My hand trembled as I pushed my glasses higher up the bridge of my nose and slammed the hatch shut, locking the sinful demon away more fully.
“That’s just the start, poison.” He loomed over me, eyes glowing with starlight. “I’m going to pleasure you, over and over, until you’re hooked. You won’t be able to come without a demon’s venom lighting you up. Fitting punishment for a hunter, don’t you think?”
A new kind of fear took root inside me, but I brushed aside his words as the empty threat they were. “One weak orgasm and you think you own my pleasure?” I clucked my tongue. “Interesting that men are all the same, no matter the species.”
He grinned, the picture of demonic cruelty with the sharp edges to back it up. “I’m no man, poison. I’m all your past sins come back to haunt you. Your very own fucking nightmare.”
Chapter 13
Exiting the secure basement level the following evening, I stepped into the chaos of the warehouse floor, bracing for the usual stench of violence. Unfortunately, it didn’t disappoint. The distinct copper-pennies smell thick enough to lodge in my throat and choke me.
“Fucking savages,” I muttered, adjusting my glasses as I hurried through the space, scanning for anything amiss.
A sizeable crowd sat around the brutal fight cage, heckling the poor souls battling for their lives. This evening, two hunters circled an injured demon like sharks.
I stilled.
It was my demon.
Cuts opened through charcoal skin, bleeding a bright red to smear pale tattoos and streak white hair. His bone-shard spikes were just as bloodied, even those tipping his poised tail.
Given the matching wounds across the newest delta team recruits, Roane and Harper, my test subject was holding his own. For now.
But training sessions weren’t rigged in a demon’s favour.
I should know. I’d been in that cage more than anyone.
A holding cell on the far wall held the other unwilling contestants for tonight’s blood sport.
My gaze snagged on Leo, standing ringside, his focus wholly on me.
My ex smirked, lifting a snide, two-fingered salute. Rage sparked inside me, along with an unexpected dose of fear.
Before I knew it, I stormed towards him.
His smirk grew into a wide grin. “Hey, Dozer, got your other little pet in the cage tonight. You can play scientist with it after. If there’s anything left.”
I shoved aside the strange anxiety turning my stomach to lead and narrowed my eyes at the monster before me.
At least he was leaving Eve alone. I’d asked Martin to assign me a second official test subject for some bullshit experiment I’d made up for my non-feeding days.
“You can’t do this, and you know it. You’re ruining my experiment, and it’s costing human lives.” I shook my head, rage stealing my voice for a second. “For what, Leo? A little revenge? Last I checked, I’m the only one with a right to be pissed here.”
“Pissed about the huge mistake you made?” Leo leaned closer, his breath slithering over my ear and causing me to shudder. He lowered his voice so only I could hear. “Drop to your knees and beg me with that talented little mouth of yours, and I might even consider taking you back.”
I jolted as if he’d slapped me.
He’d cheated on me and left me for dead. Like I was disposable. Used-up and broken, only to be discarded on the floor.
Like I was nothing.
“Never,” I hissed.
I yanked the set of keys from his belt, feeling the fabric loop give with a satisfying snap.
He leaned back, navy eyes darkening until I could barely see his pupils.
“Fine.” He slid the shortest blade he owned from his pocket, holding out the tiny weapon in mocking, and raised his voice. “If you want your toy back…go fetch.” He waved towards the cage, where the blood demon was barely dodging the two hunters and their long knives.