Page 68 of Bite of Sin

“What is that?” Zan asked in a low voice.

I saw it too but clenched my teeth together, not making a sound. I noticed it the second Viggo tugged up the second pant leg. The small black bracelet was wrapped around his ankle.

“Now, who wears something like that on their leg?” Viggo inspected it for a moment before easily ripping it and tossing it on the ground.

“Get the key, Pax,” Zan said, his arms tightening around me.

I wanted to scream and promise them that I’d talk. But they’d believe nothing that came out of my mouth anyway. Not when they knew they couldn’t entrance me. I watched helplessly as Pax tossed the key to Viggo, who went to unlock the cage. Warner was already on his feet and charged at Viggo the second the door was open. Viggo ducked away, throwing his fist into Warner’s ribs hard enough to knock his breath away.

“We have some questions for you,” Viggo muttered, wrapping his hand around Warner’s throat again and slamming his back against the cage.

“I can’t wait to see the day when you all die,” Warner snarled, his eyes wild with loathing. “It’s coming.”

Viggo lowered his head, getting right in Warner’s face. He didn’t say anything, only stared into Warner’s eyes. Ice slid down my spine when, after a few moments, all the emotions faded, and he looked back at Viggo with a blank expression as his entire body relaxed.

“That’s better.” Viggo kept his eyes locked on Warner’s. “Let’s start with an easy one. Where did you live before you came into our city?”

“Project Hope,” Warner answered, his voice completely monotone.

I sagged in Zan’s arms, knowing it was all over. Warner was going to tell them everything. And then they’d kill us.

“Is Kali’s tattoo the reason she can’t be entranced?” Viggo asked next.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“There’s hawthorn powder mixed with the ink.”

“Mm,” Zan breathed into my ear. “Clever little human. Too bad he didn’t get one, isn’t it?”

I bit my tongue, not responding to his taunting. Pax came into my sight, his focus on Viggo and Warner. Viggo went on to ask his next question.

“Do you know a secret way into Project Hope?”

“Yes.”

“Are you able to get to it?”

“Yes.”

“Are you or Kali part of PARA?”

“No.”

Zan shifted behind me. “Ask him how old she is.”

The back of my neck prickled when Viggo repeated the question.

“Twenty-four,” Warner answered.

“You haven’t been tested yet?” Zan asked, keeping his lips near my ear.

The image of the platform in the city center with Norman and his knife flashed in my head, but I stayed completely still, refusing to answer him.

“Ask him,” Zan ordered. Viggo asked Warner the same question.

“No.”

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