Page 157 of Queen of Diamonds

I was silent, following her. Instincts telling me whatever this was, I shouldn’t interrupt it.

Ace was on his knees, hands tied behind his back. There was a trail of blood down his chin from where he’d fought the gag so hard it had rubbed his skin raw.

I felt nothing for him: no pity, no kinship.

The only emotion that stirred as I watched her approach him was the faintest itching of envy that I wouldn’t get to be the one that dealt with him. That was the Alpha part of me, demanding retribution, demanding to see this problem solved with my bare hands, but I would stifle it.

It was hers.

She’d earned it.

His head was bowed, the rise and fall of his chest the only indication that he was still alive. When she stopped before him, though, I saw him shudder. He was still in the rut and his scent held the agony he felt. Bitter thorns of roses rolled from him in waves.

Slowly, he looked up as if he couldn’t stop himself, constricted pupils, gaze trailing every inch of her body, breaths becoming deeper. Her scent was thick in the air, the trailing end of her heat turning it into a siren’s call.

A rutting Alpha, and a touch-starved Omega who’d gone through the most intense heat I’d ever heard of.

He must be in agony.

When she reached down and brushed his chin, the faintest whine rose in his chest, his breathing picking up.

The smile that lit up her face was beautiful, and through the bond, I felt it. A moment of pure freedom as she looked down at him.

“It’s almost disappointing, watching you break so fast.”

Carefully, she sank to the floor before him, tilting her head slightly, regarding him like she might a toy. Her pupils were still so wide, the heat and instincts burning strong.

“Are you still here?” she asked.

I couldn’t take my eyes away as she wove her fingers through his hair, dragging his neck back. He let out another pathetic whimper at her touch, though it was quickly followed by a growl.

Her laugh was light as she drew herself up so she was looking down at him, her nose an inch from his, her free hand cupping his cheek and stroking her thumb along it. I felt her enjoyment as more shuddering, pained noises tore from him with every exhale.

“I won your game,” she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. “And all the games you made me play.”

His lips drew back in a snarl, something more aware in his blue eyes. Glade lowered herself, and I frowned, unsure what she was doing until she stopped beside his neck. With one hand holding his hair taut, she pressed her teeth to his neck.

The sound he made was pure madness, and he tried to struggle from her grip. All she did was pull him tighter, and I watched the blood trickle down his neck where her teeth dug in.

When she drew away, there was a smear of that crimson on her cheek, and her eyes danced with delight.

Then she reached for the box waiting at his side.

Crossing her legs, she unscrewed the cap from a bottle. I knew Kyan had told her what all the drugs in that box did. I watched as she crushed one of the pills between her fingers, then reached toward Ace. He fought harder this time, eyes wild, but the bindings held, and Glade was easily able to smear the powder across the bite she’d left.

I wondered what it was that she’d chosen.

“I’m done with you,” she whispered. “I won, but choosing to kill you now? That wouldn’t be fair.” She stood, but Ace was limp now, breathing short and sharp, head lolling. “That choice isn’t mine.”

56

GLADE

There was one last thing to be done.

Ace was limp, his body unmoving, resting on the blankets of a large bed. The scent in here was neither mine nor his, but we both recognised it.

Everything was in place. The poison was in his blood—and just like it should have killed me, it would kill him if not stopped.

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