Darker (Alexa O'Brien Huntress Book 6) - By Trina M. Lee Page 0,113
feet. My hands shook when I slid my pants down. They were vibrating when I reached to unhook my bra. Maybe I couldn’t do this.
“Come on, wolf,” Falon sneered. “I’d have thought you’d be used to public nudity, being a beast with two bodies. Don’t tell me we’re making you shy.”
I was used to the nudity that came with running in a pack. It was natural, part of what we were. Being forced to strip down for the entertainment of others was not within my comfort zone.
“Actually, you are making me a little uncomfortable.” I slid my gaze to Falon, searching him for some kind of truth. I couldn’t figure the bastard out. “I’m not sure I want you this close, seeing as you’ve already had your erection between my legs.”
He slapped me across the face, an open-handed smack that echoed in the large, open room. I tasted blood. My cheek stung, yet I couldn’t help but grin. The fallen angel was ashamed of what had occurred between us despite the fact that it had been solely power driven.
That shame fueled his anger. Falon grabbed me and viciously tore off my underwear. My attempts to struggle were useless in comparison to his strength. When he had me naked and quaking, he grabbed my hair tight and forced me to the floor on my knees.
“Whenever you’re ready,” he said to Lilah.
I caught Juliet’s eye and mouthed the words, ‘I’m sorry.’ I didn’t know what else to do.
For the first time since I arrived, Lilah acknowledged Shya. She sidled up to him with a confident swagger. She tugged on the silver restraints holding him until she’d forced a sound of distress from him.
“Now it’s your turn to play along, Shya.” She bent down so she could stare straight into his face. “You need both the wolf and the kid. However, you can only have one. I’ll let you leave here unharmed when this is all over. I don’t need to kill Alexa to swipe a little blood. She can be all yours. Or, you can opt for the kid instead. Your call. You choose who lives and who dies.”
“If you succeed in breaking your curse, there will be nothing to stop you from banishing me to the pits. Why should I believe you’d spare me? I know better.” Shya showed no emotion. He was calm, possibly too calm.
“Come now. You know I’ve had a fondness for you. At least, I did until you tried to take advantage of my curse and claim my throne for yourself.” Lilah tapped the dagger blade against the palm of her hand. She pointed it at Gabriel who glared hatefully at her. “I’m willing to spare you. After all, you have provided me with many comforts and protection over the years.”
“Break your curse. Then I’ll choose.” Shya was so relaxed, he might as well have been in a recliner rather than a hard chair with chains. Did he truly fear nothing?
“You think I can’t do it,” she hissed accusingly.
“I know you won’t do it.” Shya’s calculated grin revealed even white teeth. He was fucking with her, having his Cheshire Cat moment and loving it.
Lilah backed away with the dagger clutched in her grip. She spun around to face Gabriel, and I was certain in that moment he was dead. Then, she regained her composure and pinned me with her cold stare instead.
“Shift.”
I was almost happy to if it meant escaping the leering gaze of the vampire muscle. I slapped at Falon until he stepped well out of my personal space. The shift was fast and fluid. All I had to do was embrace the wolf, to let her spill forth and take over. There was a brief moment of exquisite pain and then freedom. I was wolf.
The strength of the beast filled me. I bared my fangs in a snarl, daring Lilah to come at me with the blade. She regarded me with wariness but not enough caution.
“Try anything, and Falon kills your sister.”
Like a good little minion, Falon moved to stand over Juliet, his pale eyes gleaming with anticipation. A growl rumbled in my throat. I glanced around, desperately seeking a way out of this. Jez stood stiffly nearby, watching with growing horror.
I touched Arys’s mind, needing something from him. ‘If I don’t make it out of here I need you to make sure Juliet does.’
‘You are making it out of here.’
‘I need to know you’ll keep her safe. Promise me.’