Page 52 of Song of Tenebrae

I haul her down into my lap and nuzzle her throat, hiding my grin at her words. “I allowed that, I won’t allow you to dance.”

“Whatever,” she shrugs as she watches her friends dance together on stage, “you guys couldn’t pay me enough anyway.”

Squall barks out another laugh and Torrent joins in, the interaction warming my insides. There’s hope yet. Hail hasn’t moved his eyes off Sky and I can feel the anger rolling off him in waves. Even though the girls have kept their clothes on thus far, I know what he’s feeling, and that’s why I didn’t want Tempest up there. She’s mine and yes, I may have fucked her here in front of everyone, but it wasmethat was fucking her. I just made it clear who she belonged to.

She picks up my glass of whiskey and takes a few large gulps, “this outfit is itching my skin.”

“This outfit is gorgeous,” I lick my tongue over her pulsing artery, “your mind is playing tricks on you.” My fingers glide up between her legs and settle on her silky panties, “this outfit is soft. I know it because I had it made.”

“You’re fucking sick,” she hisses as I bite into her skin, “making me an outfit like last year’s.”

“You’ll thank me later and finally let go of last fucking year.”

We’re all quiet, watching the girls dance, and vibing to the music, when Eddy comes into the room. He looks us over at the table and when Squall notices him, he rushes over. Eddy doesn’t venture in here during my birthday week, he stays away as do the other staff, but it must be something of importance if he’s here, and Squall may know something about it. They step out of the room and it takes everything in me not to follow them. I need to trust that my brother has it handled.

It’s two am and Squall hasn’t returned. I’m not worried as much as I’m suspicious but I try to keep it reigned in. It’s simultaneous the moment my brothers realize the time, and then both of their eye’s land on me. It’s time to give my demon the retribution she needs.

The girls notice the time as well and I feel Tempest stiffen in my lap. “It’s time, Demon.”

“For what?” I watch as her throat works to swallow, her very obvious tell of fear.

“For the next stage in our relationship.”

“Come on ladies,” Torrent stands and tries to herd Sky and Tiny, “off you go to bed.”

“No!” Sky screams, “I’m not leaving Temp here alone with you!”

Tiny throws Torrent’s hand off of her and when he grabs her around the throat, Tempest jumps to her feet.

“Get your fucking hand off of her,” she has her knife out in the next instant and she looks ready to fucking use it.

“Let them stay.” I say loudly before Tempest sinks her knife into another one of my brothers. I don’t doubt she will since she’s done it before.

“You can’t be serious?” Hail sneers as he looks from me to Tempest. “This is going to be embarrassing enough, and now you want an audience?”

“Can you not understand their trepidation? Considering what we put them through last year, wouldn’t you want to make sure one of us were safe if the roles were reversed?”

He knows I’m right but I can see he would never admit it by the stubborn set of his jaw.

“Alright then,” Torrent claps his hands and grins at the girls, “Follow me ladies.” He motions toward the basement entrance. He looks way too gleeful for what’s about to happen.

“Raiden?” Demon whispers, “what’s happening?” She trembles as I gather her in my arms.

“Listen to me,” I grab her chin, “you need to be strong and come downstairs with me.”

“Again?” her eyes begin to water, “I’ll go crazy.”

“I’m hoping you do,” I catch her lips in a rough, crazed kiss and then bend to pick her up, throwing her over my shoulder.

“Raiden!” She screams and pounds on my back. At least she hasn’t stabbed me… yet.

“Put her down!” Sky yells as she runs to follow us.

I hear a grunt and assume Hail is taking care of his woman. I get to the stairs leading to the basement and hear Demon’s sobs, her chest moving with the force. I need her to face her fear and take back the part of herself I stole one year ago.

The stairs are hard as I make my way down and the smell of damp mold assaults my senses. She’s stopped sobbing against my back and that probably means she’s ready to fucking stab me now. I hurry along down the darkened corridor, the walls seeping with moisture, and the lights swinging ominously. Nothing down here is nice, it wasn’t made for that. It used to be an old holding area for newly acquired slaves that were resold to passing merchant boats way back in the day. There are still a few rooms containing old instruments of torture and one of them is the room we’re going to now.

I step inside and see the hooks hanging from the ceiling, the whips and knives hung on the wall, and the blood that still stains the floor. Some of those stains belong to my demon. I set her down and she turns slowly, her skin turning a light shade of green as she steps to the side and vomits.

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