Storm of Sin - Patricia D. Eddy Page 0,68

between my hands.

The balls of my feet barely scrape the ground, and they cut off my skirt, leaving me in just my skimpy red top and panties. And that’s when they started in on me.

The skin of my back burns, that fucking metal-studded whip leaving me bloody from my shoulders all the way down to my thighs. The pain steals my focus so Thorn can delve deep into my mind. Or try to, at least. So far, I’ve managed to fight him. To at least keep the knowledge of who and what I am hidden away in that dark, swirling void.

I can’t scream anymore. My voice is gone. And Thorn is getting frustrated. I have to give him something soon, or I’m afraid he’ll push me so hard, so long, that I’ll end up giving him everything. But I need a break. A few minutes to conjure fears not my own and find a way to trick him. He has Dion, and I can’t let her die down here—or let Thorn find a way to use me against Sin.

The incubus bastard grabs a chunk of my hair and pulls my head up so I’m forced to look into his glowing red eyes. “You belong to me now, Zoe Dawes. Tell me about your partner. Tell me how to get to him.”

I won’t. I can’t. Sin is—was—the best part of my entire existence. Of both lives the seraphim gave me. I won’t betray him. And I’ll do anything to stop Thorn from getting his hands on the man I love.

“Tell me what I need to know, and all this pain stops. Perhaps, I will even let you go,” he says, his voice soothing, almost like a balm to my wounds. The constant agony eases, and I sigh. “Yes. You want to feel better, do you not? I can make that happen.”

Like Sin with my migraine.

His power pushes into me, a disgusting, vile presence that causes my legs to flail helplessly and my eyes to roll back in my head. No. I know what you are. What you are doing. It won’t work on me, you piece of shit.

I try to embrace the pain, to use it to focus, but the ephemeral wisps of Thorn's talents wind their way deeper. I can feel them slithering along my nerve endings, turning them off one by one, until half of my body feels like I’ve just spent a week at a spa while the other half is consumed by burning agony.

He’s so close, my breasts push against his broad torso, and his free hand cups my ass. “Give in, Zoe. You are mine now. Why keep fighting? Tell me what you are. Give me Sinclair. You will fetch the highest price at the auction, and you are strong enough to last for years. So much stronger than any of the others. I can give you endless luxuries in exchange for your service. The finest food, a room fit for a queen, even pleasure, if you desire it, but I require your mind in exchange. You know I will have it in the end.”

He’s right. I may be stronger than I was the last time he had me, but I’m weaker too. Because now I know the truth. I love Sin. And love is the weapon he’ll use to destroy me. Unless I end him first. I just don’t remember how I’m supposed to do that.

Damn Seraphiel and his idiotic idea to block all of my memories.

You will remember when it is time.

The angel’s last words to me play on a loop in my head just beyond Thorn's reach. Well, it’s time now, you divine bastard.

Frustration churns in Thorn's dark gaze, and the all-consuming agony returns with a vengeance. Digging his fingers into one of the wounds on my back, he laughs when a hoarse, choking cry escapes my cracked lips.

“Your body cannot take much more, my dear Zoe. Nor can your mind. I can feel it.”

Drawing on the last of my physical strength, I bring my knee up to catch him in the balls. My demon captor stumbles back with a yelp and doubles over. With his shock comes a lessening of his power, the tendrils retreating, slinking out of my mind as quickly as they can.

Think, Zoe. Focus.

If I can convince him that he’s broken me, he’ll make a mistake. Underestimate me. Drop his mental shields. I don’t need long. I’m supposed to do something to him. Use his own power somehow. I’m