control me. To give up my newfound independence wasn’t an option. And then I realized that he was the reason I’m now confident and secure in myself.
I may have unlocked Castien’s true potential, but he found mine as well.
“I want to have that.”
I swing my gaze to Myza and smile. “It is life-changing.”
“Yes, it will be.”
The remainder of the trip is made in silence, and I stare out the glass enclosure, wondering if Castien’s alive. He has to be. Fate cannot be so cruel to take Castien from me now that I’ve found him. I can’t even think about the alternative if I want to stay sane.
The vehicle comes to a smooth stop, and Myza alights from it, ducking to allow space for her horns. I follow, my gaze darting back and forth to take in our surroundings, which seem very familiar.
“Are we in the pleasure district?” I ask.
Myza nods, her smile too bright for the depravity going on all around us. Maybe she’s not aware of what’s happening behind closed doors, but I have firsthand knowledge, and I’m no longer impervious.
“We’re almost there.” She jerks her chin toward a building that’s a little further down. “The Enforcers should be waiting for you at their headquarters.”
The brothel is nowhere in sight, yet a sense of unease slithers along my spine, causing my powers to flare to life. It could be a reaction to a threat or just my anxiety manifesting, but either way, I come to screeching halt. Myza turns to look back at me, her brows drawn together.
“What are you waiting for?”
I swivel my head left to right. “Something’s not right. I can’t explain it, but…”
She folds her arms, and her expression of confusion changes into one of annoyance. “We’re almost there, so why would you stop now? Come on.”
I rear back at the venom leaking from her tone. My power responds by coiling inside me, the smoky wisps gathering in my palms. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Myza sighs and gives me a smile that’s so fraudulent the hairs on the back of my neck stand erect. “You’ve asked me to help you, and I have, but I really need to get back to the hotel or my father is going to be angry with me.”
When I hesitate, she walks up to me and grips my wrist, her gaze blazing with such anger that I’m momentarily stunned.
“I said, come on,” Myza grits out, her nails digging into my skin. “You don’t have to be difficult.”
Maybe it’s because I’m upset over leaving Castien, or I’ve become a stronger version of myself that doesn’t allow people to push me around. Either way, Myza fucked up by putting her hands on me.
My power ripples under my skin, and like heat rises, so do the inky tendrils of darkness. She screams, and black trails skitter across her hands, snaking upward like eels. As if frozen, she doesn’t release her hold on me, only elongating her suffering by keeping in contact with me. Using my free hand, I grip her neck, effectively cutting off her cry of pain but doubling her agony. She doesn’t do much more than writhe in my hold, the obsidian streaks pulsing as they ravage her body.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask, loosening my grip just the slightest bit.
She sucks in a breath. “I was taking you to the Enforcers so they could take you back to the brothel you came from.”
As much as I want to strangle Myza, I can’t because I need more information from her.
“And Castien?” I ask. She cries out when my power flows into her body quicker than before, the black lines growing in size and length. “You better tell me or I swear I’ll kill you,” I grit out.
Myza claws at my hand on her throat, but it only causes my adrenaline to spike and pump more Darkblood power into her. Myza’s pulse flickers under her skin, and that small spot is a black circle as it fills with my darkness.
“I never wanted him hurt,” she says, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I just needed you gone so I could have him for myself.”
“Damn it.”
There’s no way I could’ve seen this coming, but I’m not surprised. Castien is alluring and sexy as hell, so why wouldn’t women be constantly chasing him? Myza will not be the only one, but she’s definitely getting an award for being the most proactive. I guess this is something I’ll have to deal with if I want a