Page 57 of Beg the Night

I stared her dead in the eye. Of course I knew. She’d used Mags to keep me in line all these months.

But now? Now she thought she could use Athena in her place? Is that what this was?

I surveyed Athena, who didn’t struggle against her restraints but whose eyes lit up in defiance.

“If you’re going to punish me for defending my claimed, then go on. Get it over with,” I spat.

Director laughed, the sound causing my power to push against the inside of my chest. “Not so fast. After our little experiment, you have information I want. You both do.”

My gut tightened. The hell was she talking about?

“This close to the blood moon, and with the chemicals we administered to you, you should have sensed it. So tell me, Sinner, what is the power your claimed has been hiding?”

Even from a few feet away, I felt Athena stiffen. The air shifted, the room grew still. She knew. She knew I’d brushed upagainst her power last night—even if I didn’t entirely understand it.

I cleared my throat and forced myself to look Director in the eye. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you do. You were closer to her power than you even realize, Three. Tell me what you felt, and I’ll let her go.”

My heart raced, pounding wildly against my rib cage, my power simmering beneath my skin and pushing the edges of my control. Even if I could explain what I’d experienced with Athena last night, there was no way in hell I would tell Director.

“Tell me where my sister is,” I demanded instead. “Where did you take Margaret?”

The bitch straightened, one side of her lips tipped up in a smirk. “Your sister is fine. She’ll be fine as long as you cooperate with us.”

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Athena pulled against her restraints, clearly wondering the same thing.

“The girl isfine,” Director huffed, as if annoyed by our concern. “You wanted her out of the dungeons? She’s out. So start talking.”

I said nothing.

“Really?” she pushed. “You’re willing to risk not only your sister, but the well-being of your soon-to-be claimed? All I’m asking for is a tiny piece of information.”

My teeth ached from grinding them so hard. “I already told you I don’t know. There’s nothing I can tell you.”

“Right. Well, maybe this will change your mind.”

The guard at Athena’s side pulled a knife from his belt and jammed it into her thigh. Athena screamed until the sound echoed off the dungeon walls.

I gripped the edge of the bed, seething, fighting the urge to rip Director’s head from her shoulders. It would do me no good.They’d incapacitate me before I could touch her, and that would only make matters worse for Athena.

The guard pulled the dagger out, positioning the tip near her neck below her ear. “Shall I go again?” he asked.

Director glanced between us, a brow cocked. “That depends. Sinner, shall we go again?”

I was going to kill her one day. And I’d make her death slow and torturous and fun. “Touch her again and I’ll refuse to claim with her.”

Her eyes widened. “See, that’s not how this works anymore. You’ll claim with her because your sister will die if you don’t. This?” She pointed to Athena. “This is just for fun. We want information about her powers, and you’re going to give it to us. You want to make life difficult until the blood moon? Fine. But wewillget what we want.”

My breath came out in pants like I’d already gone ten rounds in a fighting ring.

“But to make sure you’re getting the message…” Director stomped over to the guard and pulled the blade from his hand. Then, with a grin in my direction, she dragged the tip down Athena’s arm until a trail of blood stained her pale skin and dripped onto the floor.

“So far, we’ve been relatively nice to you, Sinner. You refuse us much longer, and you’ll see what we’re really capable of.” She turned toward the door. “Bring the healer in. And clean this up. You know where to find me when they change their minds.”

A hooded figure stormed in and fell to their knees in front of Athena. The feminine hands hovered over Athena’s body, pouring magic into her, and her skin literally mended itself.

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