Page 138 of Tarnished Queen

“Come out now and I’ll let you live,” I boom.

There’s a long pause before the man speaks. “Bullshit. You’re going to kill me like you did everyone else.”

“Maybe. But would you rather die facing me or cowering behind the bed?”

The location was just a guess, but a good one. A few seconds later, the man stands up, facing me across a queen-sized bed. He’s young—barely twenty, if that—with a patchy beard and red-rimmed eyes.

“All your friends are dead.”

He swallows nervously. “They weren’t my friends. I barely knew them.”

“Are you trying to tell me you aren’t one of them?”

“I am. But only for a week.” His chin wobbles, but he quickly shakes his head to try and maintain his composure. “I was just recruited and initiated. I moved into this house yesterday, and now—”

“Death is here.” I give him a cold smile. “But I told you if you came out, I’d spare you. I’m a man of my word.”

He swallows hard. “Why would you do that?”

“Because you’re going to deliver a message for me,” I inform him. “You’re going to tell Xena that I want to meet. You’re going to find her and tell her that this war ends now. Can you do that?”

He nods. “But… why me?”

I look him up and down, from his buzzed head to his scuffed sneakers. “Because you’re the only one still alive. And because I want Xena to know that the sole reason you’re alive is that I spared you.”

His frown deepens, but he doesn’t argue. He isn’t really in the position.

“Can you do that or would you rather join your friends?” I ask.

“I can do that,” he says quickly. “I’ll tell Xena.”

We stare at each other for a few seconds before I snap, “Then what the fuck are you waiting for?”

The man gasps and then hurries by me, keeping a wide berth. I could follow him and find out who he is calling or where he’s going to deliver the message, but it isn’t necessary. Xena will reach out and tell me where to meet. She won’t be able to help herself.

Once that happens, I’ll find her.

Then I’m going to wring her neck for what she’s done.

39

BELLE

A sharp pain radiates down my arm and vibrates through my bones.

“Wake up already,” a distant voice whines. “This is boring.”

I feel like I’m underwater. My ears are full and my vision is blurred. I can’t tell which way is up.

“Come on.”

There’s a sharp jab against my hip. The pointed toe of a shoe, if I had to guess.

The last thing I remember is laying in the hospital bed, waiting for Nikolai… and then Xena. The syringe. Her laugh. I thought she was killing me. But I should have known better—Xena would never make it that easy. Why kill me in a hospital bed when she could toy with me in what I have to assume is some kind of sadistic torture dungeon?

"You're awake now," Xena croons in my ear. "I know it. You just can't stop pretending, can you? Can't stop lying and wasting my time."

Someone grabs me by the arm and hauls me up. I'm conscious, but barely. Not enough to open my eyes or respond. I’m just starting to realize that I’m sitting upright when there’s a hard crack across my face.

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