The Inferno

Chapter 2 The Truth

W e, myself and my six, are all sat around the large kitchen table on the seventh, and final, floor of this building.

Three, in her twitchy state, has made us all a variety of soothing, hot drinks that nobody asked for or wanted. Six is gripping his so tightly I’m worried he’ll shatter Three’s favourite floral mug.

“They’re coming back, tomorrow.” One, known as Louise now we’re not working, chews over the words that had just left my mouth. Her fingers dipping in and out of the scolding water of her drink. “I mean, it could be worse. They could have just taken you and then we’d have never seen you again—”

A sudden flame erupts from Louise’s mug, causing her to flinch and recoil as Two narrows his amber eyes at his twin sister.

She glares back, pushing her thick, blonde curls behind her shoulders before sending a blast of water from her fingertips into his face. Lewis’ strawberry blonde curls droop down his forehead as his rubs the droplets away.

They maintain their scowls. “Lou, can’t you see you’re making it worse?” Lewis mumbles quietly, blowing the steam from his own mug before taking a hesitant sip. Louise frowns, staring into her cup.

“I shouldn’t have let them up.” Five, the most incredible mage I’ve ever met, looks across the table at me with wide, sad eyes. “I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Alexis, don’t.” I lean over to grab her pale lilac hands but she pulls them back.

“We all agreed, the day we found you… we all agreed to keep you safe and I… I—”

“Stop, Alexis.” August’s deep voice sends the room back into uncomfortable silence. It’s a typical response to Six’s voice. “If we’re going to place the blame onto anyone, it should be me.” His dark golden eyes land on me. “I left you in there, alone.”

When I reach out to touch his hands, he doesn’t pull away and I tighten my grip. “I distinctly remember commanding you to leave,” I reply with a sad smile, “and if you didn’t, well... I really can’t think about that right now. ”

I take a large gulp of my scalding tea and wince. Lewis instantly alters the temperature with a small smile. “Thanks Lew.”

“That’s the plan for tomorrow!” Lewis suddenly announces, all eyes racing to him. “We could spike their drinks, Ferne could put one of her herbs in to knock them out, we can get a transporter to put them in the desert or something? That would give you enough time to…”

“Find their way back and slaughter us all?” Louise replies and the room becomes quiet once more.

“I do have a pretty potent poison,” Three quietly adds, rummaging within her nominated cupboard beneath the kitchen sink, one which none one dares to go near.

“Ferne, please stop,” I gently say. I hear her tinkering and the clinking of glass for a few more seconds but then she sighs, turning back towards the table. “And Lew, I really appreciate what you’re trying to do, but…but…”

August squeezes my hand, encouraging me, quietly reminding me we don’t keep secrets when we’re sat at this table. “I amplified an emotion to half my ability,” I explain, staring at the swirls in the brown liquid. “It should have incapacitated him but he didn’t even flinch. He smiled.”

Deafening silence drowns the room. Even Four, Javier, who’s known to break these awful silences, doesn’t attempt to shatter it.

“If we can’t stop them, we can try to distract them.” Alexis suddenly breaks the heavy gloom with her words, her eyes hard and serious. “A vampire, fae and demon; right?”

I slowly nod, not sure where this is going, but Javier is quicker. “Succubi.”

We all groan, August looks like he might throw his mug at Javier’s head but he’s quick to continue, holding up a hand. “Wait, what I mean is, we need to get Delilah and the girls in, they’ll distract them,” he elaborates, standing to ensure all attention is on him.

“Succubus feed from the most powerful,” Louise mutters, her light brows furrowed as she thinks.

“Was the fae from the Light?” Javier asks, his eyes wide on me.

I glance away for a moment. “Dark.”

Once more, the room slips into a silence but Javier continues. “OK, not great. Fuck. Since when did dark fae work as enforcers?” He glances around the table but his eyes land on Ferne, the most knowledgeable, a known quality of earth elementals .

“It is rare,” she begins, her thick brown hair swaying in its ponytail as she thinks. “But a vampire and demon too, it’s strange. They’re all creatures of the dark. They usually ensure the groups are mixed…but then there’s also the sisters…”

“Trust me, they were all dark,” I mutter.

“So, we get Delilah to bring her harem of succubi. We send her most powerful to them, they’ll feed from their power, keep them busy; distracted.” Javier nods along with his plan and I watch the group’s expressions starting to fluctuate with levels of agreement. “They’ll be so preoccupied; they’ll forget all about you!”

August stays still beside me, his eyes hard and expression unreadable. I don’t dare dash the hopes they have, so I gently nod.

The group continue to plot and ploy without me, August leaves the table to contact Brutus and I’ve slipped into the communal living room. After a few more hours, the sun begins to appear and each member of my family starts to slip away. Each giving a lingering hug until only I and August remain.

August takes the seat beside me on the windowsill, his large, muscular frame taking half the room but I don’t move and our knees touch.

“Brutus wants to come tomorrow,” he informs me, my eyes are wide with worry but he continues, “he said he’ll stay in the comms room at the back but he wants to be here… he feels useless.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “I can’t have him here; I need to keep controlled and knowing he’s there…”

August studies my reaction, he knows. Everything I’m saying he completely agrees with but Brutus, just like a stereotypical alpha wolf, is stubborn. Once he’s made a decision, he won’t change it.

I turn to look out the window once more, a clear view of the Entertainment District lit up for miles with various neon billboards and a large invisible barrier just to the right, containing the Council District. I take a sip of my nightly concoction and pinch my nose with my fingers as I do, the strong herbs make it unbearably bitter.

“The nightmares?” August suddenly asks.

I continue staring out the window, unwilling to look at him as I take another gulp. But my silence only confirms his thoughts. The nightmares which reoccurred most nights, ones that left me screaming, covered in sweat. Ferne’s herbal mixture was the only thing that helped minimise their impact.

“Stay with me tonight.” August’s voice is soft, a tone he rarely used with anyone, as his hand lands upon mine.

I don’t dare turn to face him. “We’ve talked about this, August.”

His palm tentatively cups the side of my face, urging me to face him. I sigh as he gently turns me. “We’ll just lay together, like we used to,” he murmurs, his gentle tone mimicking the caress of his thumb across my jaw. “Please, my wolf has been whining all night.”

He delivers me a small smile and his eyes glow. I instantly scrunch my face at him, he knows I hate it when he uses his wolf against me. And, without another word, he knows he’s won. He sweeps me off the window ledge and into his arms easily, then heads towards my room. I rest my head against him and sigh, selfishly enjoying the feel of his firm arms and warm chest.

I’m the only one who stays in the club overnight; I don’t have another home like the others. I should really question August as to why he isn’t going to stay with his pack but I have a feeling Brutus has given his permission. Also, even more selfishly, I don’t want him to go. I don’t want to be alone.

That’s how I end up falling asleep, with heavy arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close and his scent surrounding me. A scent that was going to cause all sorts of problems.

◆◆◆

“Forget the blonde fae, have you seen the girls Delilah has brought tonight? Wow. I mean. Wowww .” Javier dramatically whistles into the earpiece, making me wince. “I think I’ll be living on floor six tonight, team.”

The club doesn’t open for another hour, but the team decided to arrive earlier to welcome Delilah and her girls, to brief them on the plan, and it seems Javier is having a wonderful time.

“Step away from the succubi,” Louise orders in a robotic voice, the echo indicating she’s near him. “I repeat, step away.”

“Lex, did you put a shielding spell on Javier?” I ask, turning to Alexis who’s perched on my bed, viciously swiping through her phone whilst attempting to ignore the conversation in our ears .

“I gave that man a rune, a physical incantation on his skin just to make him immune,” she groans out, flopping back onto my bed. “But it seems nothing can contain his horniness.”

“Maybe I’m just too powerful for the rune, maybe you need to come and check it’s working, Alexis ,” Javier drawls, I imagine his dark grey brows moving up and down suggestively.

“Someone, gag him, please.”

“Alexis! Sexy Lexi... I never knew you were into that?” Javier mockingly gasps. “Well, I knew you liked it a bit rough but now—”

“I’m going to kill him.” Alexis stares up at the ceiling, her earpiece now discarded on the floor. “Please Goddess, give me strength.”

I cannot contain my laughter at the two of them, which causes Alexis to stare daggers at me. She continues acting like she’s appalled by my response until she can’t help joining in.

“Come on, Sexy Lexi, help me pick out—”

Thump.

I stop speaking. I slowly turn until my glare is focused upon her. I glance at the pillow now on the floor, the pillow she had fired at my head, before locking back onto her.

She begins scampering back on the bed, murmuring ‘oh shit’ but I lunge, grabbing her by the waist as I tackle her to the floor in a thud. We both groan at the impact and then the laughter starts again until we’re breathless and our stomachs ache.

I appreciate the break from my stark reality, but it ends as abruptly as it began.

Black. High neck. Minimal skin. That is the criteria for my outfit tonight.

At ‘The Inferno’, staff are expected to dress in a similar style. The colours black, red and white being the only ones allowed and there is a distinct expectation to wear outfits that emphasise our bodies. After all, this is a club for powerful creatures of the realm and they have extremely high expectations.

Which is why Alexis has told me I currently resemble a dominatrix who thinks they know what a nun looks like but has never actually seen one.

“I’m going for high coverage,” I state frustratedly, readjusting the halter neck to lay comfortably beneath my chin .

“Jas, it doesn’t matter what you wear.” She’s stood beside me now, looking into the long mirror at the both of us.

We’re in the back room of level six, preparing for the club to open in thirty minutes. Alexis is dressed in a fiery red playsuit which pulls in around her tiny waist, accentuating her toned body and long neck. The bright colour shouldn’t compliment her lilac complexion but it absolutely does.

“The less skin the better,” I mutter, bending down to zip up black, thigh high boots.

“Babe, with that body, that hair,” Alexis begins, staring at my reflection and pointing to each part of me with a smug expression, “and that face, it doesn’t matter what you wear.”

When I stand up, I stare at the crimson gaze staring back and the dark red hair framing my pale complexion. Soft waves fall below my breasts which I tend to tie back but I kept down tonight. I part it down the middle and make sure there’s a section covering each side of my neck.

Alexis stares at me in the mirror, her purple gaze watching my every action with a sad smile upon her lips. We both know what I’m trying to do but neither one of us is brave enough to trample on this tiny piece of armour I’m attempting to build around myself.

I pinch a strand of my hair, staring at it as I speak. “I’m thinking of dying it.”

“Don’t you fuc—”

We hear him before we see him, a loud spluttering cough echoing down the winding hallway followed by heavy footsteps. Instantly, a smile is upon my face as I reach for the doors and wrap my arms around Brutus before he’s had chance to even fully enter or speak.

His tall, impressive frame no longer holds the power it once had but he grips onto me as though it was the first time we embraced.

“I told August you shouldn’t be here,” I murmur, whilst keeping my arms around his neck.

“It’s good to see you too, kid” he replies, stepping back to look into my eyes with a smile. “How are ya?”

I frown slightly at his question, pulling my brows together. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

He has aged so quickly over the last five years. Being the alpha to a powerful pack, and running multiple clubs in the Entertainment District, will do that to you but having a curse will do that too. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s had this curse. A curse which is slowly killing him. We have tried for years to find a cure, Alexis has looked in every magical book from her ancestors, the twins seeking out blood elementals, and Ferne experimenting with rare ingredients but none have been successful.

Brutus’ curse and my mark are the two things we’ve never been able to fix, but at least my mark isn’t killing me.

He places a weathered palm into my hand, Alexis and I lead him into the furthest room on level six: the comms room. When he takes a seat, he coughs a few times before removing a small bottle from his pocket and taking a large gulp. He struggles to catch his breath a moment and we both wait, patiently.

“I think that answers your question,” he replies, a small smile attempting to lighten the darkening tone.

The doors to the room open, August enters dressed in professional black armour which is more for aesthetic than actual protection. He looks divine and the memory of his lips on my skin this morning come racing back, I force myself to stare at the specks of glitter in the floor to regain composure.

“Members of the pack are spread across the floors,” August explains, taking his time to glance at the variety of security feeds in the room, “Luna isn’t happy that you’ve made her stay at home, Alpha.”

I raise my brows at that, staring directly at Brutus who frowns at me, grumbling as he says, “She’s going to kick my ass when I get back.”

Alexis and I smile at that comment but August nods his head in agreement. I’ve only met his Luna once, but it was enough to know she could work on at least level three of the club.

Several members of the pack come to join Brutus in the comms room and we spend a few moments checking their earpieces before it’s time to open.

“If anything happens, anything goes wrong, press the alert.” Brutus levels his gaze with mine, our hands are clasped and I can feel the sluggish beat of his pulse through his paper-thin skin. I nod, even though I know I would never press the alert willingly, but it’s enough for him to let me go .

The night begins the way it always does. I’m leaning over level two’s barrier, watching those below, but there’s a distinct tension in the air radiating from all of us.

As I ascend the levels, each member of the team makes a point of seeking me out as though I might disappear at any moment. The only one still behaving slightly like himself is Four.

“Delilah and her best girls are staying on level six,” Four explains, like someone had asked but no one had even spoken since opening. “Six, you keep those big paws to yourself, pal.”

I widen my eyes and stare across at Ferne on level three, her hazel eyes are wide back at me, both of us shocked at the comment Four just made. The silence that always follows is there… but it’s soon broken.

“These ‘big paws’ will be around your throat in a minute, Four.” And like that, the tension is fractured. I sigh in relief as streams of light laughter fill the comms. I secretly appreciate Javier’s attempts to lighten the mood— but I’d never tell him that, he had a big enough ego already.

I make it onto level five at the usual time, Alexis and I continue our normal route of the floor and analyse every creature we come across. I’m shocked to see Dracula missing and wonder if I was too harsh on him yesterday but I don’t have long to ponder that thought.

“They’re here, heading straight to Six,” Brutus informs us via the comms. “Remember, comms is not secure, do not use it unless it’s a last resort.”

I nod absent-mindedly, knowing that at least two of the enforcers would be able to hear anything we discussed over them. Like yesterday, I fall back into the darkness of level five and wait.

Unfortunately, the wait is barely half an hour.

A wolf from Brutus’ pack makes his way towards Five and when I realise it’s one of August’s team members, I step out of the shadows to meet them. “They said not to keep them waiting any longer,” he states in a hurry, his expression filled with frustration.

Five’s expression fills with her own anger. “Those fucking…”

I don’t hear the rest, I’m sure it would have been creative but I’m already making my way towards the exit. Alexis continues muttering under her breath as she rushes to open the door, she tries to follow me up the stairs but I send her back down .

“If they wanted me dead, I’d be dead already,” I simply state, repeating the words from yesterday.

“That’s not enough for me, Jasmine.” Her violet eyes are dark and intent on mine as I continue ascending the stairs. We maintain eye contact until Six opens his door, the same witch from yesterday beside him, glancing between us before moving aside.

“I’m going with you,” he states, his voice determined as he ushers me into his level by placing a warm palm on the small of my back. I maintain my steady speed, aware I’m keeping them waiting, the very thing they told me not to do.

As we get closer to the room, two girls nearly knock into us in their haste to escape. Delilah's girls. I hear the loud sobs of one, the other with her arms protectively clung around her shoulders. Their fear suffocates me, lingering in the air even after they pass. I glance at August, then behind at the girls, before continuing in the direction they had just left.

“August, I’m going in alone.” I don’t look at him and I keep my words steady as I head towards the door radiating power. “I need you out here. You can feel the tension tonight, the change, I need you focused on your level.”

We halt outside the door and August stares down at me, his warm, amber eyes begging me to reconsider yet knowing I really have no other option. If I refuse to go, they’ll come searching, and if they come searching, who knows what chaos they’d leave in their wake.

As I turn to enter, August grabs my wrist. “Promise me, you’ll press the alert if you need to.” I begin to open my mouth but he lowers his face until our noses nearly touch. “Promise me, don’t lie like you did to Brutus. Never lie to me, Jasmine.”

I wet my lips and look away. I take a breath before facing him again and manage a very tight nod. It’s not much, I see his eyes lower as though he wants something very different to happen but I pull away and open the door before it can, closing it behind me with a solid thud.

There’s hardly any noise in here. The wailing music becomes muffled behind layers of thick concrete, even the glass wall is five layers thick. It means the racing of my heart seems even louder.

“Succubi, really Red?” His laughter lingers on every word, patronising, mocking, and the sound is piercing in a room so quiet.

Sai’s smirk is already in place, he’s sat upon the large, leather sofa which rests against the glass wall like it's a throne. He has one leg propped up and one arm strewn across the back like he owns the room—or the entire building.

I gently curl my fists and stare at him impassively. The urge to respond with some equally childish response bubbling in my chest. “I imagine women fleeing in tears is a response you’re quite used to?” Thinking it in my head is enough to help relieve the tension of the air.

Julien is slumped at the other end of the sofa, the deep red of the leather complimenting his eyes. He’s peering over his shoulder and through the glass wall, surveying those below like a true predator, whilst looking as though being here was a strain on his existence. He’d clearly rather be anywhere, hell itself, than here.

Me too, buddy. Me too.

Dark Eyes is sat on the very edge of the black, glass-top table before them. It seems the chairs aren’t to his liking any more.

“You made us wait,” he states, his dark eyes slowly raising from the object in his hands and landing upon me.

The way his heavy gaze roams over me creates an instant crack in my armour. I was adamant my outfit would stop me feeling as vulnerable but one glance is all it takes for my skin to burn.

A neon light flashes by, creating a red hue over his caramel skin, casting darker shadows beneath his cheek bones. From this angle, I can’t help but appreciate his toned body which is taut and clad in a deep charcoal, tailored suit. Minus a jacket, I note the glittering cufflinks fastening his black shirt.

I swallow, bring my thoughts back into the room, and consider how to approach this situation without angering him. My gaze flickers over them in assessment, noting their body language seems different, more relaxed. I could use my powers for conformation but I don’t dare reach out yet.

“My apologies but I do work here,” I begin, and instantly, I realise the tone was too informal. All of their eyes, intense and firm, race to me and I nearly tremble on the spot. I wet my lips and try again, lowering my voice. “I’m sorry.”

They continue to observe me, I force myself to appear at ease but my power automatically comes alive, seeping out and wrapping itself around me like another layer of armour, hopefully one better than this dress. Sai tilts his head as though he can see it but I know he can’t.

“Sit.” That one word is full of demand. I glance at the demon as he stands, and turns, indicating with his open hand where I’m intended to ‘sit’. Indicating directly towards the empty seat of the sofa, the one in-between Sai and Julien.

The demon sits again, upon the table edge, now with his back to me as though I’d been dismissed or he no longer had the patience to look at me.

I have to focus extremely hard to stop any type of verbal response. What I’d really like to say is, “No thanks, I’m quite happy stood here away from all of you.” but I already knew how extremely impatient he was, I imagine that wouldn’t go down well.

Instead, I take a steady breath and move, feeling Sai and Julien's eyes upon me with each step. Julien is dressed in a dark shimmering suit with a black shirt, however with the addition of a burgundy, velvet jacket. The sleeves of which are rolled up to his elbows, revealing smooth dark skin, firm forearms and prominent purple veins. The second I sit down; I note Julien's deep crimson gaze is narrowed and his dark brows pull together, lips pulling into a slight sneer.

I would feel offended, maybe a little self-conscious, if I didn’t want this exact reaction. At least he doesn’t look bored.

“Drink this,” the demon commands.

“What?” The word falls out. I stare at him then at the small vial in his hands. “What is it?”

“A truth serum.” He stares at me like everything I say is an annoyance.

“I’m not drinking that.” The words are out, I can’t take them back. “I have no idea what’s in it, it could be poison.” His dark eyes level with mine and at this proximity, I realise his eyes aren’t completely black but mixed with tiny fragments of grey.

“What fun would that be, Red?” Sai quickly leans forward, pinches the vial from the demon and takes a swig. His eyes never leave mine as it leaves his lips. “The more the merrier.”

I stare at him, waiting for his ivory skin to turn ashy or his eyes to roll back but nothing happens. The top buttons of his black shirt are open, allowing me to see part of a long, silver chain and, beneath that, more of his intricate markings. They travel and curve over his collar bones and suddenly flare under my perusal, I immediately pull my eyes away.

Sai smiles down at me, all teeth and dimples, it’s a smug expression that causes my eyes to narrow.

He holds the vial out for me but Julien leans across, takes it from Sai and drinks. When I peer up at him, clear distaste still lingers upon his features as he tips the vial towards me. My coils hums, slithering around me in a tight cocoon as I take it from Julien. It’s nervous and attempts to crawl out along my arm to seek more comforting emotions, but there’s none here.

I scrutinise the small vial, swirling the dark green liquid between my fingers before meeting the demon’s gaze. His jaw is tight, a small tick of muscle moving there. His expression alone is enough to make me take a sip.

“More,” he orders, eyes ablaze.

I pause but then tilt the vial further back. The watery liquid leaves a small burning sensation as it rolls down my throat. When I think he’s happy with the amount I drank, I push the vial towards him and wait for him to drink. He takes it, secures the lid and slips it into his shirt pocket.

I openly scowl at him, my power coiling in irritation at the unfairness. My brain feels foggy as it begins to formulate all the things I really want to say and I open my mouth to unleash a tirade until someone’s power slams into me.

My own pulses and expands as I slowly turn to stare at the asshole beside me. My sight is pure venom as it locks onto his smirking face, I want to punch that expression off of him.

“Hey, I was just trying to help!” Sai attempts to explain but my power is still furious at his attack. “Whatever you were about to say, it wouldn’t have ended well and I’m not quite ready for this to be over, Red. Take a breath, use your head; focus.”

I listen to Sai’s words, frustrated that taking a few deep breaths is exactly what I needed to do as I feel the rageful words slipping away.

“That’s it, good,” he praises, but in a patronising tone that has my anger building. He smirks at my reaction. “You’ve never had a truth serum before, Red?”

“No,” I answer immediately .

My response is so instant that my brain takes a moment to catch up and when it does, the impact of my decision to drink the serum hits me hard. Sai’s quiet laughter encourages my rage to build again and I have to work hard to breathe.

I quickly realise that not only will I answer any questions they ask truthfully but that I’m desperate to say the truth. I desperately want to tell them all exactly what I think of them and when Julien readjusts his legs beside me, pulling himself further away and making the seat dip, it’s enough to make me turn and the words tumble out.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I bite my lip, physically forcing my mouth to stay shut, and tense.

“Your scent is different. What did you do last night?” Julien's response sounds casual, but his maroon eyes are intent upon the lip my teeth are piercing, the biting pain an attempt to keep me from answering his stupid, invasive question.

I did many things last night, all the things I did start floating in my head. The conversation at the table, the plans my family made, the way August carried me in his arms, and I’m trying so hard to focus on something that won’t have any repercussions.

“I slept,” I gasp. Before he can respond, I ask Julien a question, “What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s tainted. Who did you sleep with?” Julien's voice is completely level but there’s a flash in his eyes when he asks this question.

The name rings clear in my head, it echoes over and over again but I force my lips to stay shut. But his name keeps repeating and each time it becomes louder and louder and louder until—

“A wolf,” I exhale the word, the thud in my head only decreasing slightly but I’m hopeful it’ll be enough to stop the ringing in my ears.

“The wolf from yesterday?” but Julien continues his interrogation.

I don’t want to answer, I refuse to. All I need to say is ‘yes’, that’s it. One word. But a part of me feels like it’s dangerous to give them that, to let them know who I shared my bed with.

A slicing pain starts to run from the tip of my throat down into my gut, I gasp and grip my stomach with tight arms in an attempt to quell it but the slicing turns into burning and soon tears are forming in my eyes .

My coils flare and reach out at anything it can take, latching onto Sai and attempting to feed from his power but, of course, it can’t touch him.

“Yes,” I cry out, the word feeling like a spiky object dragged up from my gut.

I pant as the pain begins to subside, rushing to wipe the tears from my face and taking a deep breath. When I finally sit back up, the ache is still in my throat and the demon’s eyes are level with mine.

“If you try to lie or keep the truth that will keep happening,” he explains, watching another tear roll down my face which I quickly wipe away.

“Did you fuck him?”

“No. What the fuck!” The question catches me off guard and my power flares in anger, lashing out at Sai’s. I scowl at him, refusing to hide my disgust. “Why are you asking that?”

His piercing eyes twinkle and his smirk turns into a wide grin that shows his teeth, making it clear he’s enjoying this way too much.

“I wanted to know and I knew it would make you mad.”

“Do you belong to him?” Julien's sudden question has me snapping back to him, my scowl only deepening.

“No.” What are these questions? Is this an attempt to get me to lower my defence again? But if it was, Julien's expression reveals nothing and that only adds to my irritation. “Do you belong to anyone?”

Sai laughs but I stay watching Julien. He quirks a brow at my question, and I copy the action, waiting for his response. “No.”

We watch each other, I’m not quite sure what we’re waiting for but my coils hum under his perusal and I appreciate the brief pause from invasive questioning.

“Why are you concealing your power?” The demon has had enough of the random questions, I can sense it in his tone, feel it.

“I’m not doing it on purpose,” I carefully reply, trying to stop myself from saying more.

“Elaborate,” he commands, dark eyes searching mine.

I see it before I speak, the thick black lines trailing across my shoulder blades and along my spine, I shiver when the burning sensation begins.

“I’m marked. ”

There’s a buzz of energy in the air. I can almost feel it as I watch the three men take turns glancing at one another. Another silent conversation ensues, one I’m not privy to, and I nearly huff in annoyance. This truth serum is a dangerous thing, I must remember to never try it again.

“Who do you belong to?” The demon’s words feel heavy, they linger in the uncomfortable silence they’ve created.

“I don’t know.”

More silence, more stares, another heated look from Dark Eyes and without words I know he wants more. “I don’t know who marked me and I can’t remember being given the mark,” I begin, gritting my teeth in frustration as the words continue to flow. “Five years ago, the owner of this club found me and that’s the earliest memory I have.”

The words are rushed as they tumble out, it’s hard to keep track of what I’ve said and haven’t. I bite my tongue when I remember I’ve revealed who found me.

“Where is your mark?” he asks, dark eyes attempting to dig deeper into me.

“My back.”

“Show us.”

“No,” is my sharp and automatic response. I’m not under his compulsion. I have to say the truth but I do not need to follow his commands.

The demon edges closer to me, his knees almost touching mine whilst I slowly shift back on the sofa. His eyes drift to the action of my legs pulling away before sliding back to me. My stomach feels like lead.

“If you continue to make this process longer and more difficult than it needs to be, I will drag the wolf in here and ensure your cooperation another way.” His eyes flare, the pupils expanding, bleeding into bottomless pits as he leans in closer.

“You really don’t want that, Red,” Sai decides to add, amusement evident with each word.

I don’t move my gaze from the demon, even though every logical part of me is screaming to back away. “Fine,” I bite out, pushing away the many other uncouth things swirling around in my head.

Simultaneously, I curl my fingers into my palm which begins to move the zip of my dress down. I halt, stopping the action and point my fingers directly at Mr Impatient. “Just to be clear, none of you are touching me,” I say in my most diplomatic voice, noting the way his eyes have become glued to my hand like he might take a bite.

There’s no response or movement from beside me, I decide to take that as a silent agreement. I pull my fingers in again until the zip is down the middle of my back, I shuffle forward and slide one shoulder of my dress down.

The mark spreads much further, stopping just before my hips, but I’m not showing any more than I need to.

“Holy shit,” Sai mutters from my side, I feel him move to get a better look and the serious tone of his voice has my power flaring in panic.

“What?” I ask nervously, turning to glance over my shoulder at him but it’s not enough to see his face.

“That’s not a mark of belonging.”

Suddenly, my body turns of its own accord to allow Sai a clearer angle and it takes me a moment to realise he used his power to move me. Before I can protest about being invisibly manhandled, he speaks again and I’m too intrigued to interrupt.

“I’ve never seen a mark like this.”

Sai’s statement causes Julien and the demon to look at one another, then above my head to seek out Sai. Another silent conversation takes place and I sit there with wide eyes, trying to digest that piece of information before the interrogation starts again.

“Who knows about this mark?” the demon questions, causing our eyes to meet once more.

“People I trust.” I know that response won’t be enough for him but I don’t care. “And you three.” I nearly smirk at my additional comment but I manage to hold it in.

His heavy gaze is warning me to stay in line but I’m enjoying playing with the flames too much. Maybe I should take this serum more often?

“Does it hurt?” Sai’s voice is quite pleasing when it’s not mocking or taunting me.

“Sometimes.” I glance behind and notice he’s a bit closer. “When I use my powers too much or too quickly, it burns.” Should I have said that?

“Is this your only mark?” Julien suddenly asks, his expression vacant.

“Yes. ”

“No scars, no bite marks?” he adds, his blood red gaze flickering over my face.

“No and I’ve never been bitten.”

Somehow, the temperature in the room seems to increase at that admission. Julien's crimson vision travels my entire body as though I’m wearing nothing at all before settling with my gaze.

“Oh, you should not have said that, Red,” Sai mutters, even without facing him I know he’s smirking at my mistake. Julien's intense eyes watch me with renewed interest and it’s a terrifying look.

My fingers grip the edge of the sofa in response, power coiling around them. He notes that action but then his eyes are back on me. His gaze now one of a predator’s, one that’s urging me to retreat, begging me to run. He wants to chase but I stay rooted to the spot. My coils snake over my skin and emit a low pulse of warmth, providing me with some comfort from his gaze.

“I think I can remove this,” Sai’s sudden admission breaks the horrific eye battle with Julien, I turn in his direction.

“Really?” There’s a clear hopefulness in my voice which causes the arrogant smirk to return, bright piercing eyes smiling at me.

“Yep, I just need to test a few things first which means I need to touch you,” he adds casually, like we’re discussing the logistics of a game. I glare at him to which he shrugs and pretends to wipe his hands. “It’s either that or I could accidentally kill you, these ancient runes can be tricky like that.”

An ancient rune? I turn to see the demon’s expression, to check he heard what I did. He’s glaring at Sai the way I sneer at Javier when he’s had too much to drink on his night’s off and I find him passed out on my living room sofa, often with no pants on.

“Is this a ploy to get inside my head?” I quiz, turning to face Sai again.

“Nope,” he grins, eyes twinkling.

“Is there some other hidden agenda?”

His grin stays a moment longer, then it falters and soon I can see the effect of the serum taking place as his body tenses and eyes squeeze shut.

“Yes,” he spits out .

I scowl at him and I’m surprised to hear a sigh from Julien. “Can you promise to hold back your power when you touch me?” I ask, keeping our gazes locked.

He dramatically places a hand over his heart and straightens his spine as he states, “I promise, I will try to hold my power back.”

The word ‘try’ lingers in my mind for a moment but my own power flares at what is to come, it pulses as though assuring me it won’t allow anything to happen. I wish I had my power’s confidence.

“OK."