Page 63 of Wynter's Bite

The Lord of Gloucestershire laughed, a high-pitched titter. “We’ll get it out of you one way or another when I try you. Still, it is no great feat to deduce that you’ve lost your heart to the chit. Her scent is all over you.” He reached out and grasped Justus’s treasured locket and opened it. “And then here’s this keepsake she gave you. Yes, she is a beauty. Is that why you’ve embarked on this foolish attempt to regain legitimacy?”

There was no reason to lie, so Justus nodded curtly. His love for Bethany was something he’d never be able to deny.

Laughter greeted his response, brittle and mocking. “Only something so foolish as love would inspire such a preposterous idea.” The humor vanished from Ridley’s face, his countenance turning sour and twisted with obsessive rage. “Do you truly believe that any Lord Vampire with a half a mind would make you a citizen again? Rogues are evil cretins and will always be evil cretins.” The declaration came out in a roar, spittle running down Ridley’s chin. “A rogue like you killed the woman I loved.”

And there it was. Confirmation that he would not be leaving this place alive. If Ridley held such a grudge, he’d be blind to reason.

“Then I suppose there is nothing more to say,” Justus said tiredly.

Ridley’s face reddened. “I decide when this interrogation is over, you filthy ginger cur!” The back of his hand struck Justus’s cheek in a resounding slap. Justus’s head rocked back to slam against the wall. He tasted blood from where his teeth collided with his cheek, but refrained from making a sound.

“Where were you taking the woman on your foolhardy venture?” Ridley demanded.

Justus licked his blood from his lips and did not answer.

Ridley smiled, revealing narrow fangs, looking out of place in the midst of his crooked teeth. “Jacob, heat a poker. We’ll see if that will prod him into being more conversational.”

Bloody hell... Justus closed his eyes against the tidal wave of dread. He’d heard that some Lord Vampire utilized torture for their prisoners, that a few even reveled in it. However, it gave him no surprise that Ridley was of that persuasion. Many squires he’d encountered had a mean streak, perhaps to make up for their lower social status. Of course, after everything had been going so well, he had to fall into the clutches of a bully.

The vampire named Jacob, who Justus gathered to be Ridley’s second in command, approached with a glowing red poker. From scenting his power, it seemed he was younger than Justus, but that didn’t matter so long as Justus was restrained.

Ridley took the poker with a smile like an eager child receiving a sweet from the cook. “I’m going to give you one more chance to do this the easy way. “Where were you taking the woman?”

“It is not of your concern,” Justus said as mildly as if they were discussing the weather over tea. He doubted Ridley even cared what he was doing with Bethany in the first place. Likely he just wanted an excuse to torture him. But he wouldn’t tell in case Ridley decided to go after Bethany.

Blazing pain exploded in his side, the smell of burnt fabric and charred flesh making his gorge rise. If he’d had a substantial breakfast, he would have cast up his accounts. Justus gritted his teeth against the agony, refusing to give Ridley the satisfaction of a scream.

Ridley frowned, as if his metaphorical sweet lacked sugar. “Did you not understand the question, rogue? Where were you taking her?”

Again, Justus remained silent and again, Ridley seared him like a side of beef.

“Maybe next I’ll have to burn your pretty face,” Ridley snarled, though his eyes shone with delight at the notion. “Let’s try another question, shall we? Is the woman truly the daughter of the Baron of Wickshire?”

Having no reason to lie, he nodded. “Yes, but they have been estranged. However, fathers always have a soft spot for their daughters, so I’m quite sure he would be very vexed if any harm came to her.

Ridley pursed his narrow lips, as if considering arguing and deciding on another course. “And neither father nor daughter know what you are?”

“No.” It was only a half lie.

“I don’t believe you.” Ridley pressed the poker to Justus’s cheek, but it was only warm. Still, Justus flinched reflexively. The squire grinned. “We’ll have to continue this discussion tomorrow. It is past my meal time and I have more important affairs to attend to.” Once more, he grasped the locket.

“Please,” Justus croaked. “Let me keep it.”

Ridley’s lips twisted in a mocking smirk and for a moment he looked as if he would yank the locket from Justus’s neck, but then he let it drop back beneath Justus’s shirt. “Very well. I suppose I can wait to collect it from your corpse later.”

When Justus was left alone in the dark cell, he slumped in his chains with mingled relief and despair. Though his torment had ended, the reprieve was only temporary. Tomorrow, Ridley would begin torturing him in earnest. And since the vampire was seeking information on Bethany that Justus would die before revealing, he would endure pain greater than he could possibly imagine.

Drowning in desperation, Justus tugged and twisted in his shackles, looking for the slightest increment of yield. His heart sank the longer the shackles held. Ridley may not have put forth much effort in upkeep for his dungeon as Gavin did, but he clearly spared no expense with his restraints. A pity, because the bars of his cell appeared rusted and weak enough to snap.

Hopelessness settled over him like a leaden shroud. Torture and death awaited him tomorrow at nightfall, and he would never see Bethany again.

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