âI wonât do it.â
Not a chance in hell! Chaviasâ stoney gray eyes glinting in a way Radix recognized as unrelenting.
âSo, youâve already found him then.â Radixâs shrewd black eyes assessed the defiant lift of Chaviasâ chin. The black goatee framing his mouth hid the hard lines of Chaviasâ face, but Radix could often tell his thoughts.
âI found no trace of him.â
For once just believe me.
âFunny. You were busy in Dread Hideout for a long while.â
Damn his spies! Chaviasâ jaw clenched. A telltale muscle ticking there.
âDid you talk to him?â Radix was in the main cavern rather than the smaller one he considered his personal chambers. He sat on a carved stone throne. Leaned forward, black eyes focused on his slave.
Chavias was motionless.
âNo. You did not.â Radix sat back. Orange eyes flashing in the pitch room. âSo, he does not yet know I hunt him.â Radix stroked his beard thoughtfully. âI could send Okine to kill him with his mighty hammer.â
âDo what you must.â Chavias lowered his head in feigned deference.
Please do it. He hid his smirk.
âYou think heâll kill my Commander?â Radixâs voice rose.
Heâd put six arrows in Okineâs chest before Okine took two steps.
Despite that the demon couldnât read Chaviasâ mind heâd learned to read his body language well.
âSo, it will be you thenâ¦â
âIt wonât.â Chaviasâ chin hitched.
You can bloody well rot.
âThen it will be me.â
Not that. Chaviasâ eyes hollowed. He wanted to wretch. Most of Radixâs minions followed orders. Killing in whatever way they knew how. Doing the deed and skittering back to their master.
But Radixâ¦He revels in his victimâs anguish.
âIâll have you bled and find his location. And when I kill him, itâll be slowly. Perhaps fileting him alive will teach you a lesson you wonât soon forget.â
Chaviasâ breath hitched. Knowing Radix didnât bluff.
âReturn him to his chamber.â Radix ordered the Targue strolling at his feet. âPrepare yourself Chavias. Youâll be bled well for your defiance.â
Chavias turned on his heel, the animals moving parallel to him.
âI will give you a last opportunity to make your choice.â Radix called to his back. Making him stop. âI kill him, or you do. And if I have to bother myself. It will be worth my time. And when I bleed him. Perhaps Iâll find where your precious Protector hides.
Sebastian. Chavias grimaced in the shadows.
It was Radixâs favorite threat. But fortunately, Chavias had managed to kill all the Forever Knights before Radix could find out if they knew Sebastian ruled WaterRose. And where.
But Acharius knows. Fear choked Chavias.
Radix was true to his word. It was one of the fiercest torture sessions Okine had subjected Chavias to yet.
Then heâd been returned to his cave chamber and bound to the brutal metal cot. Chavias huffed in pain. His body straining. Now he fought a fever and immense pain from being utterly immobilized so long. His body reacting to the hunger and fear and near insanity by trying to change. White wings jutted from his back and lifted his body up in an arc. Forcing the shackles that bound him at his wrists and ankles to cut through tissue and bite into bone.
He shouted in pain. His back jerked as his body tried to change into the wolf. Spine trying to curve and bend. Making his hips pop until jerking from their sockets due to his ankles stretched to the foot of the bedâs posts.
His voice broke in a howl of agony. And half whimpers.
âCalm creature.â Radix mocked. âAnd they call me demon. Look at youâ¦â
Chaviasâ body vibrated from pain and overwhelming energy.
My body is going to tear itself in half. The vital instincts thatâd kept him alive so many centuries, now worked against him. Fighting captivity.
âIâve brought you something.â Radix swung a giggling woman out from behind him.
She was vibrantly beautiful with fat red ringlets framing a heart-shaped face with large beautiful eyes. Either red or brown.
Hard to tell in the dark.
She giggled and the sound was melodious in the horrible torture chambers.
He was filled with dread at the demonâs motivation. He didnât bring her here for my pleasure. Of that Chavias was certain.
Radix is nothing if not an artist in breaking a manâs mind.
So, what new torture does this pretty beast bring? She danced to him, swinging her skirt like a playful child. Soft brown eyes glinting red briefly.
Radix watched, motionlessly. Interest flicking through his eyes.
She knelt in the filth next to Chavias and splayed her palms over his belly. Her fingers spanning his skin.
Making his gut tighten and his body immediately respond to a woman's touch.
Something I've not experienced in a long time.
She closed her eyes and her head fell back and he immediately felt his body easing. Bit by bit it relaxed as the writhing energy of his beasts drained away.
Thank God. He could draw a long breath. Leaving him finally at peace. His screams settled. Skin calming as the things inside him relented.
Sheâs siphoning energy out of me. Even as he recognized it, he could only feel the immense relief spurring through him at the respite.
âHer name is Deiti. Quite talented, isnât she?â
âOhhhâ¦So so pretty, My Lord. May please please.â Okine squawked having just joined them.
Deitiâs face turned vicious and she drew her hands from Chavias to twist toward them. âNever! Youâll never lay a hand on me, you filth!â Deiti shrieked. âIâm not for scum such as you. Bottom feeders.â She tipped up her nose contemptuously. âBut him,â She nodded toward Chavias on the cot. Splaying her hand fully over his chest hungrily.
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