Page 51 of Savage Hunt

I don’t want to do this to my beast. Let’s stop.

We can’t!

Venna and Mykel’s laughter didn’t drown out Fane’s pleas. He tried to get Warin to understand the situation, but nothing would make the demon listen to reason.

“It’s not what you think.” Fane shook his head. “She’s not what you think. And you killed those kids.”

Warin scoffed. “Of course you’d take your whore’s side. You’re a pathetic piece of trash. You can’t even do one thing right and avenge my death. Instead of killing her, you’re fucking her.”

Fane pulled on the chains, his veins popping and teeth mashing. “She had no choice.”

I turned away as Venna swiped a tear under her eye from her hard laughter. “This is perfect. He must be hallucinating the brother she killed.”

Mykel’s teeth flashed as he grinned. “Of course he’d fear his own dead brother’s wrath for bedding his killer.”

I stumbled into a wall and slid down, unable to remain upright as Fane’s torment continued. All the torture Venna and Mykel had inflicted over the months in Heldrok had barely made a dent, but a few minutes of this, and I was ready to shatter.

What would weeks of torturing Fane do to us?

The beast glowered from his chains.

Not my beast.

He wasn’t my beast anymore.

Welts and bruises mottled his torso and arms, tucked in between the tattoos and scars. Blood oozed from one of the wounds on his bicep.

That bothersome royal demon or her pet barged into this room all hours of the day and night to ensure I was torturing the hybrid. They brought new toys and a witch to heal his wounds, so he was primed for more punishment.

They removed him to rest, shower, and eat occasionally, but for the most part, he remained my prisoner. I gave him water and fed him the food I was supposed to eat.

Acid curdled my stomach at the amount of torment this creature could endure. He never screamed or begged. He simply took it, all the while watching with those eyes that made me want to hide.

He tried to rip my flesh and bones apart to reach the one he called to.

The other me.

That me was weak and sad, so she allowed me to take over to hurt this beast. She cried the entire time. Her mournful wails pierced my eardrums and hammered my skull.

It’s better this way. I’ll keep a steady hand while you crawl under blankets.

Still, her pain was mine.

While his head was bowed and body slumped, hanging by the chains, I dragged my fingers over the scars on his chest. He used to visit me in his ghostly form that felt so real. He’d lie in the bed, holding me while I tried to sleep.

Not anymore.

My mouth curved toward the ground, and an ache bloomed in my center.

He never came to me in that form.

“Yes, I do.” His rough voice startled me, and I dropped my hand. “You just refuse to see me.”

Apparently, he could read my mind now.

He lifted his head, untamed ebony hair falling in those searing irises, one gold and one blue. “I’m not reading your mind. You’re projecting your thoughts to me. Every single one of them.”

I backed up and sat on the end of the bed, my brow furrowing. “Why would I do that? I don’t want you in my head.”

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