Page 47 of Blood

Apparently, he doesn’t feel comfortable seeing Violet without a present expressing his deepest apologies for trying to kill her. I tried to tell him that it isn’t necessary, that Violet loves us, that she knows we weren’t in control, but Hux was insistent.

That was twenty-three bodies ago.

Twenty-three fingers ago.

Hux studies his masterpiece with a slightly cocked head.

“Do you think my precious treasure will like her present? I heard jewelry is the way to win a woman’s heart.”

I debate my next words very, very carefully.

Usually, that jewelry doesn’t involve body parts.

But they’re the body parts of her enemies, Hux insists. This time, his voice reverberates through our shared head. Violet will love her gift.

I’m sure she will, I agree, somewhat hesitantly.

Do I think Violet will enjoy her necklace of fingers? Of course. My girl is as bloodthirsty as they come.

Do I want to remain here, killing guards, when we could be traveling to our mate right about now? Not at all.

I’m desperate to see her, to hold her, to assure myself she’s okay. Losing Mason destroyed her—I could see that clear as day in her expressive eyes, the twinkling blue appearing like the roiling waves of an ocean in the middle of the night. I’ve never seen such darkness in her gaze before, such heartbreak. It cleaved off a piece of my own heart.

Hux has obviously been listening to my internal monologue. He heaves out an irritated breath and shoves his necklace of fingers into his pocket. However, the darn thing is too big to fit properly, so a few fingers end up hanging out, saluting the world in a bouquet of middle fingers.

“Precious Treasure is waiting for us,” Hux agrees. “We need to go to her.”

Yes, I agree readily. Perhaps we should wait for the others. Or rescue Lucifer, Hera, and Dracula—

No time, Hux interrupts firmly. I need to get to my precious treasure. Now.

So, you have time to murder a couple dozen guards but not rescue Violet’s parents and other mates?

Exactly. Hux nods his head decisively. If I had control of our body, I would be rolling my eyes so hard right now. I love my brother, I truly do, but when it comes to our mate, his morality is severely skewed.

Ignoring the bodies littering the ground, Hux walks toward the huge door at the end of the now red-painted hall. A frown tugs at the corners of his lips when he notes the fingerprint scanner on the wall beside it—a startling contrast to the ancient architecture of the rest of Mount Olympus.

“What the ever-bloody fuck is this?” Hux roars as he begins to jab at the scanner repeatedly.

A mechanical voice intones from the speakers above, “Authorization denied.”

Hux whirls around. “Who’s there? Come out, you witch!”

He jabs the scanner again.

“Authorization denied.”

“Are you hiding in the ceiling? Come out and face me like a monster!” Hux roars, spinning in a circle.

Hux, it’s just the machine. I try to keep my voice calm, so as to not startle him further.

“The machine’s trying to keep me from my precious treasure!” he bellows, his hands curling into fists as he prepares to fight some invisible threat.

Let me... I whisper, and this time, Hux doesn’t fight me as I claim control of our body, wiggling my way into the driver’s seat. Hux is still growling and murmuring incoherently as he settles in beside me, content to watch through my eyes.

With a prolonged sigh of my own, I reach into my pocket and pull out the necklace of fingers. I press the first one flush against the scanner and wait.

“Authorization denied.”

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