Page 125 of Princess of Vengeance

Malcolm steps forward with a cold smile on his face. “Actually, we’re just getting started.” He nods to Elliot. “Show her what happens when someone tries to take what’s mine.”

Elliot smiles as he steps closer to Nico. A guard grabs Nico’s hair, yanking his head back to expose his throat while another douses him with water.

“Water conducts electricity,” Elliot explains, as if he’s giving a fucking science lesson. “Makes the experience so much more intense.”

A strangled sound escapes my throat as Elliot presses the cattle prod against Nico’s chest. Nico’s entire body convulses, his back arching in agony as electricity courses through him. This time, he can’t hold back a groan that tears from deep in his throat.

“Don’t worry,” Elliot says, looking at me. “I won’t kill him yet. That would be too merciful.” He applies the prod again, this time to Nico’s shoulder. Nico’s face contorts in pain as his muscles seize. “First, I’m going to make him suffer. Then I’m going to do the same to your other two dogs. And then, when you’ve watched them all break, when you’ve heard them scream and beg for death, then maybe—maybe—I’ll let you join them.”

“You’re a fucking monster,” I hiss.

“Yes,” he agrees easily. “I am. And you should have known better than to fight monsters.”

He’s right. I should have known better. Should have been smarter and more careful. I should have found another way.

But it’s too late for should-haves now. All I can do is watch as Elliot continues his work, shocking Nico again and again until his body is covered in sweat and his breathing comes in ragged gasps. He’s bruised and battered, but fighting—still fighting against the pain, against giving them what they want.

And all I can do is hold Nico’s gaze whenever he looks my way, silently promising him that this won’t be the end. That somehow, some way, we’ll survive this.

Elliot shocks him again and I can’t fucking take it anymore.

Every time the cattle prod touches Nico’s skin, every time his body convulses with pain, it feels like I’m being torn apart from the inside out. And the worst part is, I know Nico. I know how stubborn he is and how much pride he has. He’ll never give Malcolm and Elliot what they want. He’ll never beg, much less break like they think he will—and that terrifies me. Because the longer he holds out, the more frustrated they’ll get. And the more frustrated they get, the more likely they are to just kill him and move on to their next victim.

I have to do something. Anything.

“Malcolm,” I call out. “You need to stop this bullshit.”

He turns to look at me, one eyebrow raised in amusement. “I don’t think you’re in a position to tell me what I need to do.”

He’s right, but I’m ignoring that fact for now.

“I’m the one you’re pissed at, though, right?” I glare at him through the bars of my cage. He might have the upper hand, but I’m not giving up until the cold, bitter end. “I’m the one who tried to turn your people against you. I’m the one who married you and then plotted your death. So why are you taking it out on everyone else when I’m right here in front of you?”

He studies me for a long moment with his head tilted to the side like he’s trying to figure out a puzzle. Then his lips curve into a slow smile.

“You know what? You make an excellent point.” He gestures to the two guards holding Nico. “Put this dog back in his cage.”

The guards look confused for a moment, but they don’t question the order. They drag Nico back to his cell, and he’s barely able to resist this time. He’s breathing hard, and his skin is covered in a sheen of sweat, but his eyes find mine as they lock him back in. He’s silently begging me to stop talking, to not draw attention to myself.

Too late.

Malcolm walks over to my cage with measured, deliberate footsteps. The gleam in his eyes makes my stomach tighten into a knot. It’s not just evil. Not even pure hatred—though there’s plenty of that too.

It’s anticipation. Belatedly, I realize he’s been waiting for this very moment. Waiting for me to give him another excuse to turn his wrath on me.

“You’re right,” he says. “When it comes down to it, this is between you and me. I’m still going to take it out on all of you, but if you’re so eager to be next…” He pulls out a key and unlocks my cage. “I’m happy to grant that wish for you.”

I back away from the door, but there’s nowhere to go in the tiny space. Malcolm reaches in and grabs my arm to drag me out. I struggle against him, landing a solid kick to his shin, but Elliot is there in an instant to lock on to my other arm. Together, they pull me out and force me to my knees in the center of the room, right where Rafael died. Right where they tortured Nico..

Malcolm is standing over me, looking down with that same unsettling combination of barely checked anger and anticipation. His hand shoots out to grab my jaw, forcing my face up to look at him.

“So much like your mother,” he says, the disgust clear in his voice. “Always so clever. Always thinking you can find someway to talk yourself out of things. Always manipulating everyone around you.”

The words hit me like a slap to the face. My throat goes tight, making it hard to breathe.

“What are you talking about?” I ask. “You said you barely knew my mother.”

He smirks as his fingers tighten on my jaw. “I lied.”

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