Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
MIKO
Iwas shirtless, on my knees in the middle of the room with bare floorboards, covered in shallow cuts, my blood being used against me.
Trapped in magic.
Damn.
Three blood magi stood around me, the magic curling from their fingers slithering into my veins. Keeping me still before a triumphant Lance, his back to a boarded window, faint traces of moonlight around its edges.
“The best position for you,” he said with a chuckle.
The room was small, empty of furniture aside from a table beside the alpha, a wind-up lantern casting light on his features and the magi’s feet.
Who needed wolfsbane to trap a werewolf? Not this prick and his cronies.
All I could think about was my pack and Orion. I’d failed them. I’d made stupid choices trying to spare them when I should’ve chosen violence. Better to go out in a blaze of blood and broken bones than on my knees, my pack at the mercy of a horde, Orion the new plaything of a blood magi.
Lance stuffed his hands into his pockets. “She won’t kill him. She likes him. He’s a rarity, a real treat for someone like her. And, who knows, maybe the mark business might work with his blood. We’ll see. But he’s not your concern anymore. I am.”
He’d told me he’d found an oracle mark here in Camden, just not where.
The magic pouring into my cuts hurt like a dozen wasp stings at once.
“We have a lot to talk about, Miko. You’ve been on my mind almost every day, as you probably gathered from our first reunion.
” He laughed, rocking on his heels. “Not like that. One night was enough for me. You’re not featured on my fuckable list, I’m afraid.
Too old now. Once you leave your twenties, you’re stale toast.”
He was older than me.
“I’m much more into Chantelle these days.”
He was sleeping with the blood magi?
“Or whoever takes my fancy,” he added. “But never mind that. We’re talking about us, how we can move forward.”
He came down to my level on one knee. “Your days as alpha are done. They were the moment you slighted me all those years ago. I’ve bided my time long enough to bring you down.
” He put his hand on my left side. “And here we are, you finally subservient. Finally mine.” He leaned in closer.
“Sorry, but the grudge sat too heavy. To hell with the nonsense about dividing territory. I want all of London.”
Surprise, surprise.
The prick stood up again. “You see, Miko, I have a vision for the future, one with me as its king. Ruler of the one true pack. A place for all. My family is growing. Shifter, fae, human—if there are any still living. Everyone. A sanctuary where no one has to be alone.”
A nice idea on paper, and about as solid. Lance wouldn’t be some benevolent leader to see his pack into a bright new future. That iron fist waited to rule behind his dreamy words.
“You are part of that family, Miko. Because you are mine. Make no mistake—you are mine forever. Your pack is mine, if they survive the horde.”
He didn’t mention Orion.
He knelt in front of me. “It doesn’t have to be painful.
We can move on. But first you really must pay penance.
Suffer toward redemption, really let me feel your regret for ruining my life.
Do you know how much it hurt to be cast out of London like that?
To be on the run, forever hiding, always looking over my shoulder for my captor?
It broke me, Miko. It changed me. The notion of being locked up in some cell for years…
” He closed his eyes. “Dawn is not a curse. It was the blessing to set me free.”
Lance lucked out having blood magi hold me like this. If not, his head would be rolling.
He opened his eyes again. “You see why I said those things to you about Dawn? I know you can’t answer, but you can listen. You can understand me. And you will pay the price. I’m not sure on the full scope of things yet, only that it will hurt. Beginning with your mate.”
I couldn’t even growl a tiny bit.
“I’m taking him away from you like you took my life.
I think that’s a fair start. After we find out if that silly mark works with his blood.
” He narrowed his gaze into potent fury.
“Why the fuck should you find your mate and be happy? Why? Think about that. And think about my mercy. I could do so much to that fae right here in this room. Make him scream and bleed for long days and nights until he’s naked and dead on the floor.
Let you see it. Let you feel it.” He slammed a fist into his chest. “I still might, just to see your ugly face lose every drop of hope.” He spat at me, then cracked me across my face with the back of his hand.
“Cunt!” He spat and slapped me again. “Dirty fucking cunt!”
Shit, his slaps hurt. The blood magic didn’t stop the pain from blooming.
Lance stood upright again, taking off his jacket. “I think we’ll have some penance now. We’ll start with punches.” He cracked his knuckles. “I’m going to enjoy this so, so much.”
The door behind me crashed open, a wolf howling.
“No!” Lance screamed, drawing his gun.