Page 147 of A Debt of Darkness

“Get her, you fucking idiot.” He spins and sends the other vampire hurtling over his arm. “Take the others and go. What the fuck are you waiting for?”

His hand plunges into his opponent’s chest and he turns, roaring as he charges into the smoke. He’s on fire and his fury knows no limits, and I recognize the rage of battle that drove terror into the hearts of my men from a lifetime long ago. From a time when I served an emperor and he ruled a bloodthirsty tribe set on burning civilization to the ground. We’ve changed, but we’re still the same, and it’ll take all our skill and cunning to defeat this night.

I turn and descend into the dungeons, facing another kind of dread, one I’ve never known, and its agony threatens to bring me to my knees. Remnants of my coven fall in behind me and horror drawls its veil around me, and I pray I’m the lethal, vicious predator my reputation would have me believe I am.

41

OUT OF TIME

IVY

Another strike of pain ripples through my core and I refuse to cry out. I whimper a moan that stifles my agony and allows me the release I need, buying me yet more time before I pass out. Again.

Marcus wasn’t lying when he said he was patient.

He’s cruel and vicious too, capable of extracting every ounce of pain my body will surrender as he draws my torture out. He’s using me to get to Henry, to weaken his resolve and make him rush into an unforced error. The asshole’s using our bond against us and I won’t give in, not when both our lives are at stake.

I close my eyes and calm, hoping Henry senses the tension leaving my muscles and understands it. There’s nothing left but hope and prayers, but both burn brightly and the light of faith is hard to extinguish. It’s the butterfly that breezes through a war zone, the birdsong after an earthquake.It’s the life raft keeping me afloat in the stormy seas threatening to drag me under, and I cling on, refusing to let go of the hope keeping me afloat.

“Am I going to have to heal you again?”

I stare at Marcus, ignoring the condescension in his stare. I’m impassive. I’m oblivious. I’m staring at him like I don’t give one single shit what he does because it’s the only resistance I can offer at this point.

“You really are something,” he says, running his claw over the metal cage that confines me. “Brave. Resilient.” His nail scrapes and sings with a screech of pain. “Does he tell you quite how startling your eyes are, my dear? Even now, after all you’ve endured, they refuse to fade. It’s a shame you’re mated to Henry, but perhaps you’ll learn to appreciate me once he’s gone.”

My eyes narrow and Marcus smirks, taking another point in our never-ending battle. His head tilts as he lets his eyes wander over my battered and bruised body before he bites his thumb and I turn away, biting down the bile as he runs his hand up my thigh. We’ve done this dance before and it gets no better with repetition, and my nausea crescendos as my pain fades away, disgusted with myself for accepting his help.

I know it’s the smart thing to do. It buys me time. Us time. But it’s despicable and it prolongs the agony, giving Marcus as much as it gives me. Maybe more.

“He’s close, my dear,” Marcus says, dragging his nail dangerously close to my inner leg. “Call for him. Call for your mate.”

“Fuck off, Marcus.”

“Manners, my dear,” he snaps, digging his nail in. “Henry’s allowed you far too much leeway. I’ll be much less tolerant. Much stricter. You’ll learn to behave or you’ll suffer, Ivy. Now, do as I fucking tell you, or this is going to hurt more thanfucking necessary.”

A roar reverberates through the room and my cage rattles, moved by the sheer violence threatening to unleash itself. My heart stops, unable to keep going and only remembering to restart itself as it vaguely remembers a familiar habit. My chest moves, drawing air into my lungs as they burn and react on instinct, too fucking startled to do anything more than keep me alive.

Vampires race from the shadows, charging toward the arched entrance to the chamber. I’m the bait on the far side of the room, the thing Henry will try to fight his way toward—and Marcus is going to do everything he can to kill him.

“It seems he doesn’t need any further provocation,” Marcus says, exasperated. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry you have to watch your mate die. I’m told it’s agony. I’d say I’d make it up to you, but I think we’d both know I was lying.”

“He’s going to kill you,” I hiss, hauling myself upright in a show of strength that catches us both by surprise. “He’s going to rip you limb from fucking limb and I’m going to love every fucking second of it.”

Marcus’s eyes flash with rage before they light with amusement. “Such spirit, pet. It’ll be fun to break and a shame when it’s extinguished.”

Vampires careen backward as Henry emerges from whatever hallway he was in, and he’s so fucking fast I can barely keep up with him. No one else appears to be doing much better as bellows of dust erupt and limbs fly in all directions as he tears through the coven advancing on him, forcing others to retreat into the shadows.

“There’s no need to be dramatic,” Marcus says, sneering as he prowls toward Henry, waiting for him to finish off the final vampire before he continues. Its neck snaps before Henry tears it to shreds and his anger burns hot enough to heat my chest,pulsing into me through the bond we share. “We should keep this between us, don’t you think?”

“It’s a bit fucking late for that, Marcus.”

Henry’s eyes flick to mine and the fire burning inside him turns into an inferno. His features have never seemed so fearsome, and I’ve never felt more insignificant in comparison. He’s the epitome of power, the definition of violence. Henry’s pulsing with a viciousness few possess and fewer master, and he’s brandishing it like the lethal weapon it is for me.

“Let her go and I’ll consider making this less painful.”

Marcus shakes his head. “You have no advantage, Henry. None what-so-fucking-ever. I’m going to tear you apart and claim the throne that’s been due to me for centuries. She’ll give me my kingdom once you're gone. She isn’t mine, but she won’t give a fuck by the time I’m done with her.”

I stare in disbelief as priests emerge from the darkness, holding light and dark into the palms of their hands. Their eyes are as black as their souls and they bow their heads, acknowledging Marcus.

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