Page 77 of Shadows of Fate

My ice queen knew more than she should about the male, and I had no problem getting dirty to figure it out.

Starting with Viktor.

Chapter39

Broken. Helpless. Bleeding.

Raiden

Cedar had flown back to Cainhorn to let Paine and Arabella know we were okay. Meanwhile, Silvana and I headed downstairs with Bastian to have a chat with Viktor.

Did I expect him to talk? Nope.

Would I enjoy dragging it out of him anyway? Absolutely.

We walked down the stone steps. The air was humid, making it slightly more uncomfortable than it already was being trapped in a large concrete box underground. Viktor was currently tied to the chair I’d been in, only instead of rope holding him down, it was my shadows.

I leaned against the far wall from him as Silvana circled the chair where he sat. His head was hanging down toward his chest and his eyes were closed. I’d admit it—he’d seen better days. Covered in dried blood from our earlier scuffle. The wounds had healed, but I hadn’t let Bastian and Cedar clean him up. I enjoyed him like this.

Broken. Helpless. Bleeding.

I knew he’d look worse once Silvana and I finished with him, and I couldn’t wait for it. My fangs ached at the thought of watching my queen force answers from his mouth.

She was wearing tight black leather pants and a short black tank that showed off her midriff and left her arms exposed, along with her chunky black boots. Her pale silver hair was tied back in a loose plait, and my hands itched to wrap its length around my fist and pull her closer to me.

“I can feel the turn of your thoughts, My Lord,” she muttered beneath her breath as she circled Viktor once more before she kicked the leg of his chair, startling him awake.

We’d ended up staying in the bed upstairs for a while longer, just being in each other’s presence before finally coming down here to interrogate our prisoner. Silvana knew we’d have to go back there—to that hell that held her hostage for so many years. But she knew I was by her side, and I wouldn’t let anyone take her from me.

“My thoughts are exactly where they need to be, My Queen. On how stunning your ass will look while I fuck you in a puddle of Viktor’s blood.” I smirked as Viktor looked between us, his face slightly more pale than before.

Silvana pulled her blade from her boot and smiled back at me. “I love it when you talk dirty to me. Makes my all tingly and eager to kill unworthy males.”

Bastian cleared his throat and chuckled. “I was interested in waiting this one out, but I’m going to head upstairs and keep watch. You two make me ill.”

“Bye, Bastian. I’ll try to save you some scraps when I finish him off.” Silvana giggled.

“Oh, don’t worry about it, Ice Sickle, he isn’t really my type. I like my males more… imposing. Intelligent. Controlling. Less bitch boy,” he replied.

I chuckled, knowing he was being sincere. I knew what Bastian’s type was, and Viktor wasn’t even close.

Viktor just stared between us, not speaking.

“Now, Viktor,” Silvana started, the blade tapping rhythmically against her thigh. “I’ve so been looking forward to meeting you. Honestly, even before you took my male. After you took him? Well, that surely sweetened the pot for me.”

I could hear Viktor grinding his teeth together. “I’m not telling you anything. Yourmate—” He spat the word as if it was foul-tasting in his mouth. “—and his pathetic males already tried.”

Silvana nodded for a moment. “I understand, Viktor. Truly. You see, as you know, I don’t quite remember everything about my past. But what I do remember? What Raiden has filled in? I imagine that our… master could be quite intimidating.”

Viktor stared at her for a moment, as if unsure what to say. About what would be safe to utter. “He doesn’t intimidate me.”

She chuckled and leaned in closer to his face. “Oh. Well then. I apologize. He intimidated me, if I’m being honest. But that wasn’t my point. You see, Viktor, here’s the thing about intimidation. Whenever I’m scared of someone, I try to remember that there is always someone out there worse. That’s how I’ve survived this long. While I may not fully remember everything Keres did to me, the snapshots? The glimpses? Well, they were enough to push me to become… more, Viktor. More scary. More vile. More intimidating. So, while I understand that you don’t fully trust that fact yet, just remember this moment. I did warn you.”

Silvana turned and looked back at me, that fire I loved so much in her eyes. “I’ve been thinking about this new idea, and I’ve been eager to show you.”

I returned her smile and let my arm drop down in a dramatic motion, urging her on.

She crouched down in front of the bound male, a smile curving her lips as she used her dagger to cut the front of his tattered shirt down the middle. Pushing it to the sides, she used the blade and sliced a small hole as long as one finger close to the right side of his ribs. I watched, curious as to what her plan was exactly, and we both ignored Viktor’s muffled cries. He was clearly trying to hold back his screams, which seemed to motivate my queen even more.

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