His claim that she belonged entirely to<i>him</i>was met with a weak, derisive snort, masking the way it unsettled her. Even when in service to the former king, Aryel's will had been hers and hers alone. She served him out of respect and loyalty, because she<i>chose</i>to, not because she had been forced into the role as she was now. Dradiro had her fear, perhaps, but certainly not her respect or loyalty, and likely never would. He could shackle and starve her, but if he thought to make her a mewling, mindless thrall, he'd have his work cut out for him. At his next words, however, she let out a quiet sigh of relief, shoulders slumping with a release of tension that she hadn't been aware she was holding. They were alive, that was all that mattered. She didn't enjoy letting him have such leverage over her, but letting them die simply wasn't an option.<br/><br/>She was already shrugging off the two guards moving to take ahold of her, looking equally puzzled, and rather suspicious, when he ordered them to stand down. Evidently, not immediately complying was enough to earn one of them a swift and brutal execution. The vampire let out a strangled hiss as Dradiro's hand plunged into his chest, dissolving into ashes as his now-empty armor clattered to the floor. The survivor jumped back, eyes wide with terror, while Aryel eyed the offered heart with distaste.<br/><i>"Hungry?"</i><br/>"Not anymore, no." she murmured, giving him a scornful look.<br/><br/>As he moved off, she followed, limping slightly but forcing herself to keep up with his stride. "I've noticed you tend to throw tantrums whenever you don't immediately get your way," she observed wryly as they walked. His display of indignant anger in the square when they doubted his godhood, as well as his recent murder of a loyal guard, made her wonder just how secure in his position he felt he was. If he<i>was</i>truly all-powerful, then she would have expected a bit more confidence and restraint.