A Devious Descent (The Deviants #1)

CHAPTER 32

Zarreth

I ’m unsure how much time has passed. Days, weeks? Insects cover my body as rats eat at my rotting flesh. Damp air coats my ragged wings, causing them to mold. It’s so dark I can’t tell if my eyes are open or shut.

Dreaming of ways to torture Aradon and Dante is the only thing keeping me sane. I imagine the smell of Dante’s burnt flesh filling my nose. The bitter taste of copper lingers on my tongue as I rip into Aradon’s face with my fangs. I laugh when the smell of his urine permeates the air, cherishing the sound of their screams as I tear them both apart limb by limb.

This is what loops through my mind, over and over. This is what I focus on because the slightest thought of how I failed Frankie tears my fucking soul apart. Everything happening to her is because of me. Because I couldn’t fucking protect my own mate.

I never should have left. I should have thrown her over my shoulder and fucked her until I was enough. I should have fucked her until she could think of nothing but me. I should have fucked her until she was carrying my baby.

“FUCK!” I did it again. I have to get her out of my mind. I’m going fucking crazy. Like I would ever bring children into this cruel world. But Frankie would be a wonderful mom. I imagine a little curly-haired girl running around with Frankie’s green eyes, and tiny horns like mine. “GODS DAMN IT!”

Focus, Zarreth. Focus on how you’re going to kill Dante and Aradon. Do not think about the freckles scattered across Frankie’s face, or the way her eyes glow when she comes on your cock. Damn it! It takes everything in me not to tear my heart from my fucking chest.

I will not lose my mind in this hole. I’ve been through this once, and I’ll do it again.

A light from above pulls me from my thoughts, startling me as something hits me on the head. I instinctively shield my eyes, trying to look up, but the brightness blinds me. I’ve been basked in darkness for so long, isolated from the world, that the very concept of light feels foreign.

“Let’s go, Maggot. Grab the fucking rope. We don’t have all day.”

I feel around until I find the rope and crawl my way up. Reaching the top, I find myself surrounded by five guards all pointing their swords at my throat.

Two of them grab me under the arms, yanking me from the hole. Before I can attack, they surround me. I snarl, baring my teeth.

Swords slice through my wings, sending pain radiating through my body as heavy boots come crashing down on my face. I struggle to lift my head, but I’m too weak to defend myself.

“Keep him still!” Aradon’s voice slices through the chaos.

Something sharp digs into my eyes, pressure building like two grapes being crushed underfoot.

I cough, the taste of blood filling my mouth, but I force out a smirk, gasping through the pain. “Is this the best you can do? I expected more from you.”

Aradon leans in, his voice laced with malice. “Don’t worry, we’re just getting started.”

With a sickening pop, the world around me goes black as I brace myself for what’s to come next.

Broken and bloody, I kneel on an all too familiar platform. My wings are stretched wide, nailed to the posts standing on both sides, the never-ending cycle repeating. You’d think they’d get more creative after all these years. The pain is unbearable, but I don’t give them the satisfaction of hearing me scream. I spit, chuckling to myself. My vision may be gone now, but Aradon will pay tenfold when I get myself out of here. I’m just biding my time.

“It’s a pity my savage guards took your eyes. I want nothing more than for you to witness what’s about to happen.”

I hear a muffled wail, followed by a thud and a groan.

“Turns out Dante failed to mention his new little toy is the sister of our good friend, Nate, here. He also failed to mention the extent of her powers. Dante has been hiding her from me, but don’t fret, your mate will be mine soon.”

I roar, as grief overtakes me. No! Not Frankie! Not my mate! Anger ignites within, despair clawing at my insides as I realize I failed her. My heart feels like it stops beating, everything inside me dying as I stand helplessly on the platform, my wings nailed to the poles rendering me useless.

I barely register what’s happening below as I twist and jerk, trying to rip my wings free, but I’m too battered and beaten. A wave of fear and frustration surges through me. I can’t let this be it. The thought of Frankie suffering at the hands of Aradon ignites a wild frenzy inside of me. Anger swells, suffocating my thoughts, erasing every last shred of hope until I remember Ronin.

Ronin will protect Frankie with his life, I know it deep in my bones. My brother who has never failed me—the one who stood by my side as kids while our mothers were being brutalized before our eyes, the one who remained steadfast in the dungeons during our captivity. He will do anything to keep Frankie safe.

The ringing in my ears slowly fades, only to be replaced by Nate’s cries. I hear grunt after grunt, making my stomach coil, until finally Aradon lets loose a loud moan. “Don’t cry, Nathaniel,” Aradon whispers. “You handled it better than most.”

“Take him to the barn and feed him to the hellhounds,” Aradon commands. “Don’t worry, Maggot. The hellhounds are coming for you too.”

The platform I’m on lowers, and soon I’m dangling in the air, leaving only my wings to support my body weight. I grit my teeth to keep from screaming. My back pops as pain shoots through my shoulders, but there is nothing I can do to lessen the load. I rack my brain trying to find a way out of this, but my thoughts fade into silence as I lose consciousness.

Night and day have come and gone. Other than animals screeching in the distance and the wind whipping my face, it’s silent. My wings have not completely severed. I’m covered in sweat and blood. My throat is dry, full of ash and sand.

I regain consciousness long enough to feel insects feeding off my bloody back. They crawl in and out of my orifices. I can feel one moving around deep in my ear. Its buzzing is the only thing keeping me company until I pass out again.

I know today is the day my wings will completely tear away, and I will die. I know this because today the hellhounds have been released. They’re jumping, snarling at my feet, waiting for me to fall to the ground.

I will not have the strength to fight them. Their poison will take over my body and I will become their food. A part of me finds comfort in this. At least I’ll never see that fucking cell again.