"Stop, we're not doing this," I said, stopping the two before they could get into a heated argument. Without a common enemy around, I doubted their comradery would go on too long. The only benefit Jaxon's presence provided.

Ares didn't look too pleased with being chastised, but he didn't make things harder like I would expect of Ryder and complied, beginning to walk again. Ryder and I followed behind.

"Ares..." I hesitantly called after a few moments of walking. He turned to look at me. "How are we..." I began to ask before realizing we hadn't discussed escaping. What if that wasn't part of the plan for them? Although I was forgetting it more often these days, I didn't know these two.

"We're getting out of here. Before anyone unwanted pests have the chance to impregnate you."

My shoulders dropped in relief. I didn't realize just how much I was relying on them to escape until I was faced with the realization that they might not. Luckily, we were on the same page.

"I need to get a better lay of the ground before making any concrete plans, but don't get comfortable here. I'll try to see if I can find a way out of the realm as well, but the main focus is to get out of the royal residence before anything unwanted happens," he said, sending me a promise-filled look.

My heart skipped a beat at the reassurance.

It skipped again out of shock when it was Ryder's turn to smack Ares upside the head. I had a feeling he was rethinking his decision when Ares narrowed eyes turned on him.

He straightened and pushed his shoulders back as he faced the dark-haired fae. "Stop making things harder for me."

It took Ares a moment to process Ryder's anger-laced words, but once he did, he put on a rare display. He let out a laugh.

I couldn't stop the smile that crept its way up either at Ryder's unexpected source of anger. I had to cover it with a hand when it turned full-blown in amusement. My shoulders shook in a silent chuckle as Ryder shifted his angered eyes between the two of us they narrowed on the movement.

Huffing in annoyance like an overgrown child, he turned on his feet and began walking away. "Fuck you both," he yelled out over his shoulder as our laughter grew louder.

Wiping a tear that was threatening to escape my eye, I turn to tell Ares we should probably chase after him before he got too far, but what I caught sight of just beyond him had me stilling in fear.

Where he appeared, the other wasn't too far.

Axel's lips spread in a grin. "What so funny, mouse?"

At the sound of his voice, Ares's eyes widened a fraction. The air around him shifted as he widened his stance and turned to face Axel's unaffected smile.

"My, my, you and Zev have identical features," he noted, making Ares frown deepen.

"What do you want?" He asked, not wasting time playing his games.

The incubus sighed. "Ah, I want a lot of things, where should I start?" He laughed.

Seeing his relaxed demeanour, I frowned. It was strange how unaffected Axel was at suddenly being taken to a new realm. Even Zev had shown signs of being caught off guard, more silent and withdrawn something I didn't think was possible for him. Zev, Jaxon, and Ezra had appeared just as uncomfortable as Ryder and me. Ares, like usual, was able to keep his face blank.

But Axel seemed excited. Like he knew where he was going; like had been impatiently waiting to come to the Demon Realm.

"Where it becomes relevant."

Axel's smile slowly dropped into a mocking pout. "That's rude. Is this really the kind of relationship you want?"

"Relationship?" Ares asked, echoing my inner thoughts.

"Well, we're all going to be one big family soon, so of course there will be some sort of relationship between us. I'm open to platonic or otherwise," he shrugged at him before looking towards me. "The more the merrier, isn't that right, Mouse? You've gathered quite the collection, you wouldn't mind sharing, would you? Although I'm opposed to engaging with the others carnally since I see them as brothers, I can't help but crave a taste of these two. You have a talent to seek out the powerful, mouse." Although he kept a smile plastered on his face, all signs of his amusement vanished. "Whether it be for your benefit or detriment."

I opened and closed my mouth, not knowing what to say, or even if he expected a response.

Ares reacted before I did when a footstep sounded from behind. He turned on his feet in a split second to lock his eyes on the approaching threat. While he searched for the source of the footstep, I watched with widening eyes as Axel's smile dropped and he pulled a pair of blades from his sleeves.

"Behind you!" I warned him as Axel began to lunge for him. It all happened too fast to give him any further notice.

My wide eyes were locked onto the glinting metal of Axel's blades as they headed for Ares who had materialized a set of dark blades of his own. I've distraction the proved to be was why I didn't notice the approaching presence behind me.

The loud, deafening sound of the blades colliding was enough to cover my shocked gasp and stumbled step before I was silently pulled back, a hand banding over my mouth to keep me from making any further noises.

I struggled and tried to make as much noise around the hand as I could, even attempting to bite it to escape, but couldn't get it to budge at all. The noise of my struggle as I was being dragged off backwards was covered by the repeated sound of metal meeting metal.

* * *

After a few defeated minutes of following without resisting and fighting back, Cassius finally decided to release me with a small push I hadn't expected. I tried to brace myself against the double door in front of me, but they caved under my hands that were followed by my weight. As the doors swung open, I stumbled forward, falling to my feet.

The carpet on the floor should have cushioned my landing, but it proved more to be a problem when the friction caused it to burn my knees, even through the thin layer of my pyjama bottoms.

Clutching my knees in my hands, I curled over, waiting for the pain to pass. I didn't even bother to lift my head when I heard footsteps approaching from behind. I knew who it was.

Cassius sighed. "We're going to need to work in your physical condition," he said.

His insensitive words had me sending him a glare. It's what let me see how he was eyeing me. His face reflected dissatisfaction at what he found.

When he reached out a hand, I flinched back.

His fingers curled back hesitantly before he straightened them out and held his hand out again.

"I didn't mean to push you that hard. I overestimated how much you could handle. Ezra's, warning had slipped my mind."

I tensed at the mention of Ezra's name. It hurt to learn that he was a part of Cassius's plan and was actively helping him by giving pointers. Maybe he was just waiting for Cassius to have his turn with me so he could next, maybe I had been wrong about him.

Another sword of guilt joined the first in my heart with his name on it.

When he came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to take his offered help, he sighed again. Straightening, he stepped closer and reached a hand under my arm and pulled me to my feet.

"As I said, I apologize. Do you need me to take a look at it?" He asked, gesturing towards my knees.

I didn't know how to take his sudden change in behaviour. Pulling my arm away from him, I rubbed away his touch with my hand as I shook my head. No, I needed him as far away as possible from me.

Especially since I knew exactly what his plans were.

"I'm fine," I said as I stepped from him.

I looked around the room we were in and was surprised to find a small table set for two people through a pair of open French doors that opened up onto a balcony.

Seeing my line of focus, Cassius nudged me towards the intricate spread of sweet and savoury breakfast food. All ones that I recognized.

"I did some research on your realm and found some recipes that were said to be popular. I had the chefs prepare a few since I don't know your preferences yet. Come eat."

Though he had said it in invitation, I had a feeling there was no option to decline. It was evident in the way I had arrived. And was reflected in every past instance that involved Cassius.

I hesitantly followed him out onto the large balcony, but once I did, I knew suffering in Cassius's unwanted company for a few moments was a price I was willing to pay to see the stunning sights before me. Unlike the fire pits I expected in a place inhabited by Demons, the expanding landscape thrived with life. Every which way I looked, I could find a beautiful new plant, incest, or small animal that I had never seen before.

"Nea."

I jumped a little when Cassius called my name. Looking towards him, I found him standing behind a chair. He had pulled did out and was waiting for me to take it.

As much much as I didn't want to go near him, I wanted this whole thing to end. From everything I had seen so far, it looked like Cassius wanted to have breakfast together. The faster I took a seat, the faster he would eat his food and let me go.

I hoped.

Settling into the seat uneasily, Cassius took his own across from me.

"Help yourself to anything you like."

I gave him a tight smile. I had lost my appetite the moment he had decided to kidnap me, but I still placed a few items on my plate to give the illusion of eating while waiting for Ares to deal with Axel and come find me.

My hand stilled as I scooped out some berries onto the waffle I had grabbed. Was I setting myself up for disappointment with how much belief I was placing in the dark fae?

"So Nea," Cassius started, unfolding a napkin. "Tell me about yourself."

I couldn't help but blink blankly at him. "What?"

He cut into the omelette he had placed on his plate. "Tell me about yourself. Anything you think I may need to know."

When he repeated the same thing, confirming that I wasn't hearing him wrong, I had to stop myself from laughing in his face.

I had a feeling he wouldn't have reacted as well as Ryder had.

But for someone who I thought was cunning and intelligent, I couldn't believe that he thought I'd want to engage in a conversation at all let, alone one about me. Why would I ever share anything with this man? It would just give him more to use against me.

So I shook my head. "I don't want to do this. I'm not doing this."

My flat-out refusal had Cassius lifting a brow in surprise. Guess he hadn't expected me not to play along.

He lifted his glass filled with orange juice and took a sip."We're all forced to do things we don't want to. This happens to be one of yours." He eyed me for a moment his jaw clenching. Setting his glass down, he watched the orange liquid slosh up against the glass as he continued to speak. "This doesn't have to be as hard as your making it. I know I haven't given the greatest of impressions," he admitted, raising his eyes to mine. "But I will treat you and our children right."

I couldn't contain the snort his words provoked. He couldn't treat his own friends right, keeping them in the dark about who he was. How did he expect me to believe him when all I had was his word.

I shook my head vehemently. Was he not hearing me? I decided to go for an even more direct approach, one that targeted my main concern.

"I'm not having your baby," I stated as clearly as possible.

Rising emotions had my voice cracking in my throat. It was unnerving having to face Cassius unchanging, calm expression that shows how little he worried about the problems that I poised.

He calmly rose his glass to his lips in the face of my anger and took a sip. "Yes, you are. And until you are carrying my baby, you are strictly forbidden from engaging sexually with any of your other bonded mates.