Chapter 40 #2
He reaches for a scalpel, holding it against my breast. “Here’s how this is going to go. I ask you a question. You provide an answer. If it isn’t a truthful one, then I’m going to pick one of these shiny little toys and slice something of my choosing.”
The edge of the blade pricks my skin, just barely.
“Now I’ll ask you again. You’re Axe’s little delicacy, hmm?”
My entire body shakes. “If you say so.”
Wrong answer.
Levi reaches for a long rod shaped like a roller brush, covered in metal spikes. He whacks it against my outer thigh, savagely puncturing it. The blow brings me to the ground, screaming.
“Yes,” I sob, wishing I could clutch my punctured leg. “Yes, I am his. My sole purpose is to supply him with pleasure. Is that what you want to hear?”
Levi hauls me onto my feet. “You won’t be his much longer, sugar.” Before I can protest, he gestures to the anxious witch behind him. “Time for the real questions. This is Esmé. She’s going to assist me.”
He pauses, allowing me to catch a breath. “What association do you have with witches?”
What is this, a godsdamned inquisition?
For now, I refrain from looking in my neighbor’s direction. “I only know one. She and her mate saved my life several years ago.”
Still clutching the rod, the lycan kicks my legs open.
“You’re going to have to give me more than that.
” The rod grazes the flesh of my inner thigh, stopping at my exposed entrance.
A quivering whimper leaps out of me. “Because if you don’t, I’m going to shred your insides apart so thoroughly that you’ll never be able to provide your Alpha with what they all desire most. An heir. ”
Stay calm. Don’t fight it. Don’t let him in.
“She has . . . gifts. She can commune with the dead.”
He grins wolfishly. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Has she spoken to your human ancestors?”
I shake my head. “If she has, she’s never mentioned it. Her gift wasn’t used on me. Only her occasional clients.”
Holding me up, Levi turns over his shoulder, gesturing for Esmé to approach. “Go ahead,” he tells her.
Esmé looks to me sympathetically as she brushes the open wound on my leg.
I flinch at the contact, watching as she swirls my blood along her open palm, painting what looks to be overlapping infinity symbols.
She studies it for a moment before looking back up.
“I see nothing.” She shrugs. “Perhaps the scent has some other significance.”
Levi waves her off. “Tell me, how long have you been aware your scent is different?”
“Not until I met my first lycan. He was the first person to abduct me, back where I came from.”
Levi doesn’t acknowledge the subtle jab. “Have you seen the Alpha consort with any witches who claim to have visions?”
Shit. My throat bobs. Stilling my breaths, I refuse to let my heart stammer.
“I was only recently appointed as Luna. I am not yet included in his private meetings.”
He bashes my other leg with the spikes. I scream through the pain, which is raw as it is disorienting. “That was a yes or no question, sugar.”
“No,” I rasp, praying he won’t detect the lie.
At least a dozen more questions are thrown at me. Under pressure, my answers are curt and truthful. I am not privy to information about rogues Demitrya monitors behind closed doors. Who the Skornokovys have on their hitlist.
These two want to know if Bleeding Sun is onto them.
“Has there been any word on the whereabouts of the portal? I would think he and that Norgsik bitch would be scrambling to find it.”
Over his shoulder, Esmé flinches.
I gulp. “I don’t think so, no. All I know is that after being ambushed in the Circle, they came up empty handed.”
Levi smirks, looking over to his accomplice, who appears to be satisfied, nodding with approval as she fingers her lover through her dress. They embrace each other, sharing a steamy kiss.
“Clearly we should’ve sent a bigger extraction team,” the woman adds.
Holy gods. The hitmen at Axe’s shop . . .
Levi redirects, stooping lower. “Have you ever been visited by vampires?”
“Yes,” I breathe. Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Did they sample your blood?”
My heart rate kicks up a notch. “No. Both were shot down by my companions.”
“Did either of those vampires mention someone by the name Remick?”
“No.”
He isn’t convinced. The male’s hand drifts down my stomach, jerking up the ropes that frame the apex of my thighs. The chafing burn makes me cough. “Really? Have you ever heard the name before?”
“No. Never.”
Levi growls feverishly, taking the rod and tilting my chin upwards. "Lie to me one more time, Luna. I fucking dare you."
My lip quivers as I look into his deranged eyes. "It's the truth. I swear."
“Levi—” his cousin warns from across the room.
Levi pries my thighs open with his knee. “Well, I suppose the Underworld’s prodigal son goes by many names. If you’re lucky, you’ll die before he ever learns yours.”
Prodigal son? Wait—he means the Blood Master. Remick. His name is Remick.
Hands seize my throat as his pants hit the floor.
“Wait. Stop!”
Sharp canines graze my earlobe. “I’m your Alpha now. If your pussy feels as good as you smell, perhaps I’ll keep you as my little plaything. Maybe you’ll give me a pup or two.”
This isn’t happening. It can’t be.
Reaching for Axe, I am met with a combination of rage and determination. Though I can’t feel his exact thoughts through the heartline, I imagine he’s saying, Wherever you are, stay alive. Hold on.
I push through a thought of my own. I’m trying . . .
A sharp cry escapes me as Levi’s hips slam against my rear, tearing through vulnerable walls of flesh.
I thrash and twist, fighting against the burning rope barriers.
The next powerful thrust forces me to go slack against the pole, unable to hold myself up any longer.
His groans fill the room as his hand coils around my neck, cutting off my airflow.
His other arm holds my hips, forcing me to stand on battered legs.
Stay calm. Do not give him the satisfaction of watching you fall apart.
“Mine,” he roars.
Sobs scrape my throat. As I writhe helplessly against him, his teeth sink into my shoulder. Desecrating me.
Blood seeps down my shoulder, yet a tingling calm settles over me. There, in the bedrock of my conscious mind, stirs a familiar voice. Have courage, Vessa. You are not alone.
Please, I plead to the gentle presence. Whoever you are, show him the way to find me.
I raise my head, locking eyes with Esmé in the doorway. Tears streak her tan cheeks as she slowly backs out into the hall.
Pain barely registers anymore. My eyes roll back into my head, where an image of a cabin covered with blooming vines takes shape. A breeze carries a fragrant smell along the porch, sweet and inviting.
The voice nuzzles my ear again, soft as a raven’s wing. “All will be well.”
I reach for the doorknob—
But I am thrust back into the present. I register the sound of snipping rope. My wrists are now free.
An intense camera flash startles me. Exhausted, I stumble forward, faceplanting on the ground. With a groan, I bury my face in my hands, shielding my eyes from another burst of light. Numbness seeps into my legs, pulse thrumming as I ride out the waves of shock.
Levi steps over me and tucks himself back in his slacks, barking an order to Yvonne. “Get her cleaned up.”