Elias had never seen Varian angry before—not truly angry.
The demon's smile stayed, but it had sharpened. His eyes gleamed with a twisted hunger. Not just desire, but challenge. He licked the blood from his lip, slow and deliberate, while Elias remained frozen on the floor, heart thudding in his chest like a war drum.
"You really are wild," Varian said, voice hushed. "Do you know how long it's been since someone dared to strike me?"
Elias slowly stood. "Maybe they were smart."
"Or boring," Varian said.
He stepped forward, and Elias backed away instinctively.
"You slapped me," Varian whispered, reaching for him.
"I should've punched you."
Varian caught his wrist in a flash, dragging him close.
Elias gasped as he was pinned to the wall. One hand around his wrist, the other pressing against his chest—not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to make him feel owned.
"You like provoking me," Varian breathed. "You want to be punished."
"I want you to go back to hell."
"You brought me here," the demon growled. "You opened the book. You called me with your blood. You can pretend you hate me, Elias—but some part of you wants me."
"I don't," Elias snapped, but his voice shook.
"You do." Varian leaned in, brushing his lips along Elias's ear. "And I'm going to make you admit it."
Then the punishment began.
Varian kissed him hard—bruising, possessive. His hand left Elias's wrist and slid into his hair, yanking his head back just enough to deepen the kiss. Elias writhed, fists pounding against Varian's chest, but the demon didn't stop. His tongue claimed, his lips devoured, and Elias could only endure.
When Varian pulled back, Elias was gasping. His lips were swollen. His body betrayed him with heat.
"Say it," Varian ordered. "Say you feel something."
"I feel like vomiting."
Varian laughed.
Then he shoved Elias to the bed—not with violence, but authority.
"You will break," he said. "Not today. Not tomorrow. But one day, Elias, you'll look me in the eyes and beg for my touch."
Elias stared up at him, breathing hard.
"You think I'm weak," Elias said. "But I've lived through worse than you."
Varian tilted his head. "Tell me."
"No."
"Then I'll find out."
He vanished in a wisp of smoke, leaving Elias sprawled on the bed, body trembling, mind reeling.
He hated Varian.
But worse…
Some part of him wanted him to come back.
---
Shall we continue with Chapter 9?