Page 5 of Savage Blood
“Why the fuck am I chained up?” I asked.
“Well, look at that.” Roxie stood a few feet away, an ominous smile curling her lips as she flicked her long ebony ponytail behind her shoulder. “Youdoknow how to be afraid.”
I kicked my unbound legs, but she was too far to reach. “What are you doing, Roxie? Luring me into a trap and locking me up isn’t enough for you?”
Her laugh made goose bumps break out over my flesh, and she pulled a dagger off her belt, tapping the blade to her palm. “I thought we’d have a little fun with some torture.”
Chapter
Two
Roxie stepped closer,keeping a safe distance from my legs. “Do you like screaming, Tate? I can’t wait to hear you pleading for me to stop.”
If my hands weren’t bound, I’d knock that smug look off her face. Unfortunately, the chains were strung through a metal loop bolted to the ground and drawn so tight I could barely move.
“Did you forget I was in Heldrok, Roxie? Prison guards and even inmates tortured me daily. I doubt your skills are anywhere near theirs.” A taunting smirk tugged at my lips. “Youareusually lacking in most areas. Why would this be any different?”
Her blue eyes scorched through dark, sooty lashes, and the blade she gripped flashed under the dim lantern lights. “You’re going to eat your words soon, Tate.”
My laugh echoed through the grimy cell. “You’ll never be as good as me. I was a master torturer in Heldrok too.”
“That was before the Infernal Sol was torn out of yourbody.” She motioned the dagger over me. “Without it, you’re nothing but a sad, weak little shifter.”
Ruin’s chains jingled as he moved down the bars. “Rox, babe, physically torturing Tate won’t be any fun. If you really want to get to her, make her watch that sad SPCA commercial with the chick singing about angels while they play sad clips of abandoned animals.”
My head angled toward him. “Who wouldn’t be tortured by that commercial?”
He shrugged. “It would definitely get to you, since you were, you know, kind of abandoned yourself.”
I flipped him off.
Roxie kicked my thigh, making pain flare within it. “I’m standing here with a fucking knife, ready to maim you, and you’re acting as if I don’t exist.”
“I know you exist.” A heavy sigh rushed out of my lungs. “You’re just not that much of a threat.”
Pissing off the psycho raven who hated my guts for some unknown reason wasn’t my brightest idea, but Roxie got sloppy and distracted when she was angry. I could use that to my advantage.
“Not a threat?” Her nostrils flared, a feverish excitement twisting her expression. “We’ll just see about that.”
She spun, marched out of my cell, and vanished into the shadows of the corridor.
“You’re not doing yourself any favors by riling her up,” Ruin mumbled under his breath. “She’s become quite good at torture.” He ran his hand down the bruises and welts marring his bare torso.
My throat tightened. She did that to him?
I choked my emotions back down. I wouldnotfeel sorry forthe asshole who lied to me for years and killed innocent shifters.
Roxie returned and dropped a leather duffel bag on the ground. “Let’s see just how much endurance you have, Tate.”
She darted forward, dodging my kicks, and threw a glittery powder in my face.
Son of a bitch.
“Malefic ash?” I coughed. “Are you going to torture me while I’m unconscious?”
Pressure hit my legs as she sat on them. “I only gave you enough to keep you docile.”
“So you can’t torture me unless I’m drugged?”
