Page 86 of The Night Hunting

I called Rue several times, though, to check on Minsi and Tyren. I facetimed with Minsi twice, but she never spoke. She wanted to hear me talk. I made a mental note to have dinner with them, even if Shane was still sleeping. I couldn’t abandon them.

Finally, late in the afternoon, Shane woke up. I heard as his breathing and heartbeat changed right before he turned to his side and opened his eyes.

He sat up with a jerk and looked around, confused. I stood and he looked at me. “What …” He inhaled sharply. “Roman had you. Then—” He pressed his mouth into a thin line. “I killed him, didn’t I?”

I nodded. “For the first time, you didn’t recognize me.”

His eyes bugged. “I attacked you?”

“I’m sorry I used darkfire on you. It was the only thing I could think of to stop you.”

He took slow steps closer to the bars. “Did I hurt you?”

I shook my head. “No, you didn’t. I’m fine.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “But I attacked you anyway.” He clenched his hands.

“Shane, calm down. It’s fine, I’m okay. Don’t get angry. You’ll lose it again.”

He seethed, his eyes turning red. “I … can’t … control it.”

He shifted into his Shadow Wolf and ran at the bars with all he had. I jerked back as he rammed into the bars and the magic jolted him back. He growled, a sick noise that gave me goose bumps, and came at the bars again. Once more, the magic sparked to life, shocking him back.

I clamped my hands over my ears as my heart ached.

Shane didn’t stop. Like a mindless beast, he kept coming to the bars, getting shocked, and then trying again. Each time, he seemed more hurt, more tired, but he didn’t stop.

Arms closed around my shoulders and someone steered me from the room. Once in the hallway, the door was closed with a definite thud, and Shane’s growls and howls became a faint echo.

“I’m sorry.” Lavinia embraced me. “I wish you didn’t have to see him like this.”

A sob rose to my throat. “He told me this would happen. The Shadow Wolf would take over.” I pushed away from Lavinia. “I won’t let that happen.”

Wiping at my eyes, I spun on my heels and ran down the hallway. I only stopped running when I was inside the dungeons and in front of Dot’s cell.

“All right, bitch, here’s the deal,” I said. “You will break Shane’s curse, right now, or you’ll have to deal with me.”

I half-expected Dot to ignore me, like she had done with Shane earlier today. In the exact same position from before, Dot lifted her head, her slick dark curls parting a little, revealing a dark eye behind it.

“You? That’s the best Shane can do? Send you in his place?” Her lips curled back in a wicked grin. “You’re wasting your time, little wolf.”

“You’ve been inside my head and you still underestimate me?” I pushed my hand forward, carrying as much darkfire as I could. My magic wrapped around Dot’s neck and lifted her clean off her feet. “Isn’t it nice that this cell of yours can neutralize your magic, but not mine?” I squeezed my hand and the witch gasped for air. Her eyes widened and she reached for the hand that wasn’t there. “Now, you’ll listen to me: You will break Shane’s curse right now, or you’ll see this is nothing. I'll break you like a sad little doll.”

I closed my hand, giving one last squeeze before letting go. She fell on the floor on all fours, panting, her head and shoulders drooped.

A wheezing sound came from her.

It grew louder and I realized it wasn’t a wheezing sound.

It was laughter.

Dot sat back and stared at me as she laughed, her shoulders and chest shaking. Her laughter became louder and louder, until it hurt my ears. I fought the urge to press my hands over my ears.

Suddenly, she stopped, but the wicked grin still stamped her lips. “I thought you were my friend, little wolf.”

“You were never my friend.” If she pretended to care, it was because of their plan to make me more docile, so I wouldn’t see all the shit they were doing to me. “You were just helping Paimon.”

“Smart girl.” She cocked her head. “But you’ll need more than that to convince me to help you.”

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