I've come to realize that trying to change a demon's point of view is like trying to change your destiny. It's going to cost your life, and I'm not ready to lose mine because of a dickhead monster.

After the long argument with Ryker, I was assigned a room - too big for only me.

It felt like I was a stone being thrown into a vast sea, the way the room swallowed me.

I stood up, wiping the tears that stained my lashes. This is not how I planned it.

My plan was to sue the man who killed my father, but here I am, trapped in his kingdom with no way out. I moved to the window, staring at each maid that passed. They seemed to be living in fear, their heads bowed.

I turned away. Staring at them only made the situation feel heavier. Ryker had made it clear we would be getting married by the weekend, and today? Today is my only chance to escape.

If I want to leave, it has to be now - because tomorrow is already the weekend. He had mentioned it just to give me false hope.

I walked out of the room, my heart beating rapidly, my eyes darting around every corner of the environment, searching for a way out.

Stepping into the maids' quarters, they all abandoned what they were doing, bowing their heads with trembling hands. Is this how things are done here? This looks more like slavery.

I stopped looking and moved outside, only to be stopped by a guard. He grabbed my arm, refusing to let me take even a step back. "What the heck are you doing?" I screamed, yanking my body away from him.

He quickly bowed. "I'm sorry, Milady, but you're not allowed to step outside without the Alpha's permission," he stated. I could hear the tremor in his voice, his breath coming out in short gasps.

"And why the heck should I care about your Alpha's orders?! I'm not a prisoner, and you can't stop me from walking, okay?!" My voice came out in a sharp yell. Was this really me? I hate shouting. I hate being shouted at. But spending barely a few hours in Ryker's kingdom seems to be having a heavy impact on me.

I turned to leave, expecting the guard to listen, but he stepped in front of me again, blocking my way.

"I'm sorry. If you're going to step out, it means you're going to have to kill me first," the guard said, pulling out a knife and gesturing it toward me.

Is this how they use death to play tricks here? So I'm supposed to stab him, and then he'll come back - just like Ryker did? No. It's not going to work on me again.

I yanked the knife from his grip, the sound clattering loudly against the steel floor. "If you want to die, you can take poison. You don't get to play tricks on me," I snapped, turning to leave. But he still wouldn't move.

"No, ma'am, you can't -"

I didn't let him finish. Before I realized what I was doing, I grabbed the knife off the floor and stabbed him hard in the chest.

I had done it before I even understood what I had done. He staggered back, his white eyeballs turning red as blood pumped out of his body.

I looked down at my hands, unable to believe what I had just done. The guard collapsed onto the floor, his eyes still wide open. I searched around, expecting him to stride in from another corner - just like Ryker had done. But no.

There was no one. What is going on?! I knelt beside him, listening for his breathing. Silence. Fear crawled up my skin, and I collapsed onto my butt, my hands shaking, tears stinging my eyes.

No. No. No. I hope it's not what I'm thinking. He was supposed to come back by now. Just like Ryker. But no matter how hard I stared, his lifeless body was the only thing I could see.

"Little hellfire." A strong voice called from behind me. Even without turning around, I knew it was Ryker.

My body went cold. What is he going to do? Kill me for killing his guard? No. This can't be happening. I stumbled to my feet, aiming to run, but I hadn't even counted two steps when his strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against his firm chest. I barely existed in his grasp. His breath was hot against my skin.

I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my cheeks, expecting the worst. "Today is your first day. What have you done?" That was all he said. I snapped my eyes open.

I shoved at him, even though it took every ounce of my strength. "It was a mistake," I blurted out before he even asked. I expected him to scold me, but instead, his eyes raked over my body.

He sucked on his lower lip, but I ignored it. Maybe he was just planning how to suck my blood.

"He told me to..." My voice wavered as I pointed to the knife. "He said I should... I thought he was going to..."

"Come back just like I did," Ryker finished for me. I stood frozen, my lips parted in shock. He strode toward me, pulling me into his chest with one hand while his other hand brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear.

He lowered his head toward my neck. Slowly, I felt his teeth graze my skin - soft, but with a hint of pain.

"No one does that here," he murmured, pulling me back slightly, as if my existence rested in his hands. "Only I - Ryker - can die multiple times and still come back looking the same." A wicked smirk spread across his lips. "The only way I can die and never return is if you decide to leave." He tilted my chin up, his voice deep and possessive. "But that isn't possible. This mate bond is for eternity."

Chapter 6 A fatal mistake

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