Page 10 of The Devils of Raven's Gate

The shorter of the two clears his throat. “We got you a copy of her class schedule.”

Un-fucking-believable.

I leap to my feet, not bothering to tuck my dick back inside my jeans. “You came down to the fucking ritual room to give me a piece of paper I can get for myself?”

I enjoy the looks in their eyes, the way their faces twist in horror. I imagine what their insides look like curdling with fear.

The shorter initiate tilts his chin up. “Atlas said we should give it to you now.”

I almost burst out laughing. Almost.

“Give me your knife.”

He hesitates and looks at the taller one.

I rush into him, and he stumbles back. “Do I have to ask you again?”

He shakes his head as he fumbles for his knife. In one swift motion, I yank it from him and thrust it into the taller one’s belly.

A gurgling cry wrenches from his throat as he keels over. Their eyes widen as I wave the knife over his head. “Never. Enter. The. Ritual. Room.”

Blood spills from his gut and his face pales. The shorter one’s mouth fills with bile but I arch my eyebrow at him, and he quickly swallows it.

“Am I understood?”

They both nod.

“Now get the fuck out of here. If he dies, bury him in the woods. Nocturnus is hallowed ground. Only the deserving get to rest here.”

The whispers will grow again. Talk of the madness that takes place inside these walls will spread like wildfire. But they know better than to talk for too long or too loudly. They know what happens to those who get in our way.

As I put my dick back in my pants, another tremor trickles down my shaft. I can’t wait to show Maureen Blackwell what happens to those who get in my way.

The circular room we’re in was built for punishment. A way for all who watch to get a good view. It’s archaic, cold, and brutal from its stone walls and black cement floor to the steel table in the center.

I sit in a velvet chair with Valentin and Atlas on either side of me. I gaze around the room, taking stock of the initiates’ faces. They must never get too comfortable. I have to keep these animals in their fucking places. The stunt Libra pulled last night was abhorrent. She fucking knew exactly what she was doing bringing Maureen Blackwell into this house. And now she will have to deal with the consequences. I can’t have any of these fuckers thinking they can go around doing the same.

“Bring her in.” I nod to the initiate by the door. I can hear her spoiled little voice whining as the door opens and she’s dragged in by two of my largest initiates. They push her forward until she’s standing between me and the steel table.

“Riot, I told you I was sorry. I didn’t realize you hated the Blackwells that fucking much, okay?”

I spread my legs and lean back against the chair. “Don’t be a cunt, Libra. Own what you did. I told you there’d be consequences.”

The reality of what’s happening is beginning to set in as sweat beads down her neck and chest. “Atlas,” she pleads. “I’m your fucking cousin for fuck’s sake. Do something.”

He shakes his head. “I am doing something. Teaching you a fucking lesson. You know the rules, Lib. You’ve known them your whole life.”

Tears stream down her cheeks. Fucking pathetic. This girl is the most manipulative chick I know. And she’s done far worse to others than what I’m about to do to her.

“We can do this one of two ways, Libra. You can be compliant and own your punishment. Or… well you don’t want to hear the other way.”

She nervously glances around the room, looking at each of the twenty initiates that surround her. “I-I comply,” she murmurs and lowers her head.

I nod at the two brutes who brought her in, and they step back, releasing her arms from their grip.

“Take off your clothes,” I state without any desire to see her naked. No, this is about power. About making a statement to everyone here. Not even the cousin of a Nocturnus member is safe from punishment. If I’m doing this to Atlas’s own blood relative, what do they think I’ll do to one of them if they cross me?

Her hands tremble on each button of her designer cashmere cardigan. The electricity in the room sizzles as she unzips her skirt and lets it fall to the ground. I look around the room and see some of the initiates leaning forward now. Some adjust their cocks.

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