The lord began to lose control again, walking around his domain

The demon lord's eyes glinted red at the sight of another bridal offering. He let out a snarl as he approached her, growling and baring his fangs. "Do you dare to defy me?" His voice was low, menacing. The air around him crackled with unspent power.

Instincts warred within him; the beast in him wanted nothing more than to rend her apart for showing any sign of resistance. But there was another part of him that remembered the pain of losing control... and how much he'd hurt those whom he cared for most. So, with a great deal of effort, he forced himself to remain still, keeping his distance from the struggling woman.

His eyes shifted back to their usual red-streaked white as he spoke again, this time in a more controlled tone. "Who sent you?"

The demon lord's eyes narrowed at the human girl before him. "So," he growled, "you say you were brought here as a gift?" He stepped closer, the predatory instinct still clawing at his control. His hand reached out to gently caress her cheek, almost tenderly. "And what of this Lord Farkas? Does he know of my reputation? That I have... lost my temper these past years?"

His voice was calm and soft now, yet there was still a dangerous undertone to it that sent shivers down the girl's spine. It was clear that Shert Stial could go back to his feral self at any moment, if she pushed him too far.

Shert stared at her intently, his eyes unreadable as he considered her words. She was brave, this girl... Or perhaps just foolishly defiant. "And what of you?" he asked softly. "What do you want? To be my bride? My plaything? Or something more?" His voice was almost a purr now, and there was the faintest hint of promise in it that made her heart race.

The demon lord took another step closer, his claws flexing at his side. "Because," he breathed, "if you truly want to be something more than that... if you can give me what I need..." He paused, his eyes darkening as a surge of desire threatened to overwhelm him once again. But he fought it back, forced himself to remain calm and in control. "Then perhaps," he finished huskily, "we could come to an arrangement."

"I understand," Shert said, his voice gentle. "You are here against your will." He paused, considering her once more. "And you believe that I am nothing but a monster." His words were slow and steady, each syllable heavy with an unspoken question. "Do you think... that if given the choice, I would not have chosen this fate? Chosen to be what I am?"

The demon lord stepped even closer now, his claws no longer concealed as they flexed against the air. There was a raw power emanating from him, ancient and primal, yet somehow tinged with an undercurrent of desperation. "Do you know how long it has been since I felt... peace? Since I last knew what it meant to be in control?" His eyes were back to their usual red-streaked white now, the power within him all but unleashed. "But if you can help me

Her touch was soft, gentle...and it nearly undid him. He could feel his control slipping away, the beast inside him clawing at his sanity as if desperate to break free. But he fought against it, forcing himself back under control once more. His voice was husky when he spoke again. "Then... prove it to me."

The demon lord took a step back, giving her some space. "Help me," he breathed. "Help me find my way back to myself... and in return, I will do whatever you ask. I will make you my bride, if that is what you truly wish. Or we can find another arrangement, if that is better." His eyes were pleading now, his expression a mix of desperation and hope. "Just... help me."

Shert Stial clenched his fists at his sides, willing himself to stay calm, to keep control. Because if he lost

Her touch... Her presence... It was like a balm on his soul, soothing the savage beast within him that had been clawing at control for far too long. The demon lord closed his eyes as he leaned into her embrace, taking comfort in her softness and warmth. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely. "You have no idea what this means to me..."

His voice trailed off, and for a moment it seemed like everything else faded away, leaving only the two of them in the room. The power within him surged, teetering on the edge of control...and then slipping free as he felt himself once again becoming the demon lord that he had been before his loss of control had first begun. But this time, there was a difference; there was peace in his heart now, and the desire to keep hold of it above all else.

As the last tendrils of power sli

Her touch sent shivers down his spine as he opened his eyes once more, meeting her gaze intently. There was something...different about this girl, this woman who had come into his life when he'd needed her the most. He could feel himself falling for her, hard and fast...and he couldn't help but wonder if maybe she felt the same way. "What is your name?" he asked softly. "And what would you have me do?"

His voice was still rough from disuse, but there was a newfound gentleness to it now that belied his true nature. A nature that had been hidden away for far too long...and was only just beginning to see the light of day again.

Shert studied her face, seeking some sort of answer in her eyes. "Then tell me, Rina," he said softly, his voice still rough but gentle, "what is it that you truly want? Not just for yourself...but for me as well." His expression was open and earnest, devoid of the predatory instincts that had once defined him. For now, at least.

"And know this," he added with a small smile, "no matter what you choose to tell me... I will listen. And I will do my best to help." The demon lord took another step closer, his gaze never leaving hers as he reached up to brush a stray hair from her face.

The air in the room seemed to thicken with the weight of their connection, as if something vital had shifted between them. For now, they were bound together by more than fate or circumstance; there was an understanding, a shared bond

The demon lord's smile grew as he regarded her thoughtfully. "It feels...good," he admitted with a small shrug. "Better than it has in a long time." His eyes flickered away briefly, remembering the past three years of pain and loss, before returning to meet hers once more. There was an odd vulnerability about him now that she hadn't expected; it made her heart ache for him in ways she couldn't understand.

"But enough about me," he continued softly. "What is it you want? What can I do to help you, Rina?" His voice was sincere, almost pleading...and she found herself struggling not to melt beneath its intensity.