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“If you wanted me on my knees, Dianna, all you had to do was ask. You know that.”
“Tempting.” She rocked the blade under my chin, forcing my head back. “You should grow the scruff back, though. I like the way it tickles.”
“Whatever you want.”
Her smile was all fangs and cold brutality. “Whatever I want?”
“Always.”
“I do want something from you.” She leaned a fraction closer, the tip of her blade pressing into my neck. “I need you to bleed.”
Faster than I could track, she grabbed me by my throat and lifted me with a predator’s ease, the small muscles in her arm bunching from my weight. My feet barely touched the floor, which said a lot, given that I towered over her. I didn’t have a chance to say anything before she drove her blade through my midsection, pinning me to the ship’s metal hull. I groaned, reaching for the blade as she pushed it farther into my gut. Her eyes stared into mine as she bit the side of her lip and leaned in close.
“Did I ever tell you how much I love the sounds you make?” Her nails dug into the side of my neck. “Make them again.”
Her voice was like liquid velvet across my skin, my soul, even with a jagged blade through my midsection. She released my throat slowly, trailing her fingers along my neck, tracing my collarbone to caress my chest. Blood pooled and dripped from my wound, but now it was rushing toward another part of my body. She heard my breathing hitch, and her grin spread, revealing canines sharper than daggers. She sliced through my shirt with a single nail before dipping her head. The sound I let out when her tongue flattened against my bare flesh was not one of pain. She glanced up through thick lashes, and it was a look I had fantasized about since Chasin.
“There it is,” she said, following the trail of blood below the blade with her tongue.
She stepped back, my body going cold without her near. I watched as she pulled a small vial attached to a chain from between her breasts. She popped the lid off, spitting my blood inside. Desire morphed into worry as she filled it up, closed the top, and tucked it beneath her blouse once more.
I jerked forward, but to no avail. Whatever she had run through me and into the wall made it so I couldn’t budge. My toes barely touched the floor, and I couldn’t gain any leverage to pull it out.
“Hang tight.” She winked at me before disappearing in a cloud of black mist.
Twelve
Dianna
I walked down the hall using the back of my long sleeve to wipe Samkiel’s blood from my tongue and lips. I needed the fucking taste of him off of me. Out of my head, out of my mouth, out of my... I stilled as I heard Santiago’s damned heart thumping a floor below me. Fire danced against my palm, and I sent a powerful column of flame into the metal at my feet. It lit with a red-yellow glow and melted, dripping onto the floor below. I jumped through the hole I’d made, landing in a crouch. Santiago glanced back, and I saw him mouth the word ‘fuck’ before disappearing around a corner. I elongated my nails and reached out to scrape them along the wall, taking my time walking down the hallway as I whistled an old Eorian melody. Sparks and chips flew from beneath my nails, the sound a piercing shriek. I was coming for him, and I didn’t care that he knew.
This was a hunt, and he was my prey. I wanted to savor it. He was trapped with nowhere to go and no one to save him. I came around the corner right as a thick metal door closed. It was mere seconds before I was in front of it, and with one solid kick, it flew off its hinges. A loud bang ricocheted through the room as it hit the wall and fell to the floor.
“Seriously, Santiago, this is getting embarrassing. Even for you.” I laughed and stepped inside the small, dimly lit room, expecting to find him huddled in a corner, pissing himself, but it was empty. What the fuck? I saw him come here, and there was no way out.
“Looking for me?”
I spun, my lips curling back in a snarl as I prepared to rip his throat out with my teeth. He lifted his hand and blew a fine powder in my face. I blinked reflexively, sending whatever it was deeper into my system. I stumbled back, feeling the metal dent when I hit the wall. Searing pain made my eyes water and my throat burn. I grabbed at my face, clawing and scratching at my eyes, trying to get it off.
“You know, that’s terrible stuff. Not only can it blind you, but it also attacks your central nervous system. Kaden knew you’d come after us and gave everyone a little way to defend themselves. Although, I guess it didn’t help the Vanderkais and Camilla.”
Opening my eyes, I had to squint to see him, my vision blurry and uneven. I saw two of him, his form wavering until I concentrated and forced him back into focus.
“I’m going to rip you to pieces,” I snapped, my body beginning to tremble. My legs and arms felt weak, but I struggled to my hands and knees, trying to push past it and stand.
Santiago wiped his hands on his pants. “Your boyfriend really thought he did something by cutting off my hands, but you didn’t tell him about that little gift Kaden gave me when I joined, did you?” He shrugged before kicking me in the ribs hard enough to knock the breath from me. “He really does fall for that whole helpless act, doesn’t he?”
“You’re a piece of shit, Santiago. Always were.” I grabbed at my midsection and rose to my knees, using the wall to brace myself as I stood. It felt like half of my powers had been sucked right out of me. Standing straight, I tried to wipe more of that damned powder off as I walked toward him. There were multiple Santiagos again, and all of them laughed at me, which only enraged me more. I slashed at them with my claws but hit nothing but air as I stumbled. I swiped again, and their positions changed once more. “Stop fucking moving! Be still, and let me kill you!” I bellowed.
His fist shot out, hitting me in the face and sending me to the floor. The effects of that powder had taken over a little quicker than I liked. Fucking witches. A hand grabbed me by the back of my hair and twisted hard enough to make me wince. He kneeled behind me, yanking my head back. I gritted my teeth against the pain. His face came into view mere inches from mine. His sneer filled with lust as he looked me over, his eyes dropping to the deep neckline of my jumpsuit.
“I always pictured taking you like this, you know. Call me curious, but I just wondered what felt so godsdamn good that Kaden would halt plans for a thousand years.” His mouth was hot against my cheek, making the bile in my stomach rise. I could feel the beast in me, writhing and bucking, fighting against the spell he’d cast. Slowly, my strength was coming back. “I can’t wait until Kaden gets you back. Maybe he will let me have you then as punishment for your tantrum. I mean, that’s what this is. He has more important things to worry about than you crying over your dead sister.”
My hand shot up, grabbing him by the back of the head. I twisted and flipped him onto his back, wincing as he pulled a handful of my hair out. Before he had time to react, I was on top of him, lifting him toward me as my fangs descended upon his neck. Blood, hot and bitter, coated my tongue, and I focused on shuffling through every memory he had.
Pain, sharp and blinding, burst through my skull. I screamed and pushed away from him, my head feeling like it would explode. I snarled, fangs dripping with his blood as I snapped, “What did you do to me?”
“You really think we didn’t have a contingency plan? Gods, how dumb are you?”
