Page 75 of Hot in Witch City
Andre—that demon who had kidnapped me. “You were working with that monster?”
Jakob sneered. He bent down and licked my face. “Don’t worry, you’ll like me better than that shaggy wolf you’ve been fucking. Demons do everything better.”
I gagged at the cold wetness of his vile tongue on my skin. “Eww.” I shuddered. “Keep that disgusting tongue off of me, or I’ll find a way to rip it out of your skull!”
Jakob dropped his head back and laughed—one with such a malevolent undertone that I shivered. “I love your spunk, siren.” He ran his finger down my shoulder and over my breast. “And I will greatly enjoy getting information out of you—no matter how long it takes.” He flashed an evil, mirthless smile. “Or how deep I have to penetrate to break you.”
Icy terror swirled like mist from my ankles and up my spine. I held my chin up, refusing to let this creature see how he terrified me.
“Want me to help?” Max asked.
“No, I’m going to enjoy this on my own.” He circled around me and sniffed. “Her fear is intoxicating.”
I gritted my jaw.
Max said, “Enjoy,” and then left the room.
My mother said, “Better yet, get her to lure her witch friend here. We can force her to give us information.”
No, not again. That demon Andre had used me to get Nova to bring her family’s Book of Shadows to him. Now these demons were going to use me as bait once more? No matter what they did, I wouldn’t let it happen.
No matter what.
My mother left the room, leaving me alone with this demon. How could I ever have considered being with Jakob? Everything about him was vile and turned me off.
So much regret rose. Had I been so blind by my desperation to know my mother that I’d pushed away those who truly cared for me?
One person came to mind above all. He’d shielded his true feelings because of how I’d react. Sebastian had done nothing but try to protect me and keep me happy. He’d been so considerate, never asking for more than I could give, and like a fool, I’d pushed him away.
I struggled against the rope restraining my wrists. No use.
In the end, by trying to shield myself from pain, I’d locked the constraints around myself. My wounds kept me from pursuing happiness, which was something I had a glimpse of with Sebastian. He’d patiently waited for me to wake up and see what had been clear to him from the first moment we met—we were meant to be together.
Too bad, I was a jaded jackass and couldn’t see what was best for me. Instead, I followed down this dark path leading to destruction. Dragging me into my worst nightmares.
“Splendid, this is what you fear most.” Jakob’s eyes widened with a combination of delight and surprise. “Restraint.”
Shit, was he reading my mind?
“I sense your fear.” He sniffed my neck. “It energizes me.”
“Get the fuck away from me!” I spat and tried to escape the ropes binding me one more time. My breathing escalated and my heartbeat clamored as I struggled to get out.
He laughed. “You should know by now that it won’t work. And the greater your terror, the higher my enjoyment.”
I growled in frustration and then stopped the futile struggle. Was there any way I could escape this nightmare? My mind flashed with one horrifying instance after another of how a demon might torture me. Binding me and removing all my control would be vicious torment in itself. And then, he’d do the same to Nova.
I forced the images away, they would only escalate my horror—and give him fuel on how to break me.
“Keep it going,” he drawled with delight. “Tell me all your delicious fears.”
I was caught in my worst nightmare of being locked up, only this time it wasn’t just one demon, but two.
And the one who had done this to me was my own mother.
I screamed for help.
“Sing for me, siren.” Jakob laughed. “Eventually you’ll sing the song I want to hear.”
