CHAPTER 7

　　*Jonas*

　　So, I coughed all through the night.

　　And when the sun starts rising, sending reddish light into my cell, I am still coughing.

　　Dawn turns to morning and the sky turns bright blue, which I notice when I check on my water collected. It is still there on the ledge but empty, too bad my sore throat could really have used some water. On the other hand it would have soothed it, so probably better for my plan this way.

　　Upside, it has worked just as intended. My voice is completely gone, all I can produce is tiny squeaks.

　　So with a croak that would make any frog jealous the so called King can ask me anything he wants, in my mute state I am however, and very unfortunately, not able to answer.

　　Going over to the small mirror that he should probably have removed, I mean who says I won’t smash it and try to cut him with a piece ? I open my mouth wide and check, just to make sure he won’t accuse me of cheating him.

　　Yikes, red and raw. I look like I am badly in need of some penicillin. I also look pale and drawn with dark shadows under my eyes, adding to the image of Being sick, even if it is just due to lack of sleep.

　　I am honestly way too excited about this, but it feels like a small victory over my captor. The only thing I can’t find a way to fake is a fever. So I will have to do without, being mute must be enough.

　　It is also too late for anything else, because I am hearing heavy footsteps in the hallway outside.

　　I throw myself across the room, jumping into the bed, hiding by pulling the blankets up to only leave my face visible. Before coughing again I pinch my cheeks hare to make them look feverish and flushed.

　　Cough cough cough.

　　The key clicks in the lock.

　　Cough cough cough COUGH. It is puremurder on my throat, but I want to make it sound extra realistic as he is coming in.

　　Then there is another click, oh damn I forgot, two keys, two locks.

　　Cough cough cough. Hack hack. Cough. Gragh.

　　“By the moon Goddess, what are you doing in here ?”

　　I look up at him, about to, speak, or try to, but if I weren't already mute I would have lost my voice. My captor had looked dashing and dangerous in the half dark caves last night, but here by brightest day he put Adonis to shame. He seems somehow larger in the light. Stronger, too, as if his clothing only barely leashes the power of his body. His dark hair is neatly trimmed, but an errant lock falls forward to his left eyebrow. And his eyes ... They are clear, warm and hazel, but that is the only innocent thing about them. They look like they have seen far too much in their lifetime.

　　No, what the… is wrong with me ? He is a man for fucks sake. He isn’t attractive, not to me. I like girls, a lot.

　　He leans down and pulls at the blanket, then he grabs my shoulder. His hands feel so warm that I gasp, trying to hide it behind another cough. Seriously it is like they almost burn my skin, but not in a bad way.

　　“Listen little Alpha, I told you I was done with your lies.”

　　I lift my hands to my throat and cough, trying to look as sad and pathetic as possible while shaking my head.

　　“Seriously, you want me to believe that you …”

　　Opening my mouth wide I point into it with little jabs of my finger.

　　“Uhm no, I am not looking into your mouth, listen here you little ...”

　　I half roll my eyes at him, repeating the jabbing motion with my finger rather aggressively.

　　“Okay then, I guess it is the only way to stop this … shenanigans,” He looks more than a little annoyed as he pulls out a phone, clearly intending to use it as a flashlight to look into my throat.

　　As he sits down next to me on the bed, it sinks down a lot, making me tip towards him and I lift my arm to stop myself from landing in his lap. My thigh connects with his thigh and my hand press against the side of his chest.

　　The small squeal trying to escape me when sparks explode at every point of touch comes out as a croaky cough, and I nearly fall off the bed trying to scramble away.

　　“By the moon Goddess. Believe me I have been touched by men much more attractive than you,” He half growls. “No need to worry, I might starve you i to talking, but I am not going to rape you.”

　　Is it weird that I believe what he says ? I mean sure he abducts people, and keeps hostages and says he will starve me. But I do not believe him to be a rapist. I mean he could have done that last night if he wanted and he didn’t. I think he has too much honor to do such a thing.

　　“Come on then, open up.”