Page 150 of Fury of the Bound
The thing cocked its head. “Is that really what you want to know?”
“One of many,” I said flatly. “Yes.”
It laughed, and the noise slithered under my skin, ringing around the room. I didn’t move, didn’t blink. Instead, a tendril slid up his leg, stretching over to his hand, curling around one finger. And I pulled hard, until the bone snapped and the finger tore free. Blood welled dark and sluggish, and it grit its teeth, a flicker of strain cutting through the smirk.
Interesting. High pain tolerance. Good.
“I’ve got plenty of parts to work through before we get to your heart,” I murmured, crushing his finger under my boot. “Now, start talking.”
“And what makes you think I’ll tell you anything else, dark one?”
I didn’t bother answering. Another finger tore free—slower this time, the shadows pulling until sinew snapped and it gave away with a wet crack.
A cruel smile tugged at my mouth. “Good. That’s the reaction I like. Pain makes you honest—or at least more useful.”
Its eyes flickered, that spark of defiance still there—but fading. The kind I enjoy extinguishing.
“Now, how do you walk in the sun?”
It twisted, tried to struggle, and within seconds, another finger tore away. No scream. Stubborn. Foolish.
Admirable in a pathetic way.
I leaned closer, darkness curling like smoke around us, tasting the fear it didn’t yet understand. “Think of it this way—you’re not leaving this room alive. And we’re nowhere near the part where I finish the job.” Another finger cracked free. “So… unless you want the rest of your body to follow, you’d do well to answer me. Now.”
“I hope she kills you,” it hissed, venom dripping from every word.
“Not the answer to my question,” A shadow coils tighter around his finger, constricting with an almost sentient hunger. “The next one I rip off… you’ll eat.”
Dean watched in silence, but I didn’t spare him a glance. My focus was entirely on the thing in front of me. Its black veins writhed beneath its pale skin.
“I can’t tell you specifically how we can walk in the sun. Just… the king performed a lot of experiments.”
I hummed softly. “Interesting. But not the answer I wanted.” My gaze narrowed. “What did you mean when you said she will kill me?”
Now, that earned a flicker of interest in its unnatural eyes.
“That is a question worth asking. Seems like you aren’t just Vespera's little pet.”
I studied it, letting the shadows wrap around its neck, tightening like a vice. Then I drew the dagger from my side and drove it straight into its left eye. The howl it let out wasn’t just pain—it was pure terror—and I let myself smile, dark and triumphant.
I twisted the blade, his body locked in place, savouring the way his body jerked helplessly. Blood ran cold down my arm, and the eyeball stuck to the blade as I pulled it out.
“Now that,” I let my grin linger. “Is a sound worth remembering. Wonder what I can do next?”
I could feel it trembling now—more with rage than fear—and I let myself savour it. The pulsing helplessness of a vampire screaming under my control never grew old.
“Who will kill me?” I demanded.
“You…can’t…stop her. There will be no stopping the King’s creation.” Its veins blackened even more; fangs bared.
I was sick of riddles and cryptic warnings.
“What did the King create?”
It licked its bloodied lips, amusement flickering in one eye. “Did you ever hear the story… of what the King tried to make before the Ashen war?”
I dropped the dagger, the eye still clinging to the blade, and crossed my arms. “I did. He failed. What’s your point?”
