59. Stryker
STRYKER
My Leech stats are muted, so low, they’re practically gone. I tug on the collar again, trying to see what it is. When I get a peek at brown leather, I narrow my eyes.
“Is this one of the Rat Queen’s concubine collars?” I ask, trying to get a good look at it. “Are you claiming me for your harem, Beastie?”
I can’t help but be delighted by that, even if it does make me weak. They could kill me right now and I wouldn’t be able to do a thing about it. But oh, I’ve enjoyed this chase so much.
She scowls and crosses her arms. “No,” she spits. “It was just a quick way to make you not a threat.”
Clever girl. Admiration slams into me for the second time and I find myself smiling at her wider.
“Oh, how divine,” I purr. “What will you do with me now that you have me at your mercy?” I slide toward her.
She doesn’t back down, her eyes narrowing as I stroke a finger down her arm. “Will you play with me?”
“I could kill you,” she says, her blade suddenly in her hand. She presses it against my neck, pricking me with the sharp bone. “I could gut you again.”
I grin and press my neck more into the blade, drawing more blood. “I do so enjoy knives.”
Her eyes narrow further as she scowls at me. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
I laugh. “So many things, Beastie.” I tug at the collar again, as if to check it’s still there.
My powers are muted, all my stats back down to a normal, human level, but my charisma was so high, the collar only does so much.
It’s meant for lower levels, after all. I may not be strong, and I may not be able to drink, but I can still charm her.
I can still convince her to fuck me.
“The only one who can remove that is the one who put it on,” she says, assuming my tugging is an attempt to remove the collar.
Then she turns and starts to walk away. I watch as she pauses next to a large wheel, hesitates, and then turns it until the pipeline is open. A loud rattling starts to shake and groan before she steps back, nods, and starts to walk away again.
“You can’t leave me here with this on,” I purr, trailing after her.
“Watch me,” she says.
“Oh, I am,” I groan. “And the sight is fucking delectable.”
She whirls and bares her teeth. “Stop looking at my ass!”
“Where am I supposed to look when you’re in front of me?” I ask, raising my brows.
“Just . . . go away!” she snarls.
“Why would I do that?” I ask, laughing. “You’re the one who holds my leash.”
She swears under her breath and keeps moving back toward the platform where her other two men wait for her.
The Boiler King is on the floor in a heap and the Bone Breaker is sporting a large bruise on the side of his face now.
The Warden is standing off to the side, his arms crossed.
Behind them both, an Ophanim hovers menacingly.
When it catches me looking, it flares brighter in warning.
Ah. So that Ophanim doesn’t like me either. How cute.
My eyes find the familiar on Vesper’s shoulder as she dances back and forth, watching me with her large eyes.
“What are you looking at, bloodsucker?” she growls menacingly, raising her little arm in warning.
My brows shoot up again, surprised. I hadn’t seen the familiar in the Broken Caldera. It must have been hiding from the cold. Since then, she’s added an Ophanim and the Legend himself. How very interesting. “What a strange . . . collection . . . you’ve surrounded yourself with, Beastie.”
Locke laughs at the sight of Stryker in a collar. “Damn. I know how that feels.”
I grin. “Of course it was you who was captured in the sewers. It’s always the Bone Breakers.”
Locke’s smile falls into a scowl and he looks at Vesper. “What the fuck are we doing with him now? We killin’ him?”
Vesper glances at me and then back to her Bone Breaker as she seems to think about it. Their bond has grown since the last time we met. I can taste it in the air, even if I can’t sip at it any longer.
“If the offer of a threesome is still on the table . . .” I start.
“Shut up,” Vesper growls, shooting me a glare. “We should kick you over this ledge and be done with you. You’ve fucked with us for too long.”
I lean closer. “As long as it’s you who touches me, I shall accept my fate, Beastie.”
She stares at me, confused. “Shouldn’t you be fighting to survive? Begging us to spare you?”
I laugh. “I don’t beg for life,” I say. “But I will beg you to fuck me if that’s what you wish.”
Havoc makes a sound of annoyance in his throat. “Make up your mind already. I hate Leeches.”
Vesper looks at me again and then at the large praying mantis on her shoulder. They seem to communicate inside their minds, but it’s the bug that speaks first.
“He is an interesting specimen,” the bug says, glancing at me. “A very nice head, cutable neck.”
Vesper nods and sighs before she looks back at me. “You’re coming with us.”
I grin. “Oh, joy,” I purr. “You’ve decided I can’t leave?”
“I don’t think you would anyways,” she says. “We’d have to kill you.” She points to the collar. “Something tells me the big, bad Ascendant won’t like going home with that around his neck.”
My gaze darkens. She’s right. I can’t go back to Luxe, not with my powers muted, so I really only have one choice, even if I’m going to enjoy that choice.
“Are you certain you’d like me in your little group?” I purr. “I may not have my Glitch powers, but I can still stab you.”
“You won’t,” she says confidently.
“And why is that?” I ask.
She grins. “Because you wouldn’t want to waste it.” She moves closer and runs her hand down my chest, making me shiver. “My life force.” She grabs my chin. “And if you hurt any of the others, I’ll make sure you never get a taste again. If they’re alive, you at least have a chance.”
My cock jerks in my pants. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Beastie,” I purr.
“I’m just playing the game you started,” she says, patting me on the head despite me being taller than her. “Now be a good boy and follow me.” She leans in. “I’ll even let you look at my ass.”
I chuckle. “Well, as long as I’m a good boy.”
Following her, I admire what a wonderful ass it is. If I have to follow someone around, at least I’m going to enjoy the view.