---- It felt like I was keeping a sleeping tiger at my side.


    "Damn it," I muttered under my breath but extended my hand again under his wary gaze.


    After a few seconds of focus, struggling against the powerful spell Lucrecia had left behind, his skin began to smoke.


    My short hair lifted along with the burst of magic that rippled through my body.


    That wretched bitch had branded him with searing hot steel deeply, cruelly.


    ---- 193.


    NOW YOU ARE MINE SIGRID That man had sat up and was attacking me, with a monstrous strength I had no idea where he was pulling from, given his condition.


    1m...


    removing...


    the seal," I wed at his wrists, fighting against theck of oxygen, staring directly into that golden eye now burning with clouded, erratic fury.


    Madness lurked in its depths.


    "Dont...


    touch me...


    you damn..." he growled, his voice dripping with such visceral, bloodthirsty hatred that it sent shivers down my spine.


    "Aagghh," I gasped, struggling against him.


    His ck nails dug deeper and deeper into my pale throat, darkness creeping into my vision, dizziness clouding my mind.


    "T''m not...


    her...


    calm...


    down...


    I''m not...


    Lucre...cia..." T realized he was confusing me with herthat the hatred he felt for his former mistress was fueling thest remnants of resistance inhis body.


    Iwas going to have to attack himI could feel itbut I wasnt about to die for someone elses sins.


    Just as I was about to summon mes in my hands, the pressure on my neck began to ease, little by little.


    ---- I started coughing the moment he finally let go, my fingers brushing over the bruises that would no doubt remain on my skin.


    T kept my eyes on him the entire time as I regained myposure He just stared at me, lost, his hands shaking Looking into that dark eye, its irispletely ck, an abyss with no end, would be enough to give me nightmares.


    "Twas only removing her mark," I exined hoarsely.


    "She wont know you escaped death." I gestured toward his groin, looking away, and atst, he understood.


    Pmson he rasped, his voice low, guttural, twistedlike everything about him.


    "You...


    may punish me..." "I''m not going to punish you.


    Just...


    lie down, and as hard as it may be, try not to choke me again, or I will kill you," I warned him.


    Obediently, he copsed back onto the pillow.


    "Lets get one thing straightIm not interested in you as...


    as a sexual ve or anything like that," I rified, sitting at the edge of the mattress.


    "T just want a quiet, obedient servant.


    But dont worryIll never ask you to do the things you were forced to do before." L exined, and he just remained silent.


    I didnt know if he believed me or what he was thinking his ruined features watched me, calcting, waiting.