“So, you tried to hurt someone I love. Now I will hurt everyone that you love.”
“You don’t know me,” He smiled.
“I don’t need to,” I smiled back at him, “Actually, I do apologize. It was wrong for me to assume that you love those whose blood runs through your veins. Family isn’t always blood,” I studied him. He looked nothing but confused.
I held out my hand and waited until I felt the cool iron of the brand Griffen placed in it. I studied it, looking at the tip.
“You’re trained,” Holden snorted behind me, “To some extent,” I amended, “You might be able to withstand hours of t*****e, but can your family?”
I flipped the brand in my hand, “A brand, something so simple, so archaic. But once you add a little magic, well, that’s when the fun begins.” I kept my voice passive, enthralled with the brand in my hand.
“Once you’re branded with this, everything that we do to you will be felt by those with your blood running through them.”
“Parents, siblings, children,” Griffen added, catching on.
So-called-Brady’s eyes widened at that. He looked from me to the brand in my hand to my eyes.
“You don’t have to believe me,” I handed the brand to Holden, “Get the witch,” I nodded once.
“It’s done,” Griffen stated.
“An eye for an eye, poetic even.”
“I didn’t do anything-” He thrashed against his chains. The wrench fell to the floor, and he bit down on a scream.
“You tried to take my son. You come after my family; I come after yours.” I held his gaze, “But again, it’s your choice.”
I looked back at Holden leaning against the wall stoking the flames, “Ten minutes, give or take,” He shrugged, but his cold gaze never left our prisoner’s face.
“Five minutes to tell us what you know, or your blood kin will be joining in on the fun.”
“Months, possibly years.” Griffen added, “We kept that one guy alive for almost two. Still not sure how he survived that long without food and with all those infections.”
“I can still smell him,” Holden said, gagging.
I let him have his last few moments of peace, making a show of having Holden turn the brand three times to the left and once to the right.
“She’s arrived,” Griffen said.
I didn’t understand what he was getting at. I didn’t want him to blow this. He was smarter than that.
A light flicked on outside the viewing window, and our room darkened.
A woman in a dark black robe, the hood covering everything but her painted red lips.
I hoped Griffen knew I was joking about a witch.
(Caspien)
“Not her,” Holden breathed.
“Don’t worry, we won’t let her hurt you,” Griffen said to him, “This time,” he added with a smile.
“The brand,” I held out my hand, and Holden gave it to me.
It was the only thing glowing in the room now that the lights were off.
Cali made a flick of her wrist, and Griffen grabbed a knife. I needed to figure out how he got her down here but I had to admit the show was perfect.
“A drop of your blood near the heart,” The man inhaled when Griffen slit him, “Bring her in.”
“No,” Holden repeated.
“We can bring it out to her if you’re scared, it won’t take long,” Griffen reached for the brand.
“No,” This time it wasn’t Holden who protested.
I turned around and looked at our prisoner, “Is that your final answer? She doesn’t like being disturbed and if we have to call her back down here again things get ugly.” “Not for us of course,” Griffen added, “But she can make it so they actually get the physical bruises, not just the pain.”
“You lose an eye, they lose an eye,” Holden added, seeming to calm down knowing that his mate wasn’t coming into the room.
I handed the brand to Griffen who had a vial of his blood in one hand.
Nice touch
Nora always thought I should be an actor
Don’t push it
“I’ll talk, I swear.”
We all studied him, saying nothing. I tilted my head.
“But where is the fun in that? I do love hearing the screams of family.”
“You really never know who is related, do you?” Holden asked.
“I mean, we might have a business here. Forget all those genetic testing sites, all you need is a dark witch and t.orture.”
“A foolproof method for establishing bloodline.” Griffen nodded.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think many people would pay for that.” I sighed.
“We could still have some fun,” Griffen framed it as a question,
“No please, I swear, just get her to leave. I’ll talk. Please.”
“Do you think he’s telling the truth?” I asked my Beta and Gamma.
“I guess we’re going to find out.” Griffen turned around and shrugged to the witch, who stamped out, her cape trailing behind her. The lights were re-adjusted in our room.
I took the hot brand from Griffen and walked up to him, “I’m going to say it again, today is your lucky day. Sometimes she refuses to leave.” He swallowed.
“What did he want with my son?”
“It was a contract, I told you, I don’t know. This is a job.”
“Who contracted The Blade?” I stepped closer.
“I swear, I don’t know who wanted him or why. I don’t talk to him; we’re not fucking pen pals. I’ve only ever seen him once.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.