Page 96 of Primal

The ground bucks under me.

Vanessa’s voice, right in my ear. ‘She don’t trust you. Bet she’s itching to run.’

Payton closes the gap.

I snatch her wrist before she can pull off my mask. Pin her to a tree—one arm crushing her throat.

“Wake up,” she cries.

‘Bitch still thinks you’re gonna save the day. But we both know what kinda monster you really are.’

“Kade? Whatever you’re—”

I lean in, the mask grazing her ear. “Prove it’s you.”

“What?”

“Prove. It.” My thumb digs in. “What did you say to me in the woods? When I had you pinned? When I was inside you?”

“I—I don’t—”

Wrong answer.

Maybe the real Payton’s already bleeding out somewhere, and this thing’s just wearing her skin.

I could crush her jaw. Grind bone to dust. Make damn sure that smile’s real. Or I could use the knife.

“Fuck me like you mean it, Ghostface,” she blurts out.

My grip falters.

Vanessa cackles. ‘Oh, anyone could’ve guessed that, baby.’

Payton’s eyes dart to the blade. “And I-I told you that right after I pulled your mask off.”

“What’s my name?” I demand.

Her brow furrows. “Kade.”

I can still feel it. That same warm rush, a jolt of pride, her voice breaking around my name.

The blade kisses her skin. “My full name.”

Her lips tremble. “Kade Mercer.”

I tighten my grip. “It’s Kade. Benjamin. Mercer.”

She claws at my wrist.

“And you’re not her,” I growl. “Fucking impostor.”

Her lips move. Some broken plea that doesn’t make it past my squeeze.

‘STOP.’

Max.

‘Stop. You’re hurting her!’