Page 20 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

He produced a key, unlocking the wrist shackles from his ankles and the bolts keeping the ankle chains secured to thefloor. Then the fucker stood back and watched Axel struggle for the next ten minutes to get the loose pants on over the ankle shackles. Mansel grinned at every hiss from Axel when his broken arm was bumped or when the fabric rubbed along the open stab wound. Blood immediately seeped into the thin material, but apparently that was fine for this dinner meeting.

He limped after Mansel, taking his time as he was led down an unfamiliar hallway. If they were indeed in the Underground, he had never been in this place. He was arguably one of the most knowledgeable about the Underground, but even he didn’t know all its secrets.

The stairs were the hardest part of the trek, and he was out of breath when he reached the top. The floor was uneven, and his bare feet were constantly assaulted with cuts and nicks as he went. He knew this was just more punishment from his father, and he assumed there were about to be more demands made of him at this so-called dinner.

He also knew when he refused, the pain and torment were going to become unbearable, so he was stealing these small moments of discomfort knowing there was much worse to come.

The low lighting of the dining room eased the aching of his temples, and Axel swallowed down a curse. That pain had kept him distracted from his craving, and now all he could think about once again was how dry his throat was and how empty his power wells were.

That was why it took him longer than it should have to realize there was someone already seated at the dining table that was set for four.

Bree DelaCrux— one of the four Night Child clan leaders that ruled the vampyres in the Underground.

She was the oldest of the four, an original, whereas the other three clan leaders had risen to power later. But Bree had been here from the beginning, one of the first to be banishedwhen the Underground was created. Axel had always had a good relationship with her, so to find her here could go one of two ways. Seeing her with his father’s closest advisors, however, did not make him feel warm and fuzzy inside.

“Hello, Axel darling,” Bree greeted in her usual seductive lilt. Her onyx hair was half up, the rest curled and flowing over one shoulder. Honey-colored eyes sparkling with a trace of mirth watched him, a slight frown pulling at her red-painted lips. “They have truly done a number on you this time, haven’t they?”

This time?

“Come sit,” Bree continued, gesturing to the chair at her right.

He made his way to the closest chair, though, pulling it out with his good arm, and easing into it. Gods, the cushioned seat felt amazing after sitting on a stone floor for the-gods-knew-how-long. Bree didn’t comment on his seat selection. She only slid him a glass of water.

“It’s not what you really want, but it’s better than nothing,” she said with a small, knowing smirk.

Mansel had taken a seat across the table from Bree, sitting back comfortably in his chair without a care as another vampyre appeared and placed a plate of food in front of him.

“I have clearly missed something,” Axel said, unable to keep his mouth shut. “What the fuck is going on here? Where am I?”

Bree planted her elbow on the table, a manicured fingernail tapping her chin. “One would think you, of all people, would recognize the Underground.”

“Obviously,” he snapped. “Where, exactly, in the Underground has my father hidden me away?”

At that, her smile grew into something dark. “Oh, you were moved after your father was…detained.”

Axel lurched forward; then he barked out a curse as pain shot up his arm. “What do you mean he was detained? What has happened?”

“It appears Theon’s little Source has plans of her own,” Bree sighed dramatically, reaching for a bowl of fruit that had been placed on the table. Picking up a strawberry, she added, “She has daddy locked up somewhere, and your brother is now the acting Arius Lord.”

Axel blinked, trying to comprehend what she was saying, but all he could come up with was, “How long have I been here?”

“With me?” Bree asked, her tongue darting out to lick at the strawberry juice on her lips. “Nearly two weeks.”

“How long since I was brought to the Underground?” he demanded.

“A few days more than that.”

“You have had me fordaysand kept me in the dark?”

Bree shrugged, sifting through the bowl some more. “I needed some time.”

“For what?” Axel asked, dumbfounded at this turn of events.

A cunning smile filled her lips. “For the craving to begin to become unbearable.”

As she said it, another entered the room, and Axel immediately straightened. His injuries and wounds were an afterthought as a Fae he’d never seen before walked across the room, a Legacy Axel knew at his side.

Shoulder-length blond hair. Blue eyes. Tall and thin. Julius strolled with his hands in the pockets of his suit pants. On instinct, Axel flinched, conditioned to expect pain whenever this male was near him. The corner of his lips turned up into a small, cruel smirk, but he strode past Axel. When he rounded Bree’s chair, his hand came up, fingers dragging along her bare shoulders, while the Fae came to a stop beside her and held outhis arm. With a wicked grin, Bree sank her fangs into the Fae’s arm.

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