Page 21 of Wicked Prince of Carnage
“She goes hunting. Rabbits and squirrels,” he said in a tiny voice. “Does she know where I am? She’ll be worried by now since I was supposed to stay at the meat shop.”
“I’m sure she is.” He scratched the back of his neck as Cyan’s chin wobbled. Young or not, he was a human, and Winter shouldn’t feel any pity for him. “Sterling knows where you are and is upstairs right now.”
Cyan stilled. “Can I please see her?”
“No.” Winter backed out of the cell. For the moment, he’d only wanted to know if Cyan was aware of Sterling’s secret life. He still wasn’t completely certain, but he could press him harder later. After Sterling was dealt with. “Not unless you behave,” he added as an incentive for him to remain cooperative. It lessened the chance of anyone damaging him while he was still useful.
“Thank you, I promise I’ll behave,” Cyan whispered, then said hurriedly, “Will you bring a few sheets of paper? I would like to make you something.”
Winter arched a brow. If he was attempting to make a weapon, it wouldn’t do much more than a paper cut. However,he was slightly curious as to what the boy would fashion frompaper. “I’ll see.” He latched the cell again before striding out of the cellar as Cyan whimpered. The guard stood at the top of the stairs beside Micah when Winter emerged. “Have him fed, provide a chamber pot, and get him a blanket,” the prince ordered the guard.
“Well?” Micah asked after the guard left. “The mite know anything?”
“I can’t be certain, but I didn’t bring him back for information.” Not entirely. He motioned for Micah to follow him toward his room. “Tell me how the castle prison is fairing?”
Micah simply shrugged. “Full, as usual.” The prince’s father often locked up wolves, then chose to forget about them.
Winter had told Sterling that the games would begin tomorrow night, but he hadn’t told any of his packmates yet. They’d be just as eager for his plan to start as he was. It was the perfect way to show off Sterlingandtake care of the full prison. He needed the space for wolves he would inevitably capture. Only everything had to be done in a way that wasn’t an obvious challenge to his father’s authority if the bastard survived. The king’s general—Rawling—and Caston guarded over him, never leaving him alone as he lay in bed. Not even the prince would be able to slip him poison if he decided to. His father wouldn’t discover Red Riding Hood had been found until he regained consciousness.Ifhe did.
“Bring two dozen human prisoners here at first light,” he instructed. “Put them in the cells, but not with the boy. I can’t have them killing him on me.”
“Two dozen criminals?Here?” Micah released a disgusted noise in the back of his throat. “Why?”
“I told you I was going to make her death a spectacle, didn’t I?” Winter said, and paused in front of his bedroom door. “Now, lower her cage.”
Micah nodded and followed behind the prince into the room.
Sterling leaned against the back of the cage, her arms folded over her chest.
As Micah handled the chains, Sterling grabbed the bars so hard her knuckles turned white, her face red with fury. “He’s not touching me again,” she spat.
“Do you prefer my touch, then?” Winter drawled. She’d enjoyed herowntouch well enough. He’d almost hated to interrupt Sterling pleasuring herself, but it was much more fun to deny her the release. Then she’d offered to fuck him to get herself out of the situation… As if Winter could be so easily swayed.
“I’ll fuck you to release my brother.” Her voice came out desperate, and he could hear the distaste in her words.
“Again, tempting. However, I go to the brothel for that.” Winter smirked.
“I’ll take her.” Micah let go of the chain. “She may have a ruined face, but she has nice tits.”
“No.” Winter bristled when his wolf growled. She washisprisoner to do with as he pleased, no one else’s. “Have someone send up a plate of roast duck with all the sides.”
“Of course.” Micah’s stare lingered on Sterling a little too long before leaving.
Silence fell over the room now that they were alone again, her gaze focused on the door as if it would reopen. Winter shifted into her line of sight, his finger curling around one of the bars. He wanted her attention—all of it.
“Do youlikemy packmate, human?” he drawled. “Is it the scar he gave you that you adore? Feel a kinship with him, do you?”
She huffed. “Ifeellike I need to take a piss.”
“That’s a shame.” Winter strolled around the cage, taking her in from every angle. Now that he knew the truth, he could seethe signs of a skilled archer. A lined scar on her left forearm that looked to be from the slap of a bowstring, raised pads of her fingertips, sculpted arms and shoulders.
Obvious or not,Winterwas the one to come across her. Something his father hadn’t accomplished. Had he gone out searching for her under his father’s orders without finding any trace? Yes. But now the prince was in charge. This happened underhisrule, and he had to use that to his advantage.
Deep down he knew the deaths of the wolves were on his hands. He was the one who’d had a weak moment, chosen to let Sterling go following her grandmother’s death. Perhaps he should’ve let his wolves kill her that day. If he had, they would’ve been alive now. His nostrils flared at the thought—nothing could bring them back. So he would relish watching her suffer during his game.
A smirk graced Winter’s lips as he edged away from the cage, pulling off his tunic.
“At least one of us can get comfortable in here,” Sterling muttered.
