Page 120 of Savage Fate

Fane nodded. “While I was meeting with a demon friend, Marissa called and gave me their meetup location.”

I scoffed. “And you trusted her? What if it had been a trap?”

He shot me an incredulous expression. “I was careful. Plus, I knew she was telling the truth. Marissa is finished with her mother, and she wants no part of a shifter-killing cult.”

Then her endgame was to get into Fane’s good graces so he’d consider taking her back. That had to be it. Marissa always had ulterior motives.

Saint studied the unconscious woman. “What do you plan to do with her?”

“Torture her for information, of course,” Fane said with a sinister tilt to his lips. “Do you have a place we can do that?”

Saint jerked his thumb toward the left. “There’s a shed near the back of our territory.”

Fane grabbed Reese and hoisted her over his shoulder like she weighed no more than ten pounds. “Lead the way.” His gaze lowered to mine. “Maybe you should get a little more rest while we?—”

I lifted my hand to cut him off. “If anyone is going to be doing any torture, it’s me.”

His lips pursed. “That’s not necessary. I know how to make people talk.”

A dark laugh burst out of me. “You don’t remember our time in Heldrok, but when I wasn’t being tortured, I was the one doing the torture. Every damn day. I’m a master at it.”

“Really?” Fane didn’t seem convinced.

I patted Reese’s back. “Let’s get my newest victim in a chair and prepare her for the worst night of her life.”

Blood trickleddown Reese’s nose, and sweat dampened her skin as she struggled against the binds trapping her in the chair. I’d been torturing her for an hour, and all she did was spew insults.

I picked up a small serrated knife and twirled it in my hand as I circled her, searching for a spot to cut a few more slashes. The coppery tang of her blood overpowered the loamy scent of soil in the garden shed. Sweat and a twinge of fear mixed in, creating a delicious combination that had my body humming.

Was it wrong that I enjoyed this?

In Heldrok, Venna had me torturing a lot of nightworlders who didn’t deserve it, but Reese was a piece of work. The pain in her green eyes was a little sweeter because of her resemblance to her daughter. If only I could freely torture Marissa.

“Tell me where Barric is.” I sliced a cut along the top of her shoulder, blood immediately pooling down her arm to stain her green shirt. “He won’t save you if that’s what you’re hoping.”

Fane leaned against the back wall near a collection of hanging garden tools, a stern expression on his face, but the occasional flicker of pleasure through the bond told me he enjoyed watching me explore my dark side. It was a totally different experience without the Infernal Sol. I wasn’t in danger of losing my grip on reality or my control.

Saint, on the other hand, hadn’t anticipated how dark I could be. He was probably thanking his lucky stars I was already mated to someone else so he didn’t have to be with my twisted ass.

Reese snapped her jaws. “I don’t need Barric to save me. I’ll get out of this all on my own.” She spit a glob of blood close to my boots. “I can’t wait until he tears you apart, you filthy piece of trash.”

Fane pushed off the wall, but I lifted my hand to stop him.“It’s sweet that you want to defend my honor, but I got this, Maverick.”

Reese peered beyond me at Saint as he sat on the edge of a wooded table with a few plastic pots of soil. “Just because you’re a born wolf doesn’t mean you’re clean either, Saint Grimstone.” Her laughter was hoarse from all her screaming. “Your bitten trash mother barely escaped The Collective’s grasp before. She won’t be so lucky next time.”

A wave of fury erupted around Saint, and he bolted off the table, rushing toward Reese with extended claws going straight for her throat.

“Whoa!” I snatched his wrist moments before his claws punctured her neck. “We’re torturing. Not killing.”

His nostrils flared, and gold extinguished the silver of his irises. “Threaten my mother again, and I’ll make you wish Tate let me tear your throat out right now in a quick death.”

I pressed my hand against his firm chest to force him back. “No one’s going to hurt Enid, okay?”

He showed his palms as his claws retracted. “I’m cool. I won’t move again.”

“How much you want to bet he moves again?”

I shot Fane a glare as I returned to Reese.“Don’t act like you wouldn’t have done the same if she’d threatened your mom.”They were both mama’s boys.

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