Page 101 of Dirty Little Saint

He laughs. “Once I’m done destroying your little coven, I’m going to keep you as my pet. I even had a cage made for you. That way, I can punish you whenever I want.”

The memory of his hands on my thighs fuels the rage in my chest. My hands shake as he walks toward us. Riot tries to block his path, but he sends him flying. I see Felix rush to him out of the corner of my eye. But I don’t dare take my full gaze off Holden.

“Yeah, that’s right, little temptress. No one will be around to save you from me. From all the vile things I plan to do to you. I will fuck your pussy raw until it bleeds. Every night. You’ll be pissing razor blades and begging for death by the time I’m done with you.”

Laurent and Pisces join him in laughter.

He plants the image in my mind. I see the cage, the restraints, the perverse look in his eyes as he dangles his stubby cock over me. I shudder and blink a few times.

“Get out of my head!” I scream.

Riot and Felix dash over to stand in front of me. To block me from Holden’s ire.

“Enough,” Riot roars. “She is not yours to cage.”

“She never will be,” Felix snarls. There’s a dark edge to his voice that I’ve never heard before.

I glance over to see Villette wide-eyed and curled up on the altar. Zeus slithers around her, but his head snaps toward us. He wants a piece of these assholes just as badly as we do.

The ravens screech and squawk as my guys circle around me. Dark and light threads of energy glimmer between us. I let it consume me. Let it feed me and give me strength.

Pisces, Laurent, and Holden face us, throwing everything they have in our direction. I feel the temptation to give in to them. To surrender. To succumb. My limbs ache as I fight to hold my ground. Everything burns as if I’m actually on fire.

“Lean on us, Firecracker. Take what you need,” Riot commands.

“Just like we did when we jumped the cliff, Maur,” Val adds.

And now we have Felix. His energy is poetry. It caresses my soul like a soft feather, and yet, it feels impenetrable, strong like bamboo. I feel his light wrapping around me like a warm cocoon.

With a cry, I unleash my shadows. I let them soak through me, reaching the deepest parts of me before I unfurl them. The sigil of Erebus cools, sending chills like icicles over my heated flesh.

I stalk toward the three elders. “You will crumble and cower at my feet.” It’s my voice, but it sounds strange and unfamiliar. I lift my hands and send the ravens down. They shriek as they dive at their skulls. Blood spots their flesh as they peck at their lips, their cheeks, and their hands.

Pisces breaks first, flailing his arms around as he tries to fend them off.

Holden curses at him. “You idiot!”

They’re weakening.

Riot rushes forward. “We’re done being pawns for you.” He cocks back and physically punches his father in the face. Holden releases his hold on our circle and swings back. Riot ducks and steps forward. He shoves him back. “You’re too slow, old man.”

“Fuck this,” Laurent lunges at Val. “Time to teach you a lesson, boy.” I step in between them just as he raises his fist, catching it in my palm before it reaches Val’s cheek. “You will never lay a finger on him ever again,” I declare.

The ravens flock to me, flapping wildly around us as I force this man down to the ground with every ounce of strength I have.

He glares up at me, sweat dripping down his face, his cheeks bright red, as his fist shakes in my hand. “You are an abomination.”

Well, that’s a fucking new one.

Val charges forward and wraps his hands around his father’s throat, unleashing a scream that stops all of us in motion. Every trauma he’s endured at the hands of this man boils to the surface. “You never loved me,” he yells in his face as it turns purple.

Laurent’s eyes bulge wide with horror.

“It’s your fault I’m like this. You gave me these scars.” Laurent claws at Val’s wrists as he fights for breath. “My sigils protect me from you. Not from her or anyone else.”

We watch as he chokes him. As the life leaves his eyes. Laurent’s hands fall to his sides. “Fuck you.” He spits in his face just as his body convulses and slumps to the ground.

I want to comfort him, but we have two other predators to deal with.

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