Raziel carried her like she weighed nothing. Nyx had stopped struggling after the first ten minutes, assessing the situation.
His grip on her legs was unbreakable but still gentle. His body radiated heat, and she could feel the power and strength in his every step.
She was terrified but was also fascinated.
"You know most guys buy a girl dinner first."
He laughed again.
"Most females don't smell like battlefields."
"I'm a poacher, not a soldier."
"The dead don't care about the difference. You've killed a lot. I can smell it on you like perfume."
"Takes one to know one, King."
He stopped walking. Then he moved her from his shoulder and put her down on her feet. She swayed. Her shoulder was still bleeding, though slower now. But she still looked into his eyes, refusing to show weakness.
Raziel circled her slowly.
"You're right. I've killed, hundreds, maybe thousands. I stopped counting decades ago." He stopped in front of her, close enough that she had to tilt her head to meet his gaze. "But I kill to protect my pride, my territory, my people. You killed for what? Money?"
Nyx's jaw tightened.
"Survival."
"Tssk. The oldest excuse."
"It's not an excuse. It's a reason."
"I see no difference."
"You tell me, King. You must execute others without any warning." She smiled. "At least I'm honest about what I am. Can you say the same?"
"You know nothing about me."
"I know oppression when I smell it and you reek of it."
For a moment, she thought he'd hit her. But he laughed again.
"You have a death wish, little hunter."
"I have a truth wish. If you're going to kill me, at least don't pretend you're better than me."
Raziel stared at her for a moment. Then he reached out, and his fingers brushed her bleeding shoulder.
"I'm not going to kill you. I'm going to figure you out."
"And then?"
"Then we'll see."
He turned and kept walking. Nyx had no choice but to follow, or to be left alone in a forest full of things that wanted to eat her.
The trees lessened as they walked. The violet darkness gave way to golden light. Nyx's first glimpse of the plains stole her breath.
The grasslands stretched endlessly. Everything was painted in gold. The plains had massive rock formations like ancient teeth, and from the distance, she could see structures built into and around them.
"Welcome to the Pride Lands."
As they stepped closer, Nyx saw lions everywhere. Some were in full beast form lounging on rocks, grooming cubs, walking on the grass. Others were like Raziel. A few looked almost human except for their eyes, and teeth.
All of them stopped and stared as Raziel appeared. Then they saw Nyx, and the staring turned into hunger, hostility and shock.
"A human." Someone hissed.
"Impossible." Another growled.
"Kill it before it brings the curse!"
The murmurs grew louder. Nyx felt dozens of eyes on her. Raziel's voice cut through the noise like a blade.
"Eyes down."
Every single lion dropped their gaze, even the ones in full beast form. The authority in his command was absolute.
He kept walking with his hand on Nyx's arm, guiding her through the plains. Lions parted before them. Nyx kept her chin up showing no weakness.
"Your people seem friendly." She muttered.
"They haven't seen a human in three hundred years." Raziel's grip tightened. "We had to eliminate the last ones who tried to tame and enslave us with their bonding magic."
"Eliminate? Nice word for genocide."
"Survival. Nice word for pragmatism."
"Touché."
They reached the largest rock formation. It was a throne room carved out of the stone.
"Wait here." Raziel commanded, pointing to a pile of furs near the center. "I need to address my council. They're going to demand your execution."
"How comforting."
"I won't let them have you." He said. "But I need to manage them. Understand?"
"I understand you're going to play politics while I bleed out."
He looked at her shoulder, it was still bleeding. Without a word, he went towards a cubicle carved out of a rock and returned with a clay jar.
"Sit."
"I'm fine standing."
"Sit." He growled.
Nyx sat. Raziel knelt before her, and opened the jar.
"This will hurt." He warned.
"Everything hurts. What's a little more…FU*K!"
He'd applied the paste directly onto her claw marks. It burned like acid. Nyx bit her lip, tasting blood but refusing to scream.
"You're stronger than you look." Razeil smirked.
"And you're…gentler than… you look." She replied with gritted teeth.
"Don't mistake care for gentleness, little hunter." He applied more paste. "I'm keeping you alive because I want answers. Once I have them…" He trailed off.
"You'll kill me?"
"Maybe." He started wrapping her shoulder with a cloth. "Or maybe I'll keep you. I haven't decided yet."
"I'm not a pet."
"No." He looked at her. "You're something much more interesting."
His hands touched her skin to check the bandage and she felt the heat of his touch.
"Your heart is racing." He observed.
"You're a seven feet apex predator invading my personal space. It's basic biology."
"Is that all?"
"What else would it be?"
Raziel smiled dangerously.
"You tell me, little hunter. You've tracked predators your whole life. You know what it looks like when one is interested."
"Interested in what?"
"In whether you're a prey…" He leaned closer. "…or something else."
The air between them was electric. She couldn't look away from him. Then suddenly a voice shattered the moment.
"My King."