Page 10 of The Vipers and Their Vendetta

“If you’re not going to kill me, then whatareyou going to do with me?”

“Stand,” the man I now know is called Roman orders.

I shake my head, and when he comes near me, I kick out as hard as I can.

He sighs and steeples his fingers in front of his mask as if in prayer. “This can go one of two ways. It can go the easy way or the hard way. If you ensure that it goes the hard way, you might get hurt. I don’t want that.”

“Well, I don’t want you freaks assaulting me,” I spit back.

“We’re not going to assault you,” Roman says. “We can’t.”

“What do you mean youcan’t?” His words are so unexpected.

“Firstly, despite Malachi dicking around, we have a code. We made a vow. Secondly, we need to use you to create anenchantment, of sorts, which will bring ruin on the heads of people we despise. You have power in you that could help us. Power overthem. If we transgressed against you, then we can’t harness that power in the way we need against the Vipers, do you see?”

“You’re literally insane,” I tell him with a shake of my head.

Cold metal touches my throat, and I wince as I glance to my side to see Malachi has walked around the bed and now has the blade held right against my neck.

“I’m nowhere near as patient as Roman.” He jerks his chin at his friend. “Now, do what we tell you. He’s giving you his word, and I give mine. I’m not gonna do anything to you. You don’t cooperate, though, and we’ll have no reason to keep you whole.”

I swallow hard.

“Now,” Malachi says. “Get. Off. The. Bed.”

I do as ordered, shaking like a leaf. I’m still weak from the accident, and my entire body hurts. I’m not sure my legs are going to be strong enough to hold me. I glance past the two men, toward the door, which isn’t fully shut. I’m standing now, so does that mean I’m also strong enough to run?

Candles gutter in the breeze from the gap in the door.

“Strip to your underwear,” he demands.

“You said you wouldn’t…” I begin, trailing off as I fail at ways of trying to reason with them after they promised not to assault me.

“Lord above, woman, what is it with you?” I can practically hear Malichi’s eye roll. “You’re starting to make me think youwantus to touch you.Youkeep bringing it up. We’re not going to do that, but we need you in your underwear, so just strip.”

Shaking, and with tears filling my eyes, I do as he says because what choice do I have? I’m so woozy as I take my clothes off that I stumble a couple of times. Each time, Roman gently takes hold of my elbow until I’m balanced again.

Once I’m down to my bra and panties, I stand with my hands wrapped around my body. I’m conscious of my curves and tattoos. What do they think when they look at me? They have tattoos of their own, so they can’t judge, but will they think I’m fat? I brace myself for teasing, as well as whatever else they have planned for me.

I wait for whatever my fate will be.

“Damn,” Malachi says. “Look at her, though, Roman. Not usually my type. I prefer them slim, but I wouldn’t mind having a bit of fun.” He twists one of my dark locks in his fingers. “You have really beautiful hair.”

I’m frozen like a fawn in headlights and can’t respond. The air is cool, and it makes my skin pebble and my nipples pucker. I feel Malachi’s greedy gaze on my breasts, but I can’t look. I keep my gaze on the other one, and his skull facemask, deciding his insanity is preferable right now.

Roman simply sighs again at Malachi as if he’s an errant child, not a man threatening a half-naked woman with assault. He picks up one of the bowls full of something that looks like dried flower petals and scatters them around me in a circle. Once he’s done this, he looks at Malachi, and something changes between them.

The atmosphere thickens until I feel as if I’m suffocating. The joking and crass humor Malachi had been indulging in slips away, as something darker and stranger takes over his demeanor.

They stand together, put their hands in front of their faces as if in prayer, and begin to chant.

CHAPTER 4

Vani

Unfamiliar language rolls over me,and I shiver. Their deep voices rise like a choir as their chanting picks up tempo and volume. Both men begin to circle me, and I hold my breath, my heart thumping against the inside of my ribs.

What the fuck is going on here?

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