Page 33 of Beg the Night

“Her words, not mine.” Margaret surveyed the dungeon with a sigh. “We’ve been down here a long time. It would be nice to join the real world again.”

“Yeah.” I followed her gaze. This disgusting dungeon had slowly become a comfort to us—as depressing as that was. But we’d been down here in the darkness for so long, I’d almost forgotten what the outdoors actually looked like. Smelled like. “It’ll all be over soon, Mags. I promise.”

I zeroed in on New Girl, who was talking to Leon on the other side of the dungeon. I didn’t like him. I didn’t like anyone in this damn place. But she’d begun to relax around him over the last day or two. When she was speaking to him, her body lost a little of that constant rigidness.

With a grunt, I nodded in their direction. “What is she doing hanging out with that guy all the time?”

Mags straightened her shoulders beside me. “Oh, Leon? I don’t know, he’s nice to her. Something you should try sometime.” With a waggle of her brows, she stood, then trotted over to join New Girl and Leon. The sound of the three of them laughing sent irritation coursing through me.

I didn’t want her laughing with another guy. Looking at another guy. Speaking to another guy.

For now, I’d have to keep my focus fixed on what mattered. This would all be over very, very soon.

I just needed New Girl to agree to the claiming.

The locksof the dungeon clanged. It was too early to be food. There were too many footsteps to be a supply check.

I was up before the door was even fully open.

One deep breath reassured me that my power was still in check, that I could control it for one more day.One more fucking day.

Don’t lose it now. Not when you’re so close.

It was a challenge to remain in control when Director walked through the damn door again.

The last time I saw her, she’d had one of her men drive a knife into New Girl’s leg. So no, she was not on the very, very small list of people I could stand.

In fact, I spent a lot of my free time imagining how it would feel to strangle the last breath from her weak, brittle neck. It was one of the few things that gave me enjoyment.

“Good morning, mystics!” She entered the room, her shrill voice echoing off the damn walls.

My fists tightened, aching for the moment I would wrap my fingers around her throat.

As the girls stirred beside me, I stepped to one side, putting myself in front of them. I didn’t give a fuck about New Girl, but Mags was in the same damn bed.

“What’s going on?” a man a few cots down asked.

Director stopped in the middle of the dungeon, chin lifted and hands on her hips, surveying the group like she was about to give a damn speech, like she wasn’t at all disturbed by the half-alive prisoners she kept locked away down here. “You’ve all been patiently waiting, and I applaud you for that. So much, in fact, that you are all being invited to a grand ball this evening! A celebration!”

“A celebration?” Carter asked. “For what?”

Director spread her arms out and scanned the space. “Our gifted team is making great strides. We’ve officially taken the eastern continent of Ashora.”

The room was silent, the only sounds were the breathing of the guys around me and water dripping from the ceiling in the corner.

My chest tightened, my stomach twisted violently.

“Many of the mystics have returned from battle, and they’ve shown interest in meeting you. They’d like to show you what youhave to look forward to. You’ll all be sent appropriate clothing for the event. Try to look your best. Especially you two, ladies. I have something special in store for you.”

They stayed silent behind me, thank fucking god, but every inch of my body tensed as Director peered around my frame.

“I’ll see you all tonight!” She clapped twice, the sound nearly as fucking piercing as her voice, and then she was gone.

Great.As if it weren’t bad enough that we were trapped in this lifeless dungeon to mate like cattle, she now wanted to parade us around her troops as if we were a grand prize to be won.

She wanted to play?Game. On.

TEN

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