Page 55 of Dark Captivation

Ferina made a swipe at him with her nails, and I grabbed her arm, yanking her back before the attack could land.

“Don’t play into his hands. They outnumber us. It’ll only get you killed.” I released her arm.

“Call Malek and tell him to come get you.” Varcus reached into his pocket and threw a cellphone at my feet. “My men are getting antsy. I won’t be able to hold them all back if they decide to take out their frustrations on you. There’s only one of me and seven of them.”

“Don’t give me that crap. You’ve got your minions wrapped around your finger. They won’t do anything you don’t order them to.” I kicked the phone back in his direction.

He was basically a cult leader. None of his men would dare challenge him. Besides, what would I call Malek for? Just to have him run straight into a trap? One that could get him killed.

They didn’t fool me, they came here with more than swords and bombs. They know Malek’s power. They had to have brought something capable of seriously hurting him or worse.

Varcus narrowed the distance between us, drawing his lips right up to my ear.

“I admire your spunk, little she-wolf. That’s one of the reasons I’m hoping you’ll join us one day.” He whispered, voice dropping an octave, forming a chilly threat. “You know we didn’t plan this on a whim, we risked our lives and freedom just for the intel that let us know Malek would be here today. We will not leave without confronting the king. You will call him or even I can’t protect you and the princess from what my men will do.”

I drew away. A dark ruthlessness twisted in his eyes and reality burst to life within me. This demon may have thought himself the good guy, but a love of carnage lurked in his heart and there was no limit to what evils he would do to fulfill his ends.

I looked at Ferina, and she wore a mask of pure burning fury. She was the princess, and I was the newbie in this world. I understood none of the rules in this twisted Game of Demons, but I had to become an expert player and fast because lives depended on it.

The children whimpered, their petrified eyes scrolling up to Ferina and I, begging us to keep them safe.

“Well? We are running out of time.” Varcus scraped the phone up off the floor and reached it out to me. “I’ve given you your options. Now what’s it going to be?”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

MALEK

Though I’d never met them in person before now, I had spied on their dreams. I knew their names and hearts. They yearned for my Sunny, dreamt of claiming her, bedding her and ravaging her. These men dared call her their mate. Mate. Such a disgusting word.

What was a mate but a random match that fate decided to force upon unwitting victims? That is not real love.

Matehood was a fallacy. Real love was a choice, one made willfully, by two people who truly wanted to be together.

I chose Sunny, not because of fate or some unseen force. She was my one true love because I chose her. Then and now, I was forced to look upon the faces of injustice. The three beings who dared challenge my claim to the woman I love.

The demi-gods sunk their claws into the grass as they stood on the opposite side of the road. Paul, Logan, and Lucile, my three fiercest warriors stood behind me at the ready.

Just looking at the three dark haired beasts made my skin crawl. Their eyes glowed a toxic, glowing green as they dared to bare their fangs at us.

They murdered Sunny’s parents. Killing a part of her heart that will never regrow. Anger churned within me, blackening my soul.

My inner beast demanded I end their lives like the blowing out of a candle. But I wanted it done slowly, I wanted to watch the life drain from their eyes, drip by drip. I wanted them to suffer so they would know the anguish they put my Sunny through.

A telepathic channel opened between myself and the demi-gods. Demons and demi-gods shared enough of a magical signature that we could communicate telepathically. But it wasn’t as smooth a process as with our own kind.

My ears rang. A sharp pain accompanied the words that barged into my mind. “We didn’t come here to fight you, Demon King. Just give us back our mate and we will be on our way,” Payton, the largest beast, poked his snout skyward in a show of respect.

“Sunny is my bride, and I would sooner part with my own head than give her to you.” I bit out, glaring and displaying my fangs.

“Who the fuck is Sunny? We’re here for Livienne. Now hand her over. I’m done asking nicely.” The most refined looking beast of the three, with a shiny mane roared, clawing the dirt.

“You must be, Blake. You brought my bride the most pain of all and I will see to it that you suffer tenfold for it.” I said and Blake’s head drew back he blinked in surprise.

“You’re the one who’s going to pay. You took advantage of our injuries and kidnapped her while we were down!” Blake growled, leaping for me with an open jaw primed to rip my throat out.

“Calm down, Blake. We need to keep our wits about us. This is not the enemy to fight half cocked.” Chasten, the smallest beast of the three, put himself between Blake and me, keeping his friend back.

“And what if she went with me willingly?” I asked.

---