My name, say it.

Aries had a hypothesis, and she took a gamble just to prove that point. From the little information she gathered about her brief interactions with Abel, it was clear he was someone who enjoyed watching others wallow in despair. He was crazy.

That was why she tested to prove her point. When she didn't flinch at the presence of death and acknowledge it with a smile, he stopped. She was correct. Abel wouldn't like her death if it was that simple.

'I was saved by the skin of my teeth,' she thought, staring at his hands as she wiped them clean delicately. 'I don't know how many times this trick can save me, but I should use this carefully. He might just kill me if he completely loses it.'

Aries winced when Abel suddenly pressed a thumb on her throat.

"It's still bleeding," he said, making her gaze up at him. "You said you live for me. Don't bleed without my permission."

'Are you kidding me? Just who is the person who barged into my room with a sword in his hand?' she bit her tongue from running her mouth. Aries smacked her lips lightly, letting him check her neck while looking away. They were both currently in the tub, facing each other as she was wiping the blood off of him.

"Keep still." Abel carefully snaked his hand and settled it on her nape, moving closer. He tilted his head to the side, leaning his face towards her throat. When she felt the fiery touch of his tongue against her wound, Aries entire body froze, wide-eyed.

What the hell was he doing? Her mind momentarily went blank.

Abel licked the trailing blood on her jugular up to the wound on her throat, eyes sharp as ever. His hand remained on her nape while the other carefully wrapped around her lean waist, underwater.

"Your blood taste like wine." He licked his lips, drawing his head back, eyes still on her throat. The side of his lips hooked up when her throat moved as she gulped, waiting for her to lower her head to meet his gaze.

"That is arousing. Shall we do it here?" he cocked his head, but his voice to her sounded distant. "Are you listening?"

She snapped her eyes, nodding her head. "Su — sure," came out a thoughtless reply.

"Sure? Did you even know what I was saying?" he quirked a brow, pulling her waist closer. "I was saying if we should do it? Although you are my pet, I don't mind committing bestiality for a change."

"..." This time, her expression died.

"Haha. How amusing." Abel sported a playful smirk as her expression said it all. Although this was the second time they bathed together and held her unclad body, Abel was simply teasing her.

After committing debauchery for a long time in the past, he somehow found it boring. Still, he wouldn't mind taking her right here and now. He also wondered why he didn't test her skill on the bed the first time. Even right now that her small body was under his grip and was aroused by the situation, he didn't want to resort to going further.

Was it because watching her was far more amusing? Or was it because he was still anticipating for the day this woman would attempt to escape from him? Maybe it was the latter since that would give her a proper end.

Aries pressed her lips into a thin line and hung her head low, placing her palm on his inked chest. "Yes," she whispered. "If His Majesty wants it, I will do everything to please you."

When Abel didn't react to her response, she mustered her courage to raise her head. To her surprise, she caught the emptiness in his eyes before it disappeared almost immediately.

"If your death will make me happy, then you will gladly accept it. If I want your body, you will give it to me without questions," he crooned, raising his hand and his fingertips caressing her cheek. "Just what will you not do for me?"

Abel raised a brow, receiving silence as a response. "What is your name?"

Her breath hitched, lower lips trembling as they parted. "Before Your Majesty took me in, my name is Aries."

"Aries, right. I think that's what Conan called you." He snickered, as he didn't know her name until now. "What a name."

"Will you give me another name now that I am your pet?"

"A new name? No." Abel shook his head, leaning his face until it was only a palm length away from her. His eyes scanned her face as if etching her facial structure deep in his head.

"Aries is perfect. You said you live for me, correct?" he raised a brow and she nodded with shut lips. "Then, since you are so faithful, I'm in tears, call me Abel, Aries."

'He wants me to call him by his name? He wouldn't execute me if I did, right? This isn't a trap?' Myriads of question hovered over her head but jumped when he suddenly squeezed her waist.

"Say it," he commanded, raising his brows briefly. "My name. Say it."

"Your --"

"Hmm?"

Aries took a deep breath as she clutched her hand on his shoulder. "A — Abel."

"Good." Pleased, Abel pulled her body against him and wrapped his muscular arms around her delicate yet flawed body. He felt her muscles tense up, but that made him smirk. He rested his chin on her shoulder, caressing her tensed back with his fingertips.

"Abel is the name of the man you live for, Aries," he whispered in her ears, eyes full of contempt.

"Yes." She hung her head low to hide her tightened jaw as she clench her teeth.

"There should be enough bluffs to make someone dance in your tune," he added under his breath, grazing his lips across her bare shoulder. "Make sure to keep up the lie to keep me dancing in your tune because once I stop..."

"You will disintegrate me." Aries completed his sentence as that had been clear to her.

He smiled, pleased. "No, worse." This time, Abel planted a peck on her shoulder before he drew his head back to look at her. "You will catch a cold if we stay here for long, darling."

Aries just smile as she continued to wipe the remaining blood on his body. For some reason, when Abel told her to call his name, Aries heard a chain lock around her ankle. A chain that was meant to bind her with him... forever.