Page 205 of Craving Venom

“On your feet, Valehart.” The other spits my name. “Let’s go.”

The chains clink as I stand, but I don’t fight it.

The students are staring at me with sickened expressions with their notebooks completely forgotten, while others remain transfixed. They came here hoping to catch a glimpse of the monster, and I gave them exactly what they wanted.

But I don’t give a fuck about them.

My eyes are only on Faith.

The guards drag me through the library, their fingers grinding into my arms with pointless force, but halfway through the cell block, I’ve had enough. I brace myself and rip to a sudden halt.

“Get the fuck off me.”

The one behind me stumbles but lets go, and the one in front does the same. I don’t wait for their permission. I turn and head toward my cell.

The water hisses out of the ancient pipes, sputtering until it evens out, and steam quickly thickens the air, clinging to the walls and curling around my skin. I step under the stream, flinching at the cold bite that fades almost instantly as the heat kicks in, and as the vibrations ripple through the pipeline against my hand, I steady myself, feeling a smile tug at my lips.

This place might be a shithole, but it’s predictable. Reliable.

I let the water run down my face, soaking through my hair and into my skin. My shoulders relax as the shower washes away the weight of Faith’s disappointment.

The water pounds against my back, running over the ink carved into my skin, the heat sinking deep enough to make my muscles throb with something close to relief, and I’m about to shut off the stream when I catch the soft creak of the cell door swinging open.

I don’t turn around.

I know who it is.

There’s only one person who would dare to walk in here uninvited.

I let the water run for a moment longer before shutting it off. The air’s thick with steam as I grab the towel from the hook, drying myself off. Wrapping the towel low around my waist, I step out of the shower. Water drips down my chest, pooling at my feet as I look up.

Faith’s standing just past the door with her arms crossed over her chest. Her stare is unapologetic as it sweeps across my tattoos, tracing every line down my torso before slipping even further south. She fights the instinct to react, but I don’t miss the way her eyes catch on the towel hanging low on my hips

And yeah, my body’s giving me away.

The hard length of my cock pressing against the towel’s thin excuse for cover makes it obvious.

“You could’ve just asked.” Her head snaps up and her eyes meet mine, but this time they’re not filled with shock or fear.

“It would’ve been easier,” I add, curling my lips just enough to make her glare. “If you wanted to see me naked, baby, all you had to do was say so.”

“Was any of it true?”

“Which part?”

“That stupid blood bath fantasy of yours.”

“It’s all true.” I swipe my tongue on my lower lip for extra effect.

Her hands clench tight at her sides before she storms forward, bridging the space between us with a rage that trembles through every step.

“Do you even hear yourself? How are you not dead from self-loathing already?” She shoves at my chest. But it doesn’t do shit. All it does is bring her closer.

“You slaughtered them and all you can talk about is how you should’ve done it slower, made it bloodier, soaked yourself in itlike some deranged animal. And you’re proud of that? Proud of the way you tore them apart without a second thought? Jesus, Zane. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to look at my own reflection. I wouldn’t be able to breathe knowing what I’d done, let alone wear it like a badge of honor.”

Her fists curl, pressing harder, but I don’t move.

“Alex was a kid.” Her palms flatten against my chest and her fingers tremble even as her anger tries to hold steady. “A scared little boy who had no idea what was happening, and you—” Her jaw tightens as her eyes draw into a glare. “You failed him.”

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