Page 12 of Deadmen's Captive

"Paige Matthews," he mused, thumbing through her file with a frown. "Art major. Quiet, reserved, rarely goes out. She doesn’t fit the normal applicant. Why would she even apply? Doesn't seem like her scene."

"That's exactly why she's perfect, Bast. Isn't it?"

"Explain." His voice was flat, eyes narrowed as they lifted from the dossier to meet mine.

"Her innocence," I took a sip of my drink and leaned back in my chair. “I looked into her and she’s not lying in her application. Sheltered upbringing, no drink, drugs or sex. She’s never even been on a date.”

He considered it, his fingers drumming a quiet rhythm on the desk. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “She’s an actual virgin?”

I nodded, grinning as his smirk widened. “And not only is she an honest to god virgin just waiting to be deflowered, did you see who her parents are?”

Bast’s smile faded and he gave a sharp nod. “I did. It’s why I was planning to discount her. Neil Matthews and Pauline Tremaine were excommunicated from the Deadmen’s Club in their final year for their betrayal to our fathers. That makes her less of a find, not more.”

“Really?” I took another drink. “So you don’t think deflowering the sweet and innocent daughter of Pauline Tremaine isn’t reason enough? You don’t think your father would enjoy hearing about all the ways we’ve managed to corrupt and debase her? You’re Hades this year, after all. You’re the one who decides what her trials will be.”

Bast's eyes darkened, and a sly grin curved his lips. "The idea of making her squirm under our hands does have a certain appeal, and I would love to see the look on Neil's face when he learns his precious little girl is our new pet. What do you think, Nate?"

"There's potential," Nate said, his voice as smooth and dangerous as the knife he was idly flipping in his hand. "I'd like to see how fragile she really is. How much our sweet Paige can take before she breaks."

Bast's eyes lingered on the photo of Paige, her eyes wide and innocent. "You think this is our chance for retribution?"

I shrugged. "Retribution, entertainment. What's the difference? We take her, we break her and remake her into our Persephone. Her parents finding out, maybe even seeing evidence of what their little girl has become is just the icing on the cake.The scandal, the disgrace—it would be delicious."

The silence lingered as Bast absorbed my words, his gaze boring into mine. Then, he smirked.

"Maybe you're on to something, Tristan. I like your thinking. Debasing their daughter would be rather poetic," he said with a deliberation that was almost chilling. "My father has already suggested we choose her. Did you get the cameras sorted?"

"I did." I pulled out my phone and tapped the screen, bringing up the live feed from Paige's room.

"Show me."

The three of us leaned into the glow of the phone screen. Paige’s room and her bathroom appeared on the split feed. She stood in her bathroom, leaning close to the cracked mirror as she wiped away the makeup from the evening. I’d watched her leave and I could still remember the way those denim flares hugged her hips. I zoomed in, bringing her up to fill the screen. Her golden hair cascaded over her bare back, her daring top only covering the front. It might be perfectly innocent, but seeing that amount of bare flesh on my girl just made me shiver in anticipation.

"Imagine getting your hands on that," Nate murmured, a predator's gleam in his eyes.

"Focus," Bast snapped, though his voice was tight with the same hunger that clawed at my insides.

I watch Paige move about the bathroom, unaware of our invasive gaze. My fingers itched to touch that hair, to pull her close enough to feel her warmth against my skin. As she stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower, I could practically feel her skin beneath my fingertips, so pure, untouched... tempting. The water cascaded down her body, drenching her long hair and making her skin gleam.

"I'd say she's a definite go," Nate stated, his eyes never leaving the screen. "We may have to be careful with this one though; we wouldn't want to break her too quickly."

Bast gave a gruff laugh. "Patience has never been your forte, Nate, but you’ll have to keep your distance for a while. Rules are rules after all, and I am the Hades." His dark eyes fastened on the pale blur of Paige’s body behind the frosted glass shower screen. “However we break her, that innocent little pussy is mine first.

Something twisted inside me as I visualised Bast touching her, tainting her innocence with his darkness. It was part of the game - she was our Persephone, after all - but something about Bast laying claim to her first sparked a primal instinct in me that I couldn’t ignore.

"Understood," I replied, feeling a surge of jealousy but also a twisted thrill. It was not that I wanted to deny Bast his due as Hades, but the thought of getting my own hands on Paige, of bending her to my will, was intoxicating.

Nate gave a terse nod, his eyes still riveted on the screen. "We'll all have our turn. Just make sure you leave something for us, Bast."

Bast's smirk widened. "No promises," he retorted, his gaze not leaving the screen. The phone on the desk rang, cutting through the silence. Bast's gaze lingered on the phone screen before he reached for it and answered with a curt, "Father. Gentlemen," he said to us, his eyes still locked on the screen of my phone. "If you'll excuse me."

Nate rose from his seat, tucking his knife into his belt, and reaching out for one of the skull masks on Bast’s desk. "I'm off to the gym," he said.

"Good thing, too," I grinned. "You've been slacking."

He shot me a look that could kill, but there was a smirk playing on his lips. "See you at home, brother."

"Later, Nate," I said, knowing he’d be a few hours yet, despite it being nearly midnight. The guy was a machine and he pushed himself harder than anyone I knew. Bast and I certainly weren’t strangers to the gym, but Nate took it to a whole new level of masochism.

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