Page 29 of Luna Cursed

Tor was going to ask what she thought they would be like, but then Askel turned down another path. One that was secluded enough to present an opportunity.

"You go left; I go right," Ciara said, letting him go and starting to move off. She moved as silent as a wolf across the grass towards Askel.

Tor did as she asked and went left. Askel slowed his pace, his nose lifting in the air. His head whipped around to Tor, spotting him, and instantly jumped into action. He turned to bolt and found Ciara with a baton that she had pulled from her left boot and flicked out. She went low, cracked Askel hard on the knees, and as he went forward, she sidestepped and hit him in the back of the head. He was out before he hit the ground.

"Holy shit," Tor said, jogging up to her. "Those were some smooth moves."

"Ones that Lachie and I practiced a lot." Ciara looked down at Askel. "We need a quiet place to question him."

Tor thought about it. They couldn't risk doing it in a hotel room. A lightbulb went on in his head. "The forest around the lake should have some unused cabins. It's not summer yet, so we might find an empty one with a woodshed."

Ciara nodded. "Okay, you watch him. I'll go get the car."

Tor crouched down beside Askel and started going through his pockets. "Now, let's see what secrets you are hiding."

16

Ciara and Tor found an empty cabin after their third try. It looked like it had been locked up since the previous summer. A fine layer of dust blanketed everything, and leaves covered the small patio and a boat shed.

Ciara pulled out some lock picks and made quick work of the boat shed door. It had a dock inside that opened directly out onto the water. Handy for a clean-up, and it would've been perfect if they needed to waterboard Askel. Unfortunately, it wasn't the most ideal way to get information out of a wolf.

Tor dragged Askel into the shed and used zip ties to fasten him to a chair.

"They aren't going to hold him," Ciara said and pulled out a black box from the bag. She swallowed hard, wondering if she should let Tor beat the crap out of Askel instead of revealing what she had in it.

"Have you ever tortured someone?" she asked.

"No," Tor replied. "I've kicked their asses, and I've killed. None of it involved torture."

Ciara straightened her shoulders. "Maybe you should wait outside."

Tor frowned. "Why?"

Because you're not going to want me after you see this side of me,Ciara almost said. She gripped the black box tighter.

"I have tortured people before. Wolves. I…I don't think you're going to want to witness this, and I'm trying to protect you from the reality of it," she replied instead. It was still the truth.

Tor crossed his arms. "This asshole knows where my sister is and has supported Varg in doing fuck knows what to her. I'm not going anywhere."

Ciara nodded. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

She put the box down on a wooden counter covered in paint stains. She flicked the locks and opened them. She took out a pair of silver cuffs engraved with sigils that nulled a wolf's strength and magic, and locked them around Askel's wrists. Almost instantly, the burning on his skin began, and he came to with a startled cry.

"What the fuck!" he demanded. His eyes glowed with blue fire when they landed on Tor. "You fucking traitor. You're going to let the Wolf Slayer carve me up?"

Tor's face was cold. "Depends on whether or not you tell me where Varg is. Make it easy on yourself, Askel. Tell us what we need to know, and I'll take you back to be judged by the elders."

Askel spat. "Fucking elders have no authority over me. A bunch of long-in-the-tooth wolves that should have been put down years ago. Makes sense that you would throw your lot in with this bitch. You are both wolf slayers, after all."

What? Ciara kept the surprise off her face. Tor let out a feral sound, and his fangs dropped. He looked ready to tear Askel's throat out.

"I take it that's a no to telling us where Varg is?" Ciara asked, pulling out a vial of wolfsbane. Charlotte had made it herself and mixed it with silver nitrate. Ciara usually coated her knives and bullets with it on a hunt.

"It's a fuck no. Varg is my king, the true king of the wolves. I'm his shaman and…" Askel's fingers had been moving in a pattern. He paused and tried again.

"I hope you're not trying to do magic because the cuffs will prevent it. Clever, aren't they?" Ciara said cheerily. She held up the bottle. "This is the hard way, Askel. Don't make me do it."

"Go right ahead, bitch. I know you get off on killing wolves. Never thought I'd see the likes of you with Mr. Straight Laced over here." Askel snarled wordlessly at Tor. "Fucking waste of a wolf you are. Strongest alpha in centuries and you refuse to use any of your power like a pussy."

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