Page 15 of Hound

I followed the dirt path from the Sephtis mansion to the cave. It was a few kilometers away, an hour on human feet. But, for me, it was accessible within minutes. Instead of partaking on my usual runs, I drew this journey out to study my prey. Why not test their limits if they were testing mine?

The air swelled when I passed the second kilometer, sharpening the clean scent against the damp mud. Light flickered against the dissipated river. Within the short distance, the beast sprinted awake—to lure out our prey.

Wind rushed past me as feet pounded against the ground. My senses focused, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Leaves crunched, twigs snapped, heavy breaths echoed in the distance. Fuck. The chase wasn’t raising my hairs in notice. They were raised by theexcitementof instigating whoever stalked me. To the thrill of inviting the prey to follow the predator.

At the speed of light, my body turned into the dark cave, concealing itself in the deepest corner until the body entered. I pounced without hesitation.

My arms wrapped around a slender body and turned them into my chest. Strands of platinum blonde poured as they came undone from their braid. Their back crashed onto my chest and their head slammed onto my shoulder.

The prey I held wasn’t a stranger. It washim.

My doll.

“How did you fucking find me?” I bit out, each word rougher than the last. There was no controlled gruffness in my tone. It wasn’t mine anymore. It wasother.Amplified. Brusque. Growly.

The beast’s.

Magnetic sage eyes held mine captive. The refined powdery smell drowned my nose, straining the strength I seemed to lose with him on me. It was like that night, when his plump lips had met mine. When his face and that. . .kissinfiltrated my mind during the day.

In and outside my dreams.

Fangs flashed underneath the hint of muted light as he huffed. “You came onto our territory to work directly under us. Tell me, who found who?”

“What are you talking about?”

Although I had only been posted at this assignment for a week, gossip confirmed what I’d already suspected: the Sephtises barely left their tower. Some did visit a nearby hospital, but as a whole, they mostly stayed inside.

There was no way he was one of them. How was he able to trail behind me without alerting the other guardians across the grounds? And escape under their radar?

Then, it hit me. The parlor, his stiff demeanor, the similarities in his chiseled features to the Premier’s from all the news channels back in the CEG?—

“Fuck.”

Sharp pain shot through my abdomen as an elbow jabbed into my skin. While it deterred me, it wasn’t enough to make me lose my balance. But it gifted him the perfect opportunity to twist me around onto the wall, sharpened limestone stabbing my back as an arm pressed against my throat.

The roles reversed. I couldn’t tell if it was embarrassment or awe that burned my ears as I glanced at the cockiness across his expression.

“You owe me a debt, Lorenzo Devon.”

I sneered. “With what proof?”

“You’re my guardian.”

“One of hundreds, for you and your brothers. Doesn’t mean I’ll follow you like a lost dog, Mr.Sephtis,” I emphasized.

His face suddenly hardened, fangs elongating, erasing the small sliver of entertainment that had flashed across his gaze. “Under our manor, you follow what we direct. And you, Mr.Devon,will call me by my name.”

“And what is that, Doll?”

His eyes sharpened as his hold tightened against me, blocking any air from entering. Awe heightened the heat on my skin. “Christopher.” With a final push, he took multiple steps away from me, his broken composure fixing itself back into the pompous fuck I recognized from the parlor.

The very one I fucking kissed and haven’t stopped thinking about.

Fangs vanished as he said, “You’re going to help me find Sylvester.”

“And what makes you think I’ll say yes to that?”

“Because I have proof of your attack that night.” He fished something out of his pocket. Photos? Not in the best resolution, but I could make out Mallory’s face and my height.

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