Page 110 of Hounded

“I’ve been searching,” I tugged on my collar, “for the phoenix, Miss.”

Her gaze sharpened, red eyes like gems in the shadow of her brow. “Failing at that, too, I see.”

I looked away. The bare bulbs around the wall-mounted mirror seemed too bright while doing little to dispel the darkness in the room. It felt close and tight, and my chest felt tight, too, like my ribs were a vise closing around my lungs.

“They have a saying about these things,” the demoness mused. “Dogs who can’t hunt or, in your case, do much of anything. I thought you would help train the new pups, but I’ll be damned before I give themthisas an example.” She made a sweeping gesture toward me. “Do you know how they grovel, Lorenzo? Do you know how they beg to bed me? To attend my side? To earn half the privileges with which I have graced you? Yet you remain ungrateful.”

I knew this conversation; I had been the subject of this scorn. Last time, I’d argued, defended myself, and had been defeated. This time, I hung my head.

“Perhaps I should make you like them.” Her statement rang alarm bells in my brain. “I could make you crawl for me, pet. I think I might.”

When the chain leash appeared in her hand, I shied back. It was a desperate move, reactive, and Moira didn’t miss it.

“No,” she snarled through sharp teeth. “You are going tostay, Lorenzo. You’re going to stay until you don’t want to leave. Ever again.”

She clipped the leash to my collar, and I choked even before it cinched down.

“Come.” She spun toward the door to the hall.

I stumbled as my body tensed to trembling. I wasn’t certain where we were going, but I had a nauseated feeling that I wouldn’t like it once we got there.

Moira jerked on the leash, relishing the chance to toy with me as I followed her from the room. We walked, and I should have paid attention to the path we took, but every sight was a blur.

I needed to go home. To Indy. To where I belonged. I told him I would be back and now… that seemed unlikely.

What would he think if I didn’t return? Ever?

Moira’s high heels click-clacked a foreboding beat. It felt like a gallows march, like this was the end. Not of life, I’d already met that, but of what made death tolerable.

I heard the racket of the kennels before they came into view. My hound’s ears pricked to the chorus of whimpering and muffled cries from beasts in cramped cages. He understood Moira’s intention and, when we rounded the corner into view of our destination, he drew me to a stop.

The choke chain noosed down, pinching my throat as my heart raced. The wall of barred doors was full of faces. Human visages masked by cruel leather muzzles, leaving only wide, panicked eyes looking out.

It was bad enough to see the place and all its squalid gloom, but my mistress had more in mind than showing me around. A cage was tucked in amidst the others, empty and waiting.

When the length of leash ran out, Moira halted. She turned on me and gave a single, strangling jerk.

“I saidcome,” she growled.

I grabbed the leash near my collar in a bid to alleviate the mounting tension. Protest built in my chest, but I couldn’t speak. I held her smoldering glare and shook my head.

I chose the wrong moment to be brave. If I’d had courage before, I would have slept with her when she asked. I would have stomached the sight of Abigail’s misery. I would have come when I was called. Now, it was too late.

My fingers itched, wanting to summon my glaive or let my claws out. It wouldn’t work. Demons couldn’t die, and the contract on my soul prevented me from harming my mistress. If I raised a hand to her, she would be within her rights to destroy me. As much as I sometimes fantasized about a permanent end, it would take me away from Indy, and I would suffer eternally if it meant having one more chance to be with him.

“Lorenzo.” Moira’s voice was deeper and more menacing than I’d ever heard. The sound of it made me shake.

She stabbed her manicured finger toward the stacked cages, my hell within Hell. “Get in your box,” she said.

Sure enough, one of the doors swung open, revealing a small, dark space. I knew from experience that the metal walls were cold and unforgiving. They seemed to shrink over time until they crushed the body along with the soul.

I tried to shake my head again but only managed a weak wobble.

Home, my hound whined.

Home wasn’t here.

Clutching the leash and doing little to ease the strain on my neck, I dropped to my knees. Moira liked me that way: subservient and small. So, I knelt for her, then released the leash, giving her the submission she desired.

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