Neither the most beautiful, nor the gentlest.

  Ethereal:

 The incomparable floating world. Where levitate even the highest mountain. 

 The blessed home of the winged and the most peaceful world.

 (...)

 The Tireless's Chronicles

"Sea demon…" She heard him say coldly through his teeth, not a single complaint of pain, and that was a bad sign from the beginning. Erin had expected him to let her go.

However, with one energetic movement, Ahian lifted her into the air. And like this, she ended up sitting on the animal again. Only this time, she was not astride but crossed. Erin was now able to look at Ahian's face. The man's strong clavicle bones appeared before her eyes, protruding above his immaculate white linen shirt. 

Erin thrashed wildly in protest the second she fell into such a position. With her hands, she kept pushing against the small leather and metal armor he always wore covering his chest. She was still trying to get loose again. However, the leader of the foreigners was faster, and taking both of her hands, he tied them behind her back. Erin was quite tall, and her muscles were in shape thanks to her lifestyle and the hours she spent at the sea. However, she was such a small thing compared to the formidable body of her opponent. 

Erin felt him grab her tight by the jaw. And at the next second, she was obligated to closely watch a pair of eyes that looked like seething silver.

¿What was he going to do? ¿Was he going to hit her? Erin wanted to close her eyes, but pride and fury made her look at him with equal fierceness.

Contrary to her expectations, the next thing he did was smile. 

¡The heck!

Erin first wished she could disappear into thin air. Yet, one fraction of a second later, she found herself wanting to verify if she had stuck the dagger into his flesh.

"Erin Garon," She heard him say her full name softly, leaving her in one piece. "Neither the most beautiful nor the gentlest," He continued with a harsh voice, speaking nose to nose until he came closer so that his lips brushed her ear. She tried to push him away, of course. However, it was in vain. In the end, she had to listen to whatever he had to say:

"But the merman blood is stronger in you than in any other." The stranger continued.

¿What…? ¿Was it about her ancestors and their sea heritage? She did not fully understand what he was talking about. Until he continued: "That is why you were chosen to me. Erin Garon, you will give me strong heirs." ¿Did she hear resignation in his tone? ¿Choosen? ¿For him? ¿Were they all crazy?

"No." Her stomach clenched as the words echoed in her head. "You are crazy… All of you are crazy…" Erin felt him laugh. ¿In a low-spirited way? ¿Was he regretful? She could not see much cause her vision was cloudy. He sounded downcast somehow. "I demand you let me go. You cannot take me against my will."

"Now then, ¿how should I punish you?" Erin heard this and almost didn't care. She was horrified at the idea of being considered as just some kind of prize for breeding. "Let's take care of the wound first." He continued calmly.

While desperately thinking of a way of escaping, Erin rejoiced that the dagger had indeed hurt the man. Then, when she felt him lean to the right, she threw herself the other way.

"Damn, woman!" This time, Ahian sounded furious. 

Just then, Erin discovered she had been tied to the animal. The bastard had bound her with a leash that, at the same time, was tethered to the beast. 

Then, when Erin stood up and insisted on pulling on the straps, the strange animal tilted its large head toward her and let out a hoarse bellow.

Erin froze completely. It was surely going to bite her neck. She was still frozen when she saw his huge eye looking at her curiously. Desperate, she struggled for a few seconds against the ropes. However, Ahian's strong arms lifted her again, so she ended up on the animal again.

Now Erin was on her stomach, lying on the man's hard tighs. Her new position was the most humiliating thing she had experienced so far. So she resisted with all her strength. However, a sudden slap on her buttocks made her freeze. It didn't hurt but her pride shaked to the core.

"Try to escape again, and I will spank your ass like a spoiled child." He threatened in a dark voice, low enough for only her to hear.

"I hate you! I hated you from the beginning…" She snapped back as loud as she could. The truth was that her throat was raw from her screams.

"You're tied to the saddle, Erin. Therefore, a third escape attempt would be just as stupid as the second."

Ahian told her calmly, and her blood boiled in her veins.