Caged By the Lich

5. Astrid

5

ASTRID

T he heavy door slams shut behind Olvaar — no, V. The nickname is a good reminder to keep my distance from the asshole — and I'm finally alone. My heart's still racing, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. This isn't over. Not by a long shot.

I scan the room, taking in every detail. Luxurious, sure, but it doesn't change the fact that I am still a fucking prisoner. The windows catch my eye first – large, ornate things that mock me with glimpses of freedom. I stride over, running my fingers along the seams. Sealed tight. No latches, no weak points. I press my face against the glass, peering down. A sheer drop into nothingness. Even if I could break through, there's no way down.

Frustration bubbles up, but I push it aside. There's always a way out. Always.

I drop to my knees, examining the floorboards. They're solid, not a single loose plank or hidden trapdoor. I tap along the walls, listening for hollow spots. Nothing.

The furniture comes next. I flip the mattress, tear apart the pillows, upend drawers. No hidden compartments, no convenient tools left behind. They've been thorough, I'll give them that.

My eyes land on the chandelier. It's bolted to the ceiling, but the crystals... I grab a chair, dragging it over. Standing on tiptoes, I manage to snap off one of the dangling pieces. It's not much, but it's sharp. A potential weapon, maybe.

I tuck the crystal into my bodice, mind whirling with possibilities. The bathroom – there has to be something there. Pipes, maybe? I burst in, yanking open cabinets, searching for anything I can use. But of course, it's all magically controlled. I can't find a single piece of plumbing or tool.

My reflection catches my eye in the mirror, and I pause. My hair.

Hands shaking slightly, I reach up and pull out one of the long, ornate pins holding my updo in place. It's sturdy, with a wickedly sharp point. Perfect for picking locks or, if it comes down to it, stabbing a guard.

A grim smile spreads across my face. V might think he's won, but he has no idea who he's dealing with. I refuse to be anyone's pawn. One way or another, I'm getting out of here.

Moving back across the room, I press my ear against the door, listening intently. The guards' hushed conversation filters through, and I catch snippets about shift changes. I can’t break out of here if there is always someone stationed outside my room. So lock picking is out.

I’ll have to get a guard on my side.

My fingers brush against the crystal and I now have a new plan for it. It's a risk, but it's my best shot. I take a deep breath, steeling myself.

"Hey," I call out, my voice carefully modulated to sound weak and desperate. "Please, I need help."

The door creaks open, and a young guard peers in cautiously. "What is it?"

I stumble forward, clutching my stomach. "I feel sick. Please, can you get me some water?"

He hesitates, torn between protocol and basic decency. I press my advantage.

"Look," I whisper, glancing around furtively. I pull out the crystal, the light dances off it. "This is yours if you help me. Just... just let me send a message to my sister. That's all I'm asking."

The guard's eyes widen, fixating on the gem. I can see the wheels turning in his head, weighing the risk against the reward.

"I..." he starts, reaching out tentatively.

Suddenly, the temperature in the room plummets. A chill runs down my spine as a familiar, menacing presence fills the air.

"Now, now," V's silky voice cuts through the silence like a knife. "What do we have here?"

The guard jumps back as if burned, stammering excuses. But V's eyes are only on me as he shoulders past the guard, the door swinging open to accommodate his large frame. His eyes, currently a stormy gray, bore into mine.

"I expected better from you," he says, his tone deceptively calm. "Trying to corrupt my staff? Tsk, tsk."

I lift my chin defiantly, refusing to back down. "Can you blame me for trying?"

A cruel smile plays at the corners of his mouth. "Oh, I don't blame you at all, little rebel."

"Astrid," I growl, hating the nickname he's given me.

He only smirks, continuing as if I said nothing. "In fact, I'm rather impressed by your... resourcefulness."

He turns to the guard, who's practically shaking in his boots. "You, on the other hand... I'm very disappointed in. Report to Bune for reassignment. Now."

The guard scrambles away, leaving me alone with V. He reaches out, plucking the crystal from my grasp. His fingers brush against mine, sending an involuntary shiver through me.

"A valiant effort," he muses, examining the object. "But ultimately futile. Did you really think I wouldn't be watching your every move?"

I glare at him, fury bubbling up inside me. "You can't keep me here forever."

V's eyes flash, shifting to a deep, mesmerizing purple. "Oh, but I can." He leans close, my body heating up from the proximity, and his next words come out in a sultry whisper. "And I will."

V's words ignite a fire within me. The smugness in his tone, the arrogance in his stance – it's too much. Something inside me snaps.

Without thinking, I lunge at him. A part of me — a very, very small part — is eager to get my hands on him for all the wrong reasons. Because gods , he is gorgeous…and so fucking infuriating.

My hands curl into claws as I aim for his face. He's caught off guard, clearly not expecting this level of aggression from me. My nails rake across his cheek, drawing thin lines of dark blood.

"You bastard!" I snarl, throwing my full weight against him.

V stumbles back, his eyes wide with surprise. But he recovers quickly, grabbing my wrists as I try to land another blow. His grip is like iron, painfully tight.

"Feisty little thing, aren't you?" he growls, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Like he fucking likes it.

I respond by kicking out, my foot connecting solidly with his shin. He grunts in pain but doesn't loosen his hold. Instead, he uses my momentum to spin us around, slamming me against the wall.

The impact knocks the wind out of me, but I refuse to give in. I thrash wildly, my elbow catching him in the ribs. V lets out a hiss, his body pressing closer to mine as he tries to subdue me.

"Stop fighting," he orders, his breath hot against my ear.

"Make me," I spit back, twisting in his grasp.

Our bodies are flush against each other now, every movement sending sparks of awareness through me. I can feel the hard planes of his chest, the strength in his arms. It's infuriating how easily he overpowers me.

In a desperate move, I bring my knee up, aiming for his groin. But V anticipates it, shifting at the last second. My leg slides between his instead, and suddenly we're locked together in an even more intimate position.

We freeze, both panting heavily. V's eyes, now a swirling mix of purple and gold, bore into mine. I swear they are an embodiment of the lust pouring through me, the color not only displaying his own emotions — but it feels like they're manipulating mine.

Or maybe I just don't want to be responsible for the way I want to grind on the thigh beneath me right now.

I'm acutely aware of every point of contact between us – his hands gripping my wrists, his thigh pressed against mine, the rise and fall of his chest against my own.

"Are you done?" V asks, though he doesn’t look like he wants me to be.

I glare up at him, refusing to back down despite the compromising position. "Not even close."

A slow, dangerous smile spreads across his face. "Good," he murmurs. "I do so enjoy a challenge." V leans in close, his lips brushing my ear. "But I won't touch you — really touch you — until you're begging for it, little rebel."

I scoff, turning my head away. "In your dreams."

But then his mouth is on my neck, hot and insistent. Every nerve in my body lights up like a live wire. His teeth graze my skin, and I can't stop the small gasp that escapes me. Heat pools low in my belly, a warm tingling sensation spreading through my limbs.

My eyelids grow heavy, the world around me starting to blur. What the hell? I try to push against V's chest, but my arms feel like lead.

"You bastard," I slur, realization dawning even as consciousness slips away. "You're using... magic..."

The last thing I see is V's smirk before darkness claims me.

I wake with a pounding headache and fury coursing through my veins. Grogginess clings to me like a second skin as I struggle to sit up. The events from before come rushing back, and I clench my fists so hard my nails dig into my palms.

That manipulative asshole used his magic on me. Worse, I let my guard down enough for him to get close. I can still feel the phantom press of his lips against my neck, and it makes me want to scream.

I swing my legs over the side of the bed, noticing immediately that something's different. The air feels heavier, charged with an unfamiliar energy. My eyes narrow as I scan the room. New wards. I can sense them now, pulsing with demonic magic. Most humans can't feel it, but most humans didn't grow up with a demon lord as a father.

A quick glance out the window confirms my suspicions. There are now two guards below it, and I can just make out three pairs of boots now in front of my door. Their postures are rigid, alert. No more easy targets for manipulation.

I pace the room, anger building with each step. I'm furious at V for using his power against me, for treating me like a possession to be controlled. But what infuriates me most is my own reaction to him.

My body betrayed me. For a moment, when his lips touched my skin, I wanted more. The memory of it makes my skin flush, and I hate myself for it. I shouldn't feel anything for him except contempt.

But I can't deny the electricity that crackled between us, the way my pulse raced at his touch. It's like my body and mind are at war, and I don't know which side will win.