silks of deep crimson. A writing desk, a bookshelf filled with various tomes, and a comfortable armchair complete the furnishings.

Astrid whirls to face me, her eyes blazing with fury. "What is this? Some kind of sick joke?"

I smirk, leaning against the doorframe. "This, little rebel, is your new home. I trust you'll find it... adequate."

Her gaze darts around the room, taking in every detail. I can see the wheels turning in her head, already looking for ways to escape. It's almost cute.

"You can't keep me here," she spits, fists clenched at her sides.

I push off from the doorframe, towering over her. "I can, and I will. Your father's debt is mine to collect, and I've chosen my payment."

Astrid takes a step back, her bravado faltering for just a moment. But then that fire returns to her eyes, and she lifts her chin defiantly. "I'm not some object to be traded or won. I won't play your game."

I chuckle, the sound low and menacing. "Oh, but you will. You don't have a choice."

With that, I turn and exit the room. As the door swings shut behind me, I hear Astrid's frustrated scream, followed by the sound of something shattering against the door.

I nod to the two burly demons standing guard. "No one enters or leaves without my express permission. Understood?"

They nod, their faces impassive. I know they'll follow my orders to the letter. After all, they know the price of failure.

As I walk away, I can't help but smile. Astrid may be a prisoner, but she's far from broken. And I like to be the one that breaks in my new toys. This game has only just begun, and I intend to savor every moment of it.

I stride into my war room, the heavy doors slamming shut behind me. My top advisors are already seated around the obsidian table, their faces a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Good. They should be on edge.

"Gentlemen," I growl, taking my seat at the head of the table. "We have a new asset."

Kaz, my second-in-command, leans forward. "The human girl? Ilreth's daughter?"

I nod, a cruel smile playing on my lips. I had no doubt that they would have heard before I even left Ilreth's estate. "Astrid. His oldest. And I think she's going to be a very valuable asset."

And fucking fun for me.

"How so, my lord?" This from Malakai, my spymaster. His eyes gleam with interest.

I lean back, steepling my fingers. "Ilreth's been a thorn in our side for too long. Taking his daughter isn't just about settling a debt. It's about shifting the balance of power."

The room falls silent as my words sink in. I can practically see the gears turning in their heads.

"With Astrid in our possession, Ilreth's position is weakened," I continue. "He'll be distracted, off-balance. Perfect for us to make our move on the southern territories he's been eyeing now that his mines are worthless."

Kaz nods slowly. "And the other lords? How will they react?"

I bare my teeth in a feral grin. "They'll see it as a sign of weakness. Ilreth couldn't protect his own daughter. How can he protect his lands, his allies?"

"We could use this to drive a wedge between Ilreth and his supporters," Malakai suggests.

"Exactly," I agree. "Spread the word. Make sure every demon lord from here to the Ashen Wastes knows that Ilreth's precious human daughter is under my... protection."

The implications hang heavy in the air. My advisors exchange glances, a mix of admiration and fear in their eyes. This is why I'm the one in charge. I see the bigger picture.

"What about the girl herself?" This from Vex, my chief enforcer. "She seemed... spirited."

I chuckle darkly. "Oh, she is. But she'll learn her place. And in the meantime, her defiance will only add fuel to the rumors. Let them think I'm breaking her to my will. It'll make Ilreth even more desperate."

The meeting continues, each of my advisors contributing ideas on how to leverage this new situation. I listen, weighing each suggestion carefully. By the time we're done, a plan is forming - a plan that will shake the very foundations of demon society.

Once the meeting is over, I stride back to Astrid's room, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The guards snap to attention as I approach, and I dismiss them with a curt nod. No need for an audience.

I pause at the door, listening. Silence. Has the little rebel finally exhausted herself? A smirk plays on my lips as I push the door open.

The sight that greets me is... unexpected. Astrid stands in the center of the room, chin raised defiantly. The shattered remains of a vase litter the floor at her feet. Her eyes, those striking green-gold orbs, lock onto mine instantly.

"Finished with your tantrum?" I drawl, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me.

She doesn't flinch. Doesn't back down. "Fuck you."

I chuckle, low and menacing. "Careful, little rebel. You might get what you wish for."

I advance on her, using my height to loom over her smaller frame. Most would cower, but not Astrid, though I wasn't expecting her to. Her fire seems to call to my magic, making it stir in her presence — along with something else.

Fuck, she's beautiful. And the brat in her that I can't wait to tame only adds to it.

She stands her ground, glaring up at me with a fire that makes my blood sing. "You don't scare me," she spits.

I reach out, gripping her chin firmly. "I should. I've torn apart demons twice your size for less disrespect than you've shown." I smile wide, making sure she sees the threat in my face. "Vengeance, baby. It's my speciality."

In truth, it's not why people call me V. B while the nickname stuck, albeit with another meaning… the one who gave it to me did not.

Her jaw clenches under my fingers, but her gaze doesn't waver. "I'm not some sniveling demon lord. I won't bow to you."

I lean in close, my breath hot against her ear. "You will. One way or another, you'll learn your place here."

I feel her shiver, but when she speaks, her voice is steady. "My place is with my family. Not as your prisoner."

I pull back, studying her face. The determination in her eyes is... impressive. Irritating, yes, but impressive nonetheless. I thought that this facade would die down, turn into pleading. But she stands before me, a mere human in a den of demons, refusing to bend.

"Your family?" I scoff. "You mean the father who traded you away like chattel? The sister you left behind?"

A flicker of pain crosses her features, but it's quickly masked by anger. "Don't you dare speak of them. You know nothing."

I release her chin, circling her slowly. "I know more than you think, little rebel. I know about the whispers, the sideways glances. How you've never truly fit in, no matter how hard you tried."

Astrid's fists clench at her sides, but she remains silent.

"Here's what you need to understand," I continue, coming to stand before her again. "You're mine now. Your life, your future - it all belongs to me. The sooner you accept that, the easier things will be."

Her eyes narrow. "I will never belong to you."

The defiance in her voice sends a thrill through me. Oh, how I'll enjoy breaking that spirit. "We'll see about that," I murmur, a predatory grin spreading across my face.

I storm out of Astrid's room, slamming the door behind me. Fuck, that woman is infuriating. Her defiance grates on my nerves, yet I can't help but admire her spirit. It's been a long time since anyone dared to challenge me like this.

"Bune!" I bark, and my head guard materializes at my side almost instantly.

"My lord?"

I run a hand through my hair, frustration evident in every movement. "I need you to brief the staff on our... guest."

Bune nods, his face impassive. "What are your orders?"

"She's to be watched at all times," I growl. "I want eyes on her every second of every day. If she so much as twitches in her sleep, I want to know about it."

"Understood, sir."

I pace the corridor, my mind racing. "Treat her well. She's not to be harmed or mistreated in any way. But make no mistake, she is not to be trusted. She's clever, that one. She'll look for any opportunity to escape."

He raises an eyebrow. "You seem... impressed by her."

I shoot him a glare that would make lesser demons cower. "Don't mistake frustration for admiration. She's a problem that needs solving, nothing more."

But even as I say the words, I know they're not entirely true. There's something about Astrid that gets under my skin, and it's not just her defiance.

"What about her meals?" Bune asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Have them delivered to her room. No silverware, nothing she could use as a weapon. And have someone taste everything before it reaches her. I wouldn't put it past Ilreth to try something desperate."

He nods, making mental notes. "And her movements within the fortress?"

I consider for a moment. "She's to remain in her room for now. Once she's... acclimated, we'll reassess. But for now, she doesn't leave that room without my express permission."

"Very good, sir. Anything else?"

I pause, thinking. "Yes. Have Malakai assign his best spies to monitor any chatter about her presence here. I want to know how Ilreth and the other lords are reacting."

"It will be done," Bune assures me.

As he turns to leave, I call out, "And Bune? Make sure everyone understands the consequences of failing in their duties. If she escapes, heads will roll."

He nods gravely and departs, leaving me alone in the corridor. A part of me already wants to go back, to push her and see how she will respond.

But no. I have other ways to spend my time. She's a means to an end, nothing more. A tool to be used against Ilreth and the other lords who dare to challenge me. I can't afford to see her as anything else.

Yet as I walk away, I can't shake the image of her defiant glare, the fire in those green-gold eyes. It stirs something in me, something I thought long dead. And that, more than anything, is what truly frustrates me.