CHAPTER 45: SLAVES SHOULD OBEY.

She knew the exact moment Prince Zen seemed to understand what it was she was asking for. The shift in his eyes gave him away—sharp, assessing, as if weighing her desperation in silence. But even as their gazes locked, she knew he wouldn’t give in. Whatever she wanted, he wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t make it easy for her.

Which meant she would have to beg them herself.

Her throat tightened at the thought. Emira turned slightly, her eyes moving between the two men. She was about to step toward Prince Zen, ready to swallow the last of her pride, when Prince Kael moved. He stepped directly into her path, blocking her vision completely.

Startled, she froze, tilting her head back to look up at him. The words she had been about to say scattered from her mind the moment she saw his face.

Anger. It burned there, dark and sharp, like he was barely holding something back.

"I—" she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

But he didn’t give her the chance to finish.

Before she could even think to resist, Kael bent down and swept her off her feet as though she weighed nothing at all. Emira let out a small gasp, her hands instinctively grabbing at his shoulders for balance. He carried her across the room without a word, his hold on her firm and unyielding, and lowered himself onto the wide couch with her still trapped in his arms.

Her pulse thudded in her ears as he adjusted her on his lap, keeping her there like she had no choice in the matter. And she realized, that she didn’t. Then, with a tilt of his head, he pointed toward the low table set with food nearby.

It took her a moment to understand. He wanted her to feed him? She wanted to look at Prince Zen again but she dared not. Something told her that if she did, Prince Kael would only make things more difficult for her.

She reached out with trembling fingers and picked up a piece of fruit from the platter, something she could focus on so she wouldn’t have to think about the weight of Kael’s eyes on her. Sliding the fruit onto the fork, she lifted it slowly, hesitantly, bringing it to his lips.

But Kael didn’t move.

His eyes stayed on her, cold and unreadable, his mouth firmly closed as though he was daring her to figure out what he wanted.

Emira paused, confused. Didn’t he want him to feed her? Had she misunderstood? Her hand hovered in the air, the fruit so close to his mouth that she could feel his breath brush faintly against her fingers. What was she supposed to do now?

Before she could ask, a low voice came from behind them. "Feed him yourself, little Fire."

She froze.

Her shoulders went rigid, the words sinking in slowly, like ice spreading through her veins at Prince Zen’s words. The faint amusement in his tone wrapped around her like a trap, leaving no room for doubt about what he meant.

Emira’s hand faltered for only a second before she lowered the fork and picked the fruit off it with her own fingers. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she leaned forward, hesitating only a breath before placing the piece of fruit against Kael’s lips herself.

Kael’s gaze didn’t waver as she brought the piece of fruit to his lips. For one heartbeat, he didn’t move. Then, with deliberate slowness, he leaned forward and caught the fruit between his teeth, his mouth grazing her fingertips as he took it.

The warmth of his tongue brushed against her skin and she knew he’d licked her purposely...

Emira’s breath caught. It was the lightest touch, but it burned. Like fire licking at her hand, searing her until she had to fight the urge to snatch her fingers away. She couldn’t.

She stayed frozen, shivering from the sensation, until he leaned back again, chewing lazily, his eyes never leaving hers.

Her fingers tingled. They almost hurt, as if his touch had left a mark there no one else could see.

Swallowing hard, Emira reached for another piece of fruit. Her hands shook faintly as she picked up the piece again, with her fingers. She knew he would not accept the fork.

But this time, Kael shook his head again in a look that was almost challenging her.. As she stared at him in confusion, after all she was feeding him like he wanted. Just then, his eyes dropped-just for a moment- toward her mouth, then back to hers. The meaning was unmistakable.

Emira hesitated. Her heart was pounding so hard she could barely breathe. She wanted to protest, to refuse, but something in the way he watched her made it impossible.

With trembling fingers, she brought the piece of fruit to her own lips.

She barely had time to part them before he leaned forward.

Kael’s mouth closed over the fruit—-nd her lips. His tongue brushed them lightly, slow enough that she felt every flicker of heat before he pulled back, chewing as though nothing had happened.

Emira’s entire body went rigid.

She couldn’t move. Couldn’t even think for a moment. Her skin felt too tight, her chest rising and falling too quickly, like she couldn’t get enough air.

She shivered harder than before, struggling to steady her hands as she reached for another piece.

But before she could even pick it up, she felt it-hardening against her through the thin layers of fabric as Kael shifted slightly beneath her.

Emira stiffened, instinctively trying to shift off his lap, to put some space between them.

She didn’t get the chance. Kael’s arm tightened around her waist, holding her firmly in place. With his other hand, he pressed down lightly but unmistakably on her hip, forcing her to stay exactly where she was, his grip leaving no room for requirement.

Instead, his other hand moved to her neck... tracing the mark left there... and she understood his intent. He was reminding her. She was nothing but a slave...and slaves should obey their masters in everything.