up in the gutters, I’m afraid. It’s a smell I’m accustomed to.”
That was both sad and disgusting. “Is Bella dead?”
“No. Nor does her warden have any plans to kill her. That might change if you do anything foolish.” Zadok’s knowing smile never wavered.
Ah. So, that was his game. She sighed. “How long do you plan to masquerade as Bella in their presence? And to what end? Why have you not simply killed Eddie and Alfonzo?”
“The latter directly involves the former, I’m afraid. Death is too simple an end for our Master’s enemies.” Zadok shrugged. “I think it’s foolish. I would rather scatter their brains out on the walls. But he wishes to have his revenge, and, I live to serve. As to what my game is, I think you do not wish to know.”
“What do you mean?”
“What good would it do to spell out the pain they are going to suffer? None. It would only upset you and do no other good. You cannot stop what will befall them.”
“You speak as if they will not succeed.”
“They won’t.” Zadok’s expression turned oddly sympathetic for a moment. “And you know I speak the truth. One of them has already fallen. The other two are inevitable.” Zadok reached out to touch her where Alfonzo had punched her but pulled short as she flinched away. The bruise on her temple likely still stained her skin. “He will not allow them to walk free if they choose to continue. If they turn away, my offer still stands. But you know they won’t.”
“Do you want them to leave here, or do you want them to die?” She wasn’t sure what inspired her to ask the question. She thought she knew the answer, but the flash of regret in his eyes had made her question if there was not more beneath the vampire’s salacious personality than met the eye.
Zadok turned his gaze to Eddie. “That one is young. He does not deserve what will happen to him.” He turned to Alfonzo. “That one is a waste of air. He is consumed by zealous and hypocritical hatred.” He sneered. “I’ll enjoy watching him suffer. But the boy? The boy should be spared. I hope he turns away from this place. But I know his type—he won’t.”
At least his cruelty wasn’t universal. “I do not know how I will walk beside them and pretend I do not know what has come to pass, Zadok.”
“You have heard every lie spoken to you by every creature you have come to meet, have you not?”
“Yes, and?”
“Then I expect you are quite talented in the art.” He stretched, and she heard his back pop as he did. “I am not concerned.”
She sighed. “What has become of Bella?”
“Our Captain of the Guard has taken her. Our personal lord demon.” Zadok snickered, finding something very funny.
“What?”
“You do not wish to know.” But still, he did not stop chuckling.
“This time I think I do.”
“She is with Mordecai. He is an incubus.” Zadok cackled loudly, unafraid of waking the two men in the room. “Oh, I wish I could be there to watch!” Maxine moved to stand, but he dragged her back down by the wrist once more. “No, stay.”
“That is disgusting. She is being raped, and you expect me to—”
“I promise you, it is anything but rape.” Zadok smiled. “She has merely been freed from the chains she was trained to wear by society. And if he is half as interested in her as it seems, she is being treated like a princess. That boy is quite talented.”
It sounded like he spoke from firsthand experience. She blanched and looked away. Not that she had any issue with men cavorting with each other. Really, it was simply that Zadok was involved. “Wait.” Then she remembered. “Mordecai. The man from the dance?”
“Indeed. He saw her then, and he has been insufferable ever since! He will not shut up about her. The constant whining was going to drive me insane. I don’t think you understand how miserable an incubus can be when denied.” He grunted.
She paused for a long while and looked off, her heart breaking for Bella. “Promise me she is not suffering. Whatever fate she shall befall, promise me she is not afraid or in pain.”
“Not unless she’s the kind of lady who likes it.” Zadok purred, his voice sultry as he traced his hand up her arm. Maxine pulled out of his grasp. Even if his touch was over her clothing, she wanted none of it.