“Get out of my house.” I demanded through clenched teeth.

“Aren’t you the least bit curious? I sure am.”

His haunting grin sent chills down my spine.

“Curious about what?”

“What it would be like to be on the arm of someone of power.” He hummed, “Your family doesn’t have the political power mine wields but there is something to be said about a military family. Your ancestors have literally bled into the ground to create borders and there is something magnificent about that. If you were sensible, you’d consider what I’m offering you. I could bend and break you to my will but I’m letting you find your own way to me. Wouldn’t you like to know what it’d feel like to hang on my arm? Aren’t you curious to taste a power far greater than your own?”

“I want nothing to do with you.” I spat, “I don’t care about any of that. I’d rather die on my own than be your pet.”

“You don’t have a choice in the matter. You belong to me, in every sense of the word.” He reminded me cruelly, “And when I’ve grown tired of our game, I’ll snap off each one of your ribs until I reach your pretty little soul. Whether you scream in pleasure or pain is entirely up to you. Your soul is the ambrosia I’ve been craving and someday I’ll savor the taste of it as you squirm. That is a promise.”

“You’re lying.” I hissed, “My soul means nothing to you. You didn’t choose me. It was just stupid chance I was there that night and that you saw me at all.”

“I have higher standards than that I’ll have you know.” His eyes flashed with annoyance, “I hunt only those great enough to interest me. I don’t collect the worthless.”

“Get out of my house.” I growled.

“I’ve been toyed with many times before, Miss McKenna. The only difference is that you got away with it today. Who knows if you’ll be lucky enough to do it again.”

He tried to offer me the card again, but I refused to take it, so he set it on the back of the sofa with arrogance that I would want it later.

“Is that a threat?” I asked carefully.

“Of course not,” He grinned. “I would never threaten someone of interest to me. Think of it as a thread of advice.” He caught my gaze again and this time held it with such a fierce intensity I felt every fiber of my being grow hot. “I don’t accept defeat. When I am presented with a challenge, I pursue until it has become my conquest. Be it tomorrow or a month from now, doesn’t matter. One day soon I will conquer you.”

I edged towards the door frame, not daring to turn my back on him again.

“I’m not a conquest.” I grit out once my back hugged the doorframe, “I demand you leave, and don’t you ever return to my home again or I’ll press charges against you.”

“Charges.” He cackled, “Is that all you got?”

The empty threat fizzled out and died in the space between us.

We both knew I wouldn’t call out for help.

I didn’t want to die.