Page 59 of The Dark Rising
“Good work, you have improved even more.” He dips his head in thanks. “I know your loyalty is toward the Elites and no one else.”
His brows pinch together. “Of course.”
“Do you have any others in mind who aren’t?”
He looks at me for a moment. “Something is coming, isn’t it.”
“Something we all weren’t prepared for, so answer my question.”
He nods. “I have a few in mind, but nothing solid.”
“It’s a start.”
“You were very angry when we last spoke,” Charles says as he takes a sip of his liquor. I grunt, not replying. He sighs. “Darius, you need to adhere to my orders, it will not go well for you otherwise.”
“I am not here to be controlled, I’m the Alpha of the Elites.” And he is a piece of shit that needs me to rip out of his throat. Just the thought of his hands on Rhea, what he did to her, what he allowed to happen has me boiling with rage.
Drax growls inside of me, a continuous sound that doesn’t help with my control. He’s damn-near feral as I sit across from him, wanting to be let out to have his teeth sink into him.
We will have his flesh torn soon, we just need to find evidence of where these children are that he has taken.
“It’s for the greater good of Vrohkaria,” Charles goes on. Once again, he sits there, all imposing as he tries to command me to do what he wants. No more.
“I will not rape and create pups.”
He scoffs. “I am very disappointed in you lately, you are not yourself. You seem to think highly of yourself since you have been recognized as an Heir.” He looks over me, nose high in the air.
“Nothing has changed since I have that title.”
“A lot has changed, including yourself.”
“I disagree.” I lean back and fold my arms. “What did you call me for?”
“Do not treat me like a pest, Darius,” he warns, and the air fills with tension. “I am Lord Higher, watch your tone or I will have you thrown in the dungeons with your men.”
I grind my teeth and say nothing. What I wouldn’t give to have my hands around his throat. I can see it so clearly too. I would squeeze and watch his eyes bulge, I would watch his blood vessels pop, watch him claw and gasp for breath. Then I would let up, just to start again. Maybe I could hang him for a time, just to watch him struggle, then tie him to a pole or strap him down.
The many, many things I want to do to this male. All I can think about as he moves his mouth, talking to me more like a pet than a respected Alpha, is how many ways I would make him hurt. How many times I would make sure he survives just so I can make him suffer for longer.
I will have that, Rhea, will have that.
“Are you even listening!” Charles throws the glass against the wall, and silence follows as he breathes heavily like a rabid dog on the other side of the desk.
“I have a lot on my mind with the rogures, this is why I wanted to look at the crystal once more—“
“You will not be looking at the blasted crystal again! You have seen it, you do not need to another time. You need to focus before I have you replaced,” he growls, a vein bulging on his forehead.
His words make my eyes sharpen. “You can’t just have the Alpha of the Elites replaced. There are rules to abide by for that to happen, a ceremony. None of my men will take my place unless I allow it.”
“Patrick has no such problem. Now, get me another drink.”
“Patrick?” Rhea’s sick cousin? Just hearing his name has my hackles rising even more. “That shithead hasn’t even passed the rite of passage, and he would die trying.”
“He doesn’t need to,” Charles growls. “Drink, Darius, now!” My jaw ticks, but I get to my feet on stiff legs and go to his liquor collection. I choose one that’s already open and fill a glass, resisting the urge to spit in it.
Taking it back to him, I slam it down and some spills over the rim, onto his precious desk. Power blasts through the air and it slams into me. I fly into the wall, my chest feeling like it’s about to explode before it’s suddenly gone. I drop to the floor, my eyes hard as I look at Charles who cleans his desk.
My hands fist at my sides as I stand.
