Page 100 of Feral Possession

“Why what?” she quipped.

“You know what.”

“Why did I stay with you when you took me for granted?” she asked, getting louder. “Why stand in your shadow when I could have run every one of your investments without you?” Her voice rose. “Why let you take the credit for my hard work? Why stand on the sidelines, invisible to you, while you screwed one harlot after another?”

“Ah, so it was jealousy. I should have realized you weren’t above such trivial things,” he stated with a deliberate snort of derision.

“I was not jealous,” Helen screeched, voice echoing beyond the phone. Up high. On his left. He narrowed his eyes, scanning each balcony.

He backed against the wall, concealing himself in shadows. “Admit it, Helen. You were in love with me and felt wounded when I rejected you.”

Halfway around the arena, he made out the silhouette of a slender woman with their hand pressed to their ear. His muscles tightened. Got you.

“You flatter yourself, Steele,” she scoffed.

He grabbed Dove’s arm, and she flinched, glancing up at him. Eyes boring into her, he mouthed—stay here—then slipped out the door. In the corridor, he motioned for two of his guards to remain. Then he set off in Helen’s direction.

“Regardless, you have my full attention now,” he parried.

“I do, don’t I,” Helen said, a smile in her voice. “Sadly, as flattering as your obsession with me has been, it’s time you gave up the chase. Zion grows bored with your interference. It’s difficult to perform my job with your dogs sniffing after me. Face it, Steele, finding me won’t help your cause.”

“What cause is that?” He dodged a man, careening around a golden trashcan.

“Games, games, games. Always with the games. You’re so afraid to let anyone in. Had you done so, perhaps none of this would have happened. Let’s cut to the chase. Your search for me is a complete waste of time. I can’t help you. The plan to ruin you wasn’t my doing.”

He’d sooner believe pigs could breathe fire. “Why should I trust anything you say? Convince me.”

“It’s simple. Because I wanted you dead, not humbled. No crippling injuries, no investigations, no secrets. Unfortunately, someone else interfered. That someone preferred you alive. Castrated, but alive.”

“And the evidence you left, tying me to Zion? I’m to believe you had nothing to do with that?”

“Again with the accusations.” She sighed. “And now you sound as stupid as that bodyguard of yours. It’s a shame you’re missing his match, by the way. Ouch,” she said, voice full of mock sympathy. In the arena, the crowd cheered. “Sorry to say he’s not doing well. Vengeance is a powerful motivator. Do you suppose Damien will hold back if given the opportunity to land a killing blow?”

That meant she’d seen Marcus leave but remained on the balcony. He needed her to keep talking. Keep her distracted.

“Speaking of killing blows, I saw Adam,” he said.

Silence followed. Satisfaction curled his lips. Finally, he’d gotten to her. “Helen?”

“How was he?”

“Dead.”

She snorted. “I’d heard as much.”

“Seems to be a trend with the males closest to you.”

“Adam served a purpose. Until he didn’t.”

Rustling sounded. Like she was on the move. Not good. “What about me?”

“You…” She paused and exhaled a sigh he almost believed was genuine. “You got nosy. The one time you didn’t delegate the drudgery of management to an underling. You finally saw me, only to drive a knife into my back.”

He savored that image. His vision blurring. “Yesss,” his demon purred. “We will vanquish all who betray usss. All who pose a threat.” More and more, he and his demon were of the same mind.

Marcus dragged his focus back to Helen. “I saw you alright. Saw your duplicity. Your disloyalty.”

“And that’s all you saw, you ungrateful prick. After everything I did for you,” she snapped. “I’m the one who was with you from the beginning. Me. Not your flighty bird. I pity her, really. Poor dear. No doubt, she believes she’s in love with you. Thinks you’re capable of returning her affections. Little does she realize you only love yourself.”

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