WriteKindOfLove - your reviews are spectacular! This means that this chapter is for you. They tell me something more then just a "good job update soon" and that makes me respect you like nothing else. Therefore if you chose to give a suggestion or make a critique, which I do hope you feel free to do, I would seriously listen rather then dismiss a single review telling me I blow. I am not a perfect authoress and I wish to ever improve and I would and do value your words. I thank you.
Iyadar sat up slowly trying to ignore the pounding currently taking place inside her skull.
She was in the same room, alone this time, and on the floor. As she turned her head a slight clink of metal caught her attention.
A chain hung down her torso from her neck and was firmly bolted to the floor beside her. Her hand traveled up the finely made metal to the collar around her neck.
"That bastard," she snarled pulling at the metal ring. It was too small to pull over her head but large enough to fall on her collar bone. It was made of a series of solid links placed closely together but still allowed movement.
It reminded her of the toy snakes the pups back home often played with, carved in such a way that they would bend and slither only to a certain point. Forming a half circle either way until the links tightened on one side, opened on the other.
She ran her fingers over the cool dark metal and felt engravings. She closed her eyes for a moment trying to recognize them from feel then snarled.
Apparently this man had a sorcerer priest. One who'd warded this collar with magic so she couldn't break it. As she studied the chain that held her down it to was engraved with the same symbols making her strength useless in this situation.
The bolt in the floor had a circle of more elaborate symbols around it; apparently this sorcerer priest was very both intelligent and annoying.
"Damn," she hissed feeling the collar again hoping to find a weakness, knowing there were none. It was finely made and expertly guarded. There were even small stones in the center of the scriptures, one to each link, diamonds most like, rubies maybe, some precious stone at least. As if she was just any other girl to swoon over sparkling gems lain into metal wrought in a pleasing form. The small U shaped out link that joined the thin collar to heavy chain fell in the hollow of her throat, glittering as if diamond dust had been mixed with the hot metal before taking shape. In fact the entire collar sparkled in such a way.
As she was inspecting the collar she noticed a second line of symbols on the inside of the ring. She tried again to learn them through touch and didn't hear the sound of approaching feet.
"For if you change," a deep voice commented.
She whirled on her knees thinking to see the blond man from before, but found her self staring much further up.
This man was larger then any of her pack brethren. Even her Alfa wasn't as physically imposing as this giant. His long dark hair was held back in a low ponytail, a few pieces falling in to frame his near black eyes as he watched her calmly. None of them had his strong handsome features either.
His face was familiar but it took her a moment to remember the scene outside and how this man had watched her as she attacked his lord.
"The symbols on the underside," he continued as he stood there his hands gently holding a plate of food. "When, the collar will expand as needed. Kantar is quite clever with such things."
"The sorcerer priest," she replied uncertainly tilting her face away from him so slightly to take him in out of the corner of her gaze.
"Yes. I thought that you would be hungry. There is a feast taking place tonight and chances are Damon has forgotten to order food brought to you. He forgets sometimes."
"You're making excuses for him?" She asked startled. "This man who leads you into the arms of death forgets things sometimes and you are unconcerned?"
"That's why I stay by his side, when he forgets I remember. My name is Zaros." He knelt within her reach and set down the plate of food.
It was sparsely laden by her standards though she knew that in normalcy a woman of her size would not be expected to eat half of it. She was far from normal.
Zaros sat on Damon's bed while she ate quickly. Only when she finished did she meet his eyes.
"More perhaps?" She asked innocently.
Zaros laughed, "I'm sorry I forgot. Yours use more energy then the rest of us. It makes sense of course. I'll see what I can do but I make no promises. You may have to wait until morning."
"You are not like him." She stated firm and bold watching him. He moved gracefully for such a large man. And the blade at his hip was nearly as tall as herself, probably weighed as much, but the way he moved he was not off balanced by it. Long accustomed to its weight.
"No, not really." He replied.
"He must not be all bad for a man like you to follow him." She replied softly.
It wasn't flirting, it was instinct. Zaros was twice her size, probably three times her weight, an Alfa male in his own right, but a beta by choice, he served this Damon, who in turn had to be worthy of such loyalty.
Interesting. Confusing. For one accustomed to the hierarchy of the pack, such an obviously strong male serving a weaker baffled her senses. But physical strength was not everything. She knew of this Damon and his abilities. A strong alpha for such a large pack, an army of warriors. Impressive to all Lycan's.
They did not despise or hate humans, not all of them. They respected few, despised choice others, and avoided most. But one thing most pack's agreed on was that this Lord of Hell Gaite was a fine Alfa, and none would be shamed in dealing with him if need be, though still none had. They kept to the mountains and had no need or opportunity to approach this Alfa of the human race.
"I must be going Iyadar. But I'll return this evening."
"Why?"
"I live here." He smiled gently as he picked up her empty plate and turned to leave.
"Zaros?" She called, waiting for him to turn back, "Tell Damon, I accept his offer."
The giant merely smiled and bowed his head, in partial to her, in partial to duck out the door.
It was her hunger that awoke her late in the night, or early in the morning she was dazed and unsure. That and the noise of Damon stumbling into his chambers.
The scent of alcohol on him made Iyadar have to snuff out air through her nose and shake her head to rid herself of the fumes.
He stopped and looked at her for a moment, confused and curious. She knew when to call little attention to herself and sat stone still, watching him.
"Why are you on the floor?" He asked stupidly.
"Because I'm a dog," she replied quietly ducking her head down slightly, instinctive submissive pose.
But he merely chuckled and fell into his bed.
"Men," She hissed at his drunken form.
Damon grunted and threw a blanket at her, followed by a pillow.
She merely let them fall around her confused, apparently he didn't forget everything.
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