The darkest seduction - Showalter Gena. Страница 85

Cronus blinked as an idea took root. Could the answer be that simple? Had Scarlet somehow invaded his Eye’s dreams? Had she shown her a false reality? He and Scarlet had been enemies since her birth, and hurting each other had become something of a game.

Perhaps, he thought. Yes, perhaps. Which meant he was most likely on the right path. Galen was the biggest threat, and so Galen had to be corralled.

Sienna now knew exactly how ruthless Cronus could be to ensure his goals were met, and she would come through for him. If she failed, he would make good on his threat. Paris would die. And he would make her watch.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

A STAY OF EXECUTION, Sienna thought, but only because Galen’s bodyguard, Fox, had done what he had not and tasted her blood. As the woman had dragged Sienna out of the bedroom and into a cellar room boasting only a long table with a drain underneath it, she’d gotten blood on her hands. Sienna had made certain of that. She’d promised Paris she would kill whoever tasted her blood, and she would do her best to see that through.

And as the woman lifted her onto the table, she’d caught the sweet coconut scent of ambrosia. She’d licked, closed her eyes and moaned in bliss. Then, of course, had come the feasting. Fox had fallen on her, lapping at her, biting her. And when she’d finished, she hadn’t rendered the death-blow but had carted Sienna to her bedroom and tied her up in a corner.

That had been…how many days ago? Sienna had lost track. Time passed too slowly for her—and yet too quickly—measured only by the number of visits Fox paid her. Her initial injury had healed, but Fox kept making new incisions, taking more blood, keeping her weak.

What was Paris doing right now? Resenting her? Hating her? Had Lucien managed to keep him inside the castle? Yeah. Probably. The Lords had made their feelings about her clear, and they would jump on this chance to deepen his negative emotions.

Don’t go there. It’s bad for your mental health.Besides, she needed to plan. First up? Getting Legion out of here. Second, returning and force-feeding Galen her blood. ’Cause no way he’d trust her after she absconded with his woman, and she really needed his trust. She couldn’t kill him if she couldn’t get close to him.

Legion’s frightened face flashed through her mind. Not Galen’s woman. Galen’s perceivedwoman.

Wrath stretched inside her head. Like her, he was growing weaker. He needed to feed himself, was desperate to punish someone, and Galen was the perfect candidate.

She wiggled on the floor, rubbing her bound wrists against the wall behind her. Unfortunately, her wings kept getting in the way. And there was a gag in her mouth, so she couldn’t call for help. Not that she would have. Zacharel would sweep her straight into the heavens and expect her to march to his Do What I Say band. So not happening.

The bedroom door swung open, and Fox stomped inside. She wore combat boots, black leather pants and a bustier. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she was licking her lips. She’d come to toke up.

She fell to her knees in front of Sienna, removed her gag, said “Miss me?” and palmed a blade.

Come on, fight her. Do something.“You’re pathetic, you know that? Galen had the strength to resist me, but not you. Are you embarrassed?”

Fox was too enraptured by the pulse in her neck to reply, and never even bothered to check her restraints, something she’d done every time before. The addiction was getting worse, then. Good.

“I bet you’re not. You’re too stupid to—”

With a growl, Fox lunged, lowering her head. Sienna jerked her knees up, knocking the female in the temple and sending her flying to the side. Sienna lumbered to a stand, which was difficult to do with her arms shackled behind her and her ankles held together. Not to mention the Tilt-a-Whirl inside her head.

Scowling, Fox jumped to her feet. “You’re going to pay for that.”

What she would do next, she didn’t know, but then, it didn’t matter. Suddenly Legion was there, behind Fox, unnoticed—and swinging a frying pan. The cast iron slammed into Fox’s skull, a loud clangechoing. Fox’s eyes went wide, rolled back, and her knees collapsed.

Legion dropped the pan as if the handle was on fire and stood there, panting, staring down in horror.

“Grab her knife and cut me loose,” Sienna commanded, taking over. “Hurry, we don’t have a lot of time.”

Shaking, crying now, Legion remained exactly as she was. “I—I know you’re here, but I can’t—I can’t see you, can’t hear you.”

No. No, no, no. If Legion couldn’t see her, Legion couldn’t touch her. Sienna tried everything she could think of to make herself known. All the while Wrath slammed against her temples, desperate to escape. Finally, not knowing what else to do, she allowed him to take over.

For the first time after ceding control to the demon, Sienna was aware of her surroundings, of her body and her mind. She wasn’t sure if it happened because she was stronger or Wrath was weaker, but she felt her skin change, from smooth to scaled. Felt her teeth sharpen and her nails elongate.

A second later, Legion gasped. “Wrath.”

“Hell.” Sienna’s voice was lower, gruffer than ever before.

The girl worked up the courage to bend down and pick up the knife, then close the distance between them. Delicate hands cut the rope away, freeing Sienna’s arms.

Through the demon she commandeered the knife. Bending down proved to be a huge mistake, though. The dizziness cranked out of control, and she ended up sprawled on her stomach. She drew up her knees and sawed at the rope, cringing as every inch of her throbbed.

“I knew she hadn’t killed you,” Legion’s soft voice proclaimed. “I could feel my Wrath. I would have come sooner, but Galen commanded me to stay in his room for however long he had to stay inside it. Turned out to be three days. He left this morning, nullifying the order, and I followed Fox to the kitchen and then to her room.”

Sienna’s mind caught on only one fact. Three days. Paris would have had to sleep with at least one woman to maintain his strength. More likely two. Don’t think about that, either.A breakdown would stop her from doing what needed doing.

Completely free now, she anchored the blade at the waist of her pants, pushed to a stand, and held out a hand to Legion. The girl hadn’t moved, was frozen in place, her expression one of great misery.

“Where is Galen now?” Sienna asked, still using that gruff voice.

“I don’t know. He hasn’t returned.”

Good. That was good. “We’re leaving.” She waved her claw-tipped fingers. “Me and you, right now.”

Blond hair fluttered around slender shoulders as she shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Can. Come on.”

“No, I can’t. I took a vow.” The misery increased. “I have to stay with him.”

We’ll see about that.Vow or not, Sienna was taking this girl to safety. Now.Arguing would waste time. Fighting would be ineffective. As weak as Sienna’s body was, Legion would escape her in seconds. Sneaky route, here we come.

“All right. We go without you,” she lied. “Need another weapon first.” Though she almost fell a thousand times, she managed to pick up the pan, straighten—and brain the girl the same way she’d brained Fox. Clang.

Legion crumpled, landing on top of Fox. Yeah. That was gonna leave a mark.

Getting the girl, who was no lightweight, positioned properly on her shoulder was a nearly impossible task. At the last moment, Sienna found the strength to pull through and level out. But the burst cost her. Wrath lost his hold on her, her image returning to normal and her body now moving under her own steam. She stumbled her way into the hall.

A long hallway. Papered walls, freshly polished furniture. Only the best. A spiral staircase loomed ahead. Miles away, as far as she was concerned.