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Silent, I lift it behind my back.

“I will never take money from the Ashfords again,” he snarls, “especially from a bastard like you.”

In a heartbeat, I am behind him. My hands seize his head and slam it with violence against the table.

“Dorian!”

I don’t look away from Hale, I keep him pinned down.

“The name.”

He gasps, flailing his hands. “Filthy—get your hands off me!”

I lift his head again and slam it against the table with greater force. Blood drips from his nose.

Lucien tries to approach, but my eyes stop him, one look and he retreats.

“What is the name?” I whisper in Hale’s ear, lifting his head once more.

He doesn’t answer, spit mixes with blood and drips down his chin. I slam him onto the table one more time, harder.

Outside, the voices of his men echo.

“Call them,” I spit, “and you’re a dead man.”

He swallows.

“The principal.”

He remains silent, completely undeterred.

A sharp smile spreads across my lips.

Good. You chose this.

The hand that held the rat moves from behind my back. Hale begins to writhe, panting, terror climbing up his neck.

“Dorian, what are you doing—!”

I lift the rat and shove it into Hale’s mouth, his eyes fly wide with fear while his body tries in vain to react.

“Either you speak,” I growl, “or I’ll make you swallow it alive.”

“Nnngh... mmm-pl-shhh... mmgh!”

He contorts, my grip crushing him against the table.

“You’re going to suffocate.”

His legs tremble, and a sudden, wet heat slides down my trousers. I look down, the acrid, nauseating smell hits my nostrils.

A bitter laugh leaves my lips.

“Mr. Hale, you’ve long passed the age of infancy.”

“Mmmph! G-glp… nnn-hnnn… hrrgh!”

Lucien grabs the edge of the table.