Chapter three

What the fuck was he doing? Hades had no clue. He should throw her over his shoulder and be on their way back to Owl's Cove right now. He had instead made her sit in the middle of the forest at dusk.

Ruby sat at his feet smiling sadly as Clue,the top foxhound, nuzzled close to her naked side whimpering for attention. Its wet nose nudged. Ruby rolled her eyes and sighed then threw her hands around the dog's neck.

"You outted me you rascal," her voice repremanding,"I should hate you for it but you are so irresistible." She flashed an open smile and the dog wagged it's tail in response. Something twisted his insides when he looked at Ruby. Something he had no intention of analysing. There was something about her that affected him on a level he didn't want to think of. Normally he was indifferent to confrontation and arguments but he found himself in a spar of words with her. He had even explained himself to her and this girl he was meant to destroy was making him question everything he knew. Ruby skin had a fresh set of bruises on top bruises. A vary of deep and shallow lacerations...some were still bleeding others had scabbed over and over.Prominently, there was a small still bleeding cut on her side, a swollen big toe and a puncture on the fleshy part in the sole of her feet. He waited for his heart to show signs of remourse. Or guilt. A shred of humanity she claimed he had but no,he only felt a mild annoyance she had hurt herself. That reflected badly on him.

"You will hurt yourself to find a freedom which I can't stress enough was faux than pay a few debts by my side," her head snapped up her catching his gaze.

" I would gladly hurt myself over and over for my freedom,is that surprising to you?"

She went back to giving her attention to Clue and it annoyed him more than he could admit and he didn't know why. Hades whistled and the dog left Ruby's side towards his. Ruby looked at the dog dejected.

"What difference does it make either way you get hurt,"Her gaze was full of expression when she replied

"Because it's my choice,you have stripped me of my rights, you ruined my life by planting those photographs,the only life I've known,you have destroyed–" A

Cold anger slithered into his heart. Leaning over her he asked,

"You speak of hurt as if I've treated you unfairly,name one instance I've actually hurt you." She stared at him with a sad look.

"Just because you haven't physically assaulted me except that one time you slapped me in the dining room, doesn't mean you haven't hurt me more than anyone,pain comes in many forms,Hades...you degraded me."

"I was nothing but civil I promised to wipe it all away and I did,"

She shook her head firmly.

"You simply saved me from insanity, you wiped away nothing,every thing is still fresh in my mind,such things don't just go away,I was beyond violated,"she laughed the sound so hollow and broken,"and you taking me in the end made it worse,"a lone tear slid down her face,"you said I belong to you that I was yours to torment, but if that was true why didn't you stop them,why let them hurt what is yours?" He stumbled backwards mouth agape.

"That's hurt you the most?The welcome that has always been a tradition,one that I have to obey? You are hurt because I followed the rules, rules that you don't seem to comprehend?"

His brain hurts so much. He has never argued this much. Never tried to understand someone from their point of view. He could not take it. Shut her up!

When Ruby asked a question it didn't stop at one there was always another and another.

He hated her questions. The string of accusations in them. She doesn't stop with her endless caravan of slurs and inquiry. She made him second guess everything he was and knew.

It was driving him mad.

She then said,"those are your rules, they don't apply to me, I'm not yours or theirs,I'm just trying to show you how wrong this is but you shut down the moment I see something normal in you." He scowled ignoring her and grabbed the sandle bag and turfed the supplies onto the blanket. Clue who had made it's way back to Ruby's arms stood and sniffed the items as if looking for whether they were a danger to it's new beloved mistress.

She called him a hypocrite but look at the damn dog that had helped to hunt her down. He shoved the animal out of the way and reached out for her. She ducked unable to hide her flash of terror. His insides twisted in a way that showed it bothered him than he would care to admit.

"You think I was going to hurt you?" He grabbed a blister packet and shoved it into her hands. She glanced at the packet then at him."oh for goodness sake!"she looked like she didn't know what to do with his tiny offer. He took it back from her, popped two pills. Stealing her hand he placed them in her palm.

"You–"he already knew what she was about to say so he quickly told her,"that's an aspirin,I know your head is hurting right now,I'm not a monster,Ms Frost as much as you think I am,a monster wouldn't have given you something to ease the pain especially one you inflicted on yourself," Ruby cupped the tablets in her hand in a mixture of disbelief and confusion. She even looked like she expected him to snatch them back. Another knife to his gut. Was it her vulnerability? Her wounds? Somehow it cancelled everything he learned and became a perfect chisel to carve through his ice and even his heart. He looked away grabbed a bottle of water and tossed it at her. She clumsily managed to catch the bottle. Placing the tablets on her tongue, she uncapped the bottle and drained the content in three seconds flat. She stared longfully at another bag at her feet. Her gaze met his granting him something unexpected. Gratefulness... She gazed expectantly at the bag. Her bodily needs was overtaking anything else. She no longer faced him like her enemy and not exactly a friend but someone who could give her what she needs at the moment. A second passed. Then another. Hades knew what she wanted.

"If you are looking for food I brought some for you," her face showed hunger,she swallowed hard to hide her desperation...but she couldn't hide how she eyed the bag at his feet. He wanted to give her food but he had to shove away the tangled emotions grabbing his icy persona with both hands. This wasn't supposed to be an act of kindness or generosity. If he did something, there should be a purpose that followed up.

He grabbed the bag at his feet and dangled it between his fingers.

"You can take it,"he smiled. She eyed him suspiciously and then the bag.

"Really?"she asked. She was bright not to trust him.

"Of course,but you need to do something for me first,"her expectations faded from her face, despondent, her hands almost unconsciously wrapped around that damn dog's neck. He despised how easily she sort something else she needed–something he couldn't give her. He whistled and Clue reluctantly left her side. The dog was starting to grate on his nerves as it whined and growled low communicating it's displeasure. Hades rolled it's eyes...and they called dogs faithful. Ruby stared at the dog rejected on the tartan blanket.

She sighed. Rolling her shoulders she finally looked up at him. Slowly the strength he was starting to recognize burned in her eyes.

"What do you want?"

Everything. He didn't want to know why he thought that. Parts of him that he had kept hidden... that were almost non-existent sparked with possession.

"You owe me something," he eyes widened as she asked,"what do you mean?" He sat on his haunches and slowly caressed her face with the back of his fingers. His heart beat heavily.

"I gave you something in that dining room... remember?"

Her lips curled in disgust.

"How can I forget that you gave me up to your father and over twenty something of your so called brothers."

Shaking his head he grabbed her chin and brought her close to his face.

"More than that I gave you your freedom,I took their memory and made it mine,"Hades fingered lose strands between the pads of his long fingers as he devoured her with his gaze. Saliva filling her mouth as he was reminded of her taste.

Realization dawned on her face.

"You expect me to repay the favor?" Balling his hands from her face he looked into her eyes,"no way,you are insane to think that I–"

Insane?

no,he couldn't do it. He had tried to be civil. He had spoken softly,camly, rational. He had been perfectly cordial. He was anything but insane.

"You shouldn't have said that,"Hades muttered. She knew what he expected. He had warned her not to question his mental state. It wasn't his fault she decided to be stupid. He couldn't permit ridicule from such a girl. She knew the consequences would come. Punish her.

He stood to tower over her. Grabbing the whip on top of the bag he slapped it angrily across his palm. Hades bared his teeth when he spoke.

"On your knees,Ms Frost," she backed away till she slammed against the tree.

"Hades,no... please I didn't–"her fear soaked the air.

"You questioned my mental state again,I warned you,I told you what will happen when you do,so get on your fucking knees,"he commanded, grabbing her shoulders pushing her from sitting to kneeling. Tears streaked down her dirty face and Hades grabbed her chin forcing her eyes on him.

"Hades I'm... I'm–"she stammered.

Say you are sorry, fucking apologize to me,beg me to forgive you. He would stop. If she apologized.

"You are what?!"she stared into his eyes. She opened her mouth tasting the words. Just one little word. A sign she would be permitting power over to him. It dangled unsaid between them. It rang silently in his ears... Hades I'm sorry. Then she ruined it. Sucking her breath, Ruby clamped her lips shut. Glaring at him with anger that sent heat flurrying into his gut. She planted her palms against the blanket and flexed her hips.

Christ! His cock sprang up. Her fucking body called out to him. The perfect curve of her back and thighs,her pert breasts,her ass all echoed his name.

Shit! What the fuck was wrong with him?

Of course he wanted to cum deep inside and fuck her till she felt him for days but lust never made him lose control. Never made him see things like that. His frost kept teetering on the edge.

Every second with her undid all his hardwork.

Ruby turned to look over his shoulder. "I hate you,"her glare transmitting her words. Funny,her fire for once brought back his ice slamming him back to earth.

"You don't know the meaning of hate not yet." Falling to his knees Hades positioned himself behind her,"and that reminds me,I caught you so you will sign the papers that give me unhindered rights over you,and the fun part I won't let you dispute it." Grasping her hips he dragged her against his front. Pressing his erection firmly against her ass,his jaw locked as he sucked a breath. Ruby cried out, squirming to get away not that it did any good. He hissed at the delicious friction she caused.

"I don't belong to you!" Her braid had managed to loosen across her shoulder. He unbraided the rest of the way and he grabbed a handful pulling her punishingly hard against him. She gasped and he inwardly groaned.

Fuck. me. It felt so achingly good.

He can't fuck her now!

He shouldn't!

"You fucking belong to me,I captured you,won you and you will sign that document that says I own you. Not for the debts but for me,"

Fuck! Who was he kidding? She was the one who owned him. Her rage,her sense of right and wrong. Her entitlement for fairness and justice,it had somehow corrupted him. She was already inside him. She had managed to get in his head.

Forcing the terrifying thoughts aside he spoke,"you get to ask three questions and I have a point to make," The whip was getting slippery between his fingers

"I also gave you a gift which you took wholeheartedly you need to repay me now ask away."

He stroked her lower back with the whip. Silence. Maybe she needed prompting. He struck once. Her back bowed a little pushing against him. Fucking Hell!

"That is for undermining my control in front of my father and brothers,I will continue to strike till you ask something," and just to prove his point he struck her thigh. She twisted trying to get away. Honestly the sound was worse than the bite. The whip had had two cords of leather braided at one end to shock rather than cause pain.

"That is for riding and coming in my mouth like I was giving you everything, then looking at me like a piece of shit after giving you such a gift,"she knew what was coming so she asked before he could strike.

"The debts– how bad are they?"

He smirked at the little welt of red across her thigh.

"Well they start of easy then they get worse,way worse Ms Frost," she gulped. He struck quick but hard. She cried out, writhing trying to shake the pain away.

"How long will you keep me until you kill me?"

Hades thought about it. Her mom had been with Thorne for two years. She'd been well behaved she was granted a chance to go home and cut all ties. He doubted Ruby could be so we'll tamed and that didn't sit well with him.

"Years,we have years together ahead of us Ms. Frost." Caressing one harsh welt,she hissed. He struck once more she winced loudly her skin blooming red and her body tightening. The sound ricocheting all around them feeling painful than it actually was. Something he had endured one time as well. Throwing the whip aside he wrapped her long Chestnut hair in a fist.

"One more, common ask," he pulled her upwards until she was kneeling against him instead of on fours. He grabbed her hip when she scrabbled to get away.

"Will you ever be kind to me?" He grabbed her chin forcing her gaze over her shoulder.

"Kind? Didn't I tell you I reward good behavior but you simply crave acting out, I'm kind once you get to know me," his words was so at odds with the scene where he held her close with him positioned behind her.

"You are many things Hades but kind isn't one of them," he couldn't stop the anger in his eyes.

"You didn't give me an opportunity to be nice!"softening his voice soothingly he added,"grant me power over you,and I'll show you I am indeed kind,"he caressed the side of her face, sinking his fingers into her scalp. Ruby scoffed.

"Why should I do that the same men who controlled me couldn't do a damn thing to save me from you or your family,so tell me Hades why should I give you the same courtesy?" For once he was speechless...

********Blackfrost series❄️✨

Follow the story...as it gets deeper, darker and complicated. Find out❄️❄️❤️✨