Maria screamed through the gag. The pain was intense, blinding. She threw her head back as she lost even more precious blood.
Would he really kill her? If she died, this child would suffer greatly, would pray for death.

But if she died... Lucian...

The flame-haired beauty, blood and tears pouring from her, turned her eyes to her tormentor. The corners of her vision started to go dark, tunnel-y, but she could still see him clearly for the moment. She only stared, her eyes judging his actions. He was only proving her point now. He was acting like even more of a spoiled child, hurting her more because he hadn't liked hearing the truth.

He might break her, but he would never take her fire.

Her pupils widened to where they were almost black. She needed to replace the blood she was losing. Her screams of pain started taking on a snarling edge to them, her fangs nearly aching with the need to bite and feed. It was hard to look menacing while crying pitifully and praying for the pain to stop, but somehow she pulled it off.
She banged her head back repeatedly against the surface she was restrained to, her fangs gnawing at the gag. Her fangs were smaller then others, dainty and feminine, but still sharp as a scalpel. The leather was thick, but given enough time and she could cut it. The pain and the forced starvation was turning her more animalistic.

She wanted blood...

Her eyes fastened on her tormentor's throat. The urge to sink her fangs into it, to rip it open, was incredible.