Page 67 of Magic Hunted
“There was one girl who affected you more than the rest, I remember. A small shifter female. Slight frame. Long brunette hair. I think she was a special friend of your shifter mates. The look on your face when I tortured her gave me pleasant dreams for a month,” Peder chuckled.
My skin prickled at the threat in Dias’ growl. Savvas stilled beside me and Ashir’s muscles rippled with tension. They knew her. Of course they did. They were the panther alphas. The entire pack was under their protection, and yet they’d been so powerless in a lot of ways.
“What was her name? Suzie? Sandy? Sara? Ah yes, I remember now. Zahra,” Peder said, his eyes gleaming.
The bond lashed with their repressed rage. Zahra meant something to them and now she meant something to me. Every one of the cadre victims was etched in my mind and I remembered the girl with large brown eyes who held the secrets of the world in them. She’d been small and timid. Unassuming in her slight stature and yet there was a quiet strength about her that had made her stand out. The kind of strength that let her care for others even when she faced the same heinous crime.
Peder had paid her special attention. I’d flinched with every lash of his whip on her back. Every gouge he’d taken out of her. Every bone he’d broken. I’d snuck into her cell and I’d smuggled her out of the stronghold. I don’t know what happened to her after that, and even though she’d been in agonizing pain, she’d thanked me. She’d fuckingthankedme for helping her.
“Don’t you dare speak her name,” I said.
I’d had enough. Peder had taken up too much of my time. My life was too precious to waste a moment more on him. I pressed my will through my magic encasing his hands. The light flared and when it disappeared, his hands disappeared too.
I watched Peder’s face, waiting for the moment he realized his hands were missing. His gaze fell to where bones poked from the ends of his bloodied stumps. My magic hadn’t made a neat cut.
His shrill scream echoed off the glistening leaves and darkness spread on his crotch, running down his thighs. Something eased in my chest at the sound. He thrashed in his bonds as blood gushed to the forest floor.
“You sure are loud. Can’t handle what you dish out to others?” I twirled my fingers, plastering a strip of magic across his mouth. The silence was merciful. “You should know, you didn’t kill her and you didn’t break her.”
Peder’s nostrils flared as he panted through them. Beads of sweat dripped down the sides of his face.
“I got her out, helped her escape. I only made you think she’d died and that I’d disposed of the body. She wasn’t your only victim I saved, either. All those times you left me to clean up those poor broken people? I got them out. They still live, you rotten piece of shit.”
Something eased in my chest at the exact moment comprehension registered in his eyes. The stark horror. The realization that no matter how much they’d done, people had escaped beyond their notice. That they hadn’t been as clever as they thought they were.
“I’m not as downtrodden as I let you believe. That was the gravest mistake you’ve made. Never underestimate a sewer-rat,” I said.
He whimpered behind the gag. I flicked out my palms, releasing more magic. Globes surrounded his feet. He jerked in agony when my magic took them.
“If I could draw this out, I would, but you’re not worth the effort. Tell me who told you where the elves’ village was and where the tunnels ended, before I take your forearms next,” I said.
Peder’s muffled voice sounded behind the gag. I loosened the magic. He sucked in air like he was gagging on it, and it took me a moment to realize he was repeating a name. “Ryo. The elf’s name was Ryo.”
“What?” Taredd stepped toward Peder and pressed the tip of his sword into Peder’s belly. He barked one word, “How?”
Peder gasped for breath, but he was tiring. Pain and blood loss were taking their toll. My sympathy wasn’t stirred. “He came to us and said he would tell us where the grimoire was if Titan would send him back to Faerie. He said the plan they had was flawed and he couldn’t wait any longer. Titan agreed to help him and then your elf told us everything. That Haera has part of the grimoire in her and there are five others. That one section has already been released in the wolf’s territory.”
If there was one thing I knew about Titan, it was that he operated behind smoke and mirrors; create a diversion so big no one saw his actual plan. If Ryo told him everything the elves knew, then Titan had only one plan and that was to get the grimoire before the other members of The Six could find it.
My heart pounded and sweat slicked my body as understanding struck me. “Titan sacrificed his army today because he’s going into wolf territory himself to steal the grimoire.”
Peder’s red face scrunched, which was amazing considering the amount of blood pooling beneath his body. “He would never do that. He would never sacrifice me.”
I scoffed. “I’d never have guessed you were quite that stupid, Peder, but you learn something every day. Did Ryo tell Titan anything else?”
Peder shook his head. “No. Nothing.”
“Does Ryo live?” Taredd said between clenched teeth.
“Titan killed him the moment he’d told us everything we needed to know,” Peder said.
“Is there anything else you need this one for?” Taredd asked.
I really wanted to watch Peder slowly bleed out in agony, but I was sick of his face.
“Haera, mercy, please,” Peder sobbed and it made my stomach turn.
“Rot in hells for eternity, Peder,” I whispered.
