of a fool do you think I am to let my siren prisoner keep her tongue?”
His legs gave way, and he slid to the ground, his heart pounding so hard, he feared it would explode. All he could do was stare at his mate in horror, wishing he’d soon wake from this nightmare.
Serah moaned as Gae lifted her hand and slipped the blade under her little finger. “If you don’t cooperate, she shall lose her fingers, then her toes. Then her arms and legs.”
“You can’t!” Violent tremors wracked him at the thought of his sweet mate being tortured and mutilated. “You monster!”
“Yes, I am a monster. Never forget it.” She tapped her chin with the blade, her black eyes shining with malice. “Now, are you going to tell me how to use this wand?”
He didn’t know the spell for the catastrophic curse, but he did know the unbreakable curse. He suspected one was similar to the other. If he told her the one, it would only be a matter of time before she unlocked the other. Then what? He loved his mate more than life, but Gae would kill them all if she knew how to activate the wand.
Serah thrashed, letting out a garbled cry when Gae sliced open her arm.
“I’m losing patience, shifter,” the demoness said, blood dripping from the blade onto the table.
“Yes!” he relented, hating himself for his weakness. “Don’t hurt her anymore.” He would entice her get close enough for him to snatch the wand before he showed her. He’d claw the bitch with his bare hands if he had to.
“Ah, good dragon.” Her forked tongue darted out. Climbing off Serah, she had the she-cat take her place. “I thought you’d come to your senses. But if you try to trick me, I’ll slit her throat.”
He clutched the bars tighter, strengthening his resolve. He could not fail Serah.
* * *
The throbbing in Serah’s mouth and the stinging pain from the gash on her arm were so intense, she could hardly think. She hadn’t hurt half as much when she’d been with Alexi. She felt like she’d vomit all over herself or pass out if her agony didn’t subside.
Her vision blurred as she looked up at her tormentor. Two female voices sounded hollow, echoing as if in a cavern. She thought she heard Teju screaming in the distance. She was losing consciousness. She had to get back to Alexi.
Then her tormentor traded places with another, and hard scales gave way to soft, slick fur that tickled her sides. What was this creature doing on top of her? Where was Teju? Thrashing against her bindings, she cried out when something heavy pressed on her gut, making her nausea worse.
“Get control of her, Demonique,” the demoness hissed like a dragon guarding her gold.
“I’m trying,” the she-cat cried.
Serah stopped thrashing long enough to look at her captor. It was the feline who’d knocked out Alexi and taken her to her tormentor.
“Try harder, you useless mongrel,” the demoness ordered.
Serah felt more pressure on her abdomen, and she rolled on her side to heave. The cat shrieked, releasing her. Serah heard a loud clank. She looked at the Tau stone she’d just vomited. Great goddess! Though she couldn’t hear Thelix, she felt the primitive pull of the siren inside her and knew she had regained the power to shift.
She transformed into a siren, the long tail far more powerful than her human legs, and bucked against her captor, knocking the she-cat off, slapping the wand right out of Gae’s hand.
The demoness shrieked as it flew through the air, landing in Teju’s outstretched hand.
The discharge from the wand blasted through the cavern, sending Gae back with a whoosh. She smacked into the cavern’s wall and slid limply to the floor, next to a strange cloud of swirling black matter. Demonique was next, and she flew through the air with a hiss before smacking against the opposite wall, eyes rolling back when she tumbled to the ground.
Teju blasted the door off his cell. Crying with relief, she shifted back into a human as he lifted her in his arms.
He shook with violent tremors as he held her tight. “My love, I’m so sorry,” he murmured. “I swear to you I will not rest until I find a way to grow back your tongue.”
She knew Teju would honor his vow. He was the smartest witch alive. All that matters right now is that we get the hell out of here.