Winter Swan

One second, two seconds.

Silje blinked a few times. It was only for a brief second, but she almost fell for it because his offer sounded like a dream.

If she accepted his proposal, Silje knew the Pakistani boy would be safe. No one would bully him, because no one in this school would ever disobey King Kail.

She knew she and Jamal could graduate safely, but Silje shook her head at the apple the snake had offered.

This wasn't going to fix everything.

Physical pain from the bullies was hard to endure, but one could heal from it. However, if she surrendered to Kail, her damaged pride was going to be lost forever.

'No! This isn't the right way.'

Realizing this, Silje raised her head high and said to the king firmly, "I refuse. I can't accept your offer."

"Why not? Why can't you pick the option that will make everyone happy?"

Kail whispered to her sarcastically, "If you take my offer, at least your friend will be safe. It will make him happy if you just say yes."

Kail grinned and continued, "Wouldn't you feel better if you made at least one person happy?"

He then looked straight into her eyes, "It's not too late. Say yes now."

"Why are you insisting like this? Do you want my body that badly?"

"What if I do? Will you give yourself to me then?"

The tension between them was palpably dark.

At this very moment, the beautiful devil whispered to her. Silje clenched her teeth.

"What?"

"I think it's time for us to decide what we will do. I want to finish this pointless game, my dear Silje."

He called out her name like it was a forbidden fruit and it made her shiver.

He moved slowly, and Silje watched in shock. He came down on her and he tasted her lips desperately. Pushing back her top, his lips moved down slowly and finally reached her breast.

Silje's eyes widened as if she couldn't believe what was happening.

Was she dreaming? How could this be happening? Anger and shock filled her and made her breathless. Her heart felt like it was going to explode.

"Stop it!"

Silje screamed and pushed him away.

She panted as she glared at him. Her face was red, and her eyebrows were raised in fury.

"What do you think you're doing? How dare you!"

Silje clenched her teeth, and her face became pale.

"How dare you!"

She didn't cry or beg him to stop. She didn't bother to cover herself either. The unbelievable anger seeped out from her entire body while she glared at him like an outraged queen.

Watching her like this, Kail started to smile slowly as if he had expected her to react this way.

"What! Are you smiling?"

She growled, but ignoring her anger, Kail held her hand and kissed it. He whispered, "Give yourself to me. Let me have all of you. I won't be satisfied until you do. Accept me, Silje. Don't push me away anymore."

An arrogant order. The king seemed confident of the outcome. His cold certainty made Silje's body and soul vibrate with awareness.

She flinched as she realized that there was a distinct possibility that this man could really have her. Not just her body, but her spirit as well. Perhaps even her soul.

"…"

She had to stop this right now before it was too late. The cold green eyes stared at her with increasing interest.

Silje announced decisively, "You can want me all you want, but you won't get what you want. As for me, I'm going to leave now."

Even as she trembled, she didn't avoid his gaze. With her quiet black eyes, Silje continued, "You will never make me surrender."

Silence fell.

After a few minutes, Kail's eyes darkened.

"That sounds like a challenge. I like your attitude. Let's see if you can keep your word."

And with that, he kissed her again.

Silje flinched, but Kail held her roughly and coveted her lips violently.

The vicious kiss was breaking her into pieces. Silje tried to get away while forcing herself not to moan or scream.

"…!"

She could taste the metallic blood on the tip of her tongue and her lips were swelling from his bruising attack. She couldn't help but tremble.

Ignoring her protest, Kail tasted her mouth and licked her teeth. Exhaling a hot breath, he whispered, "You must know by now that I want everything from you. I will have you. I will never stop until I do."

At his stubborn declaration, Silje trembled again. All of her. He was going to have all of her.

His penetrating stare chilled her. It was even more alarming as she saw herself inside his eyes. She knew he was serious. She could feel that he meant what he said.

He will never stop.

"You need to give up now."

When Silje said that to him quietly, Kail glared at her and suddenly bit her pale neck and ear.

"Oh…!! What do you think you're doing?"

She moaned as Kail continued to kiss her neck. He slowly moved down and within seconds, he was licking her slim wrist and the scar.

"…"

Silje's eyes widened in shock. With her wrist trapped in his hand, Kail continued to lick her wrist like a ritual. He was the devout believer of religion that was called Silje. With the kiss, he was announcing to the world that he was going to have her.

His voice trembled ever so slightly with absolute devotion.

"You won't admit it now, but you are attracted to me even as we speak. We are attracted to each other. Just admit it and accept what is so obvious. If you do, everything will be easy. Things will become simple."

His voice reached her heart, and it scared her deeply.

He was genuine. He truly wanted her, and because she believed him, she couldn't understand him.

Why?

How?

There were plenty of girls out there, so why her? Why was he so desperate to have someone like her?

A king like Kail could have any woman in the world.

Well, anyone except her.

He was never going to have her.

Silje thought with certainty.

Her instinct told her that it was true. Kail and she were the same kind. And perhaps that was why she hated him even more. Silje wanted to refuse him with all she had, and she was going to do everything she could to make sure that he would never have her.

"I don't want to accept your offer. I refuse."

"Fine, but know this. I won't let you leave this room today."

Click.

As he whispered his warning, he walked towards the door and calmly locked it so she couldn't leave.

Her eyes widening, Silje watched him with a shudder.

Her heart thrummed.