Page 9 of Dirty Little Saint

Atlas sighs. “We’ve already done it, Mr. Graves. She’s been initiated by us.”

Riot stays quiet, but the look in his eyes toward his father is murderous.

“She has not been initiated properly,” Holden snaps back. “All your former members are either dead or locked away. It must be done again. I must bear witness. Or I will strip her of her sigils right now.”

I clasp my sigil as a warning shot fires up my neck. My skin crackles, and I know that he’s holding back. I can feel it. This is just a teaser of what’s to come if I don’t comply.

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

“Maur, you have no idea what you’re agreeing to.” Valentin grabs me and pulls me into his chest.

“I don’t think I have much of a choice. Don’t forget who I am.” I wink at him even though my insides are curdling with fear.

Holden nods. “Good. We’ll do it tonight. I don’t want you in our house any longer until you’ve been cleansed. Romulus will get you ready for the ceremony. And your punishment for Zeke will follow after.”

Wait. What?

“Punish me,” Riot roars. “It’s my fault he’s dead.”

What in the fuck is going on? Punishment? I can’t breathe.

Holden grabs Riot by the back of his head and pulls him. “If that’s the case, then I’ll have to enforce the rule of Hekate.”

Riot’s face pales. He gathers his composure. “No. That won’t be necessary.”

“What is the rule of Hekate?” I whisper to Atlas.

“You don’t wanna know, Firecracker.”

My stomach flips.

He shakes him. “Say it out loud then. I want to hear it from your lips.”

Riot’s jaw clenches. “She’s just a toy for us to play with. I accept whatever punishment you see fit.”

I wince. How did he go from begging for my mercy to making me sound like I’m nothing but a whore? He’s just lying. But why? What has him so scared that punishing me is the least fucked up thing Holden Graves could do?

Valentin bows his head. “Bastard,” he curses under his breath.

Atlas hands me the vial of poison instead. “You’re going to need this.”

Holden claps his hands together in delight. “You’ll get your toy back soon enough. I’ll deliver her to you myself when it’s done.”

“Wait.” My heart hammers. “They’re not coming with me?” Having them there was the only way I knew I’d get through this.

“They don’t have clearance. This rite of passage is to be witnessed by elder members only.” His lips curl up into a smirk.

Fuck. Me.

“Sex is magic. Power. The initiates must bear witness before whatever this is can be taken seriously. Those are the rules of old. One of our most sacred rites.” Holden Graves hands me a black hooded robe.

I want to be numb. To feel nothing like he does. A part of me wants to run back to Wickford Hollow and hide in Bailey’s basement for the rest of eternity. But I’m in too deep now to turn back. There’s too much blood on my hands.

And I can’t imagine a life without Riot, Atlas, or Valentin in it. As psychotic as some might think that is, I’ll do whatever is asked of me to keep the four of us together.

“You don’t have to do this, Maur.” Valentin is a towering beacon of rage and sorrow. The darkness takes over his eyes, pitch black and murderous.

Riot stares straight ahead, solemn, refusing to look at me. While Atlas has numbed himself into a stupor, his eyes aglow with poison swirling around his pupils.

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