I whimpered loudly and clutched my forearm as blood started to trickle down. Fuck, it pained like hell.

Even with the excruciating pain I lifted my head to glare at him and for a moment something akin to guilt flashed across his face before he masked his emotions again.

"That's what happens when you don't obey me."

All the pent up emotions surged forward and tears welled up in my eyes. No. I won't cry in front of him. Never.

When he took a step forward I stepped back afraid he is going to attack considering he was still holding the dagger in his hand. He noticed that and he tucked it away immediately.

And then his hand shot forward and he grabbed my uninjured hand and started to drag me inside the house.

I had lost the energy to fight anymore. All I could care about was how much it was paining.

And I don't think so he is going to do something about it.

He dragged me inside the house and took me upstairs to my room and once I was inside, he went away locking the door.

Seriously? Does he want me to bleed to death?

Deciding not to ponder about him, I walked to the bathroom and ran my hand under the water washing away the blood but it was of no use because the wound was deep and it needed stitching.

I started to search the drawers to find something to apply over it at least but it was of no use.

Guess I am going to bleed to death only.

As I was about to curse him, I heard the room door open and I peeked out of the bathroom to see him enter with a first aid kit and a bottle of water which he kept on the nightstand.

Really?

He saw me peeking from the bathroom and walked to me gesturing me to move inside. Not in a mood to argue, I obeyed him.

He placed the kit on the counter and bending down, grabbed the back of my thighs with one hand and lifting me placed me on the counter making me yelp.

"You could have told me to sit on the counter." I complained but he didn't say anything.

He shoved my legs apart and stepped in between them and my heart quickened its speed on our close proximity.

His eyes were solely focused on my forearm while I couldn't help but stare at him in shock.

He grabbed my forearm, pulling it closer and the gentleness in his touch surprised me. He examined the wound for a few seconds and proceeded to pull out a needle and a thread from the kit to stitch.

I have been stitched before and fuck, it hurts a lot but the main thing was that he was willing to treat me himself. I seriously expected him to leave me to die.

But I guess I play an important part in his game.

The moment he started stitching a whimper escaped me and he glanced up at me with a poker face before continuing to stitch. I bit my lips to stop any further noise to escape my mouth.

This man was stitching my wound. He kidnapped me for fuck sake and here he is treating me.

When he was almost done, only a stitch or two was left, he spoke up, his eyes still focused on stitching. "I didn't do it deliberately." Didn't do deliberately what? Slice my arm?

Is he trying to explain his actions?!

"I don't care." I rolled my eyes.

His jaw clenched and he didn't say anything else and finished stitching and cleaned the excess blood with a clean cloth and handed me a tablet which looked like a pain killer.

Closing the kit, he picked it up and stepped back and without giving me another look, he left.

.
.
.

I laid on my back on the bed idly, staring at the ceiling. It was late in the afternoon when the door opened once again and Zale walked in with food.

Without even bothering to glance at me, he kept a plate of red sauce pasta on the nightstand and left.

I picked up the plate and eyed the pasta for a minute, it's not like he will poison me cause I am important to him so not thinking much, I ate it.

Damn. It's good, I wonder who made it. He doesn't look like the type to cook but who knows, had he not been a villain right now, I would have married him for his cooking skills.

That doesn't mean I am interested in him or something. Just a thought.

When I was done with the food, I started to ponder once again. How can I leave this place? I wonder if dad knows where exactly I am...well, he is not dumb, I'm sure he has figured it out till now. But he must be so worried, I wish I could just assure him that I was fine.

All this is so mentally tiring.

And I guess sometimes when you are tired mentally, you start to feel tired physically too that explains why I fell asleep in a few minutes.

When I woke up it was dark outside, a few lights shining outside the house as it could be seen from the window.

My arm felt sore and looked so werid and I still felt surprised that he even bothered to stitch it up and he even tried explaining his actions. "I didn't do it deliberately." A laugh bubbled out of me on remembering his words, who knew the big, bad Zale Weylyn would feel bad after accidentally hurting me.

I sobered up realising I was laughing to myself. Alone. I am going insane now. Great. Dad is in for a surprise when he finds me.

Hearing the door getting unlocked, I faced it. Is it time for dinner yet? Yes, considering Zale stepped in once again carrying a plate of food.

"No." I said as he was about to place the plate on the nightstand. "I am not going to eat anything unless and until you let me out of this room."

He raised a brow. "You want to stay in the dungeon instead?"

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "No. What I want is to leave this room because I will go insane if I spend another moment locked up here."

"Not my problem." And he took the plate and started to walk towards the door and I marched upto him and tugged on the sleeves of his shirt.

He halted and threw me an exasperated look over his shoulder. And I spoke before he had the chance to. "I am getting bored."

"I am not supposed to entertain you." And he yanked his hand away in an attempt to leave the room but I pushed myself infront of the door, my back to it not allowing him to leave.

"At least let me leave this room. I won't try to escape." I negotiated which was a lie of course.

He scoffed. "And I am supposed to believe that?"

"Yes." I gritted my teeth. "And unless and until you say yes, I won't let you leave this room."

"And don't even try to manhandle me because your shoulder is injured and so is my hand so let's not try to give each other more pain for today." I added quickly.

And sliding down, I sat on the floor cross legged with my back against the door.

"I guess it's going to be a long night." And once again placing the plate on the nightstand, he sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning forwards and resting his forearms on his thighs, his fingers intertwining with each other.

And we both stared at each other, not backing down. My eyes narrowed down slowly at him and he matched my action.

God, this man is infuriating! And stubborn just like me.

"You can spare torturing yourself if you just let me out." I once again negotiated.

"And you can be peacefully eating your dinner at the moment if you stop being stubborn." He shot back.

"I would rather die."

He smirked. "Fine. Then I would rather sit here and watch you all day." The intensity in his gaze made my body heat up.

So, that's what we did, have a staring competition. My eyes trailed down his body, his broad shoulders, his chest, the way the white shirt fitted him perfectly, the bulge in his arms visible and the veins on his forearms. Fuck. No, stop looking at his body.

I can't believe myself, staring at my kidnapper's body. Pathetic.
Then I assured myself that it's just because my period is supposed to start soon.

Shit. My period. I don't have any clothes let alone sanitary products.

"I need clothes." I spoke up.

He fucking smirked again. "So, you have accepted that you will be staying here for a long time?"

My nostrils flared. "Yes, considering dad won't be giving you Alaska."

This time his eyes narrowed. Ha, take that!

Jezebel: 1; Zale: 0

"So..." I drawled. "Am I getting clothes or not?"

"Maybe."

"I can't wear the same clothes for so many days. And I need some tampons and pads since I will be starting my period soon unless you want me to bleed all over the house."

A flush spread over his cheeks. "You will get them tomorrow."

I smirked.  Jezebel: 2; Zale: 0

"How about we try negotiating again? I will let you go if you allow me to come down for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Or you can give me my phone so that I don't get bored."

"I am not doing any negotiation."

I shrugged. "Okay. Looks like we will have to spend the whole night here."

"There's a way to make it exciting though." He leaned back, a seductive smile spreading over his face.

He fucking didn't!

"Did you just try to flirt with me?!"

Amusement shone in his eyes. "I don't need to flirt, princess."

"Well it sounded like that."

He lifted his hand and rubbed his lower lip with his thumb. "Did it? I was thinking of having a duel. What did you have in mind, princess?"

Fuck. I blushed. Jezebel: 2; Zale: 1

Swallowing my pride (not that I had any left), I got up. "You know what? You are free to go. I am done with this."

Looking satisfied and victorious, he got up and stuffing his hands in his pockets he stalked to me and leaning down, his hot breath fanned my ear. "Goodnight, princess."

I stopped the urge to punch him. "May you see nightmares and have the worst sleep."

He let out a deep, short chuckle that I felt deep in my belly and he thankfully, left the room.

Chapter completion on: 8/6/22
Published on: 25/6/22