The asshole just smirks and shrugs his shoulder… Well, as much as he can with his arms chained above his head.
“What did youdo?” I demand, the power lacing my words forcing him to comply.
“Let’s just say Madelyne isn’t the only thing precious to you that we took today,” he quips.
I feel the change taking over instantly. My horns sprout from my head as I grow to ten feet tall and my claws extend from my fingers. In seconds I’m in my full devil form and seething.
“You better not be saying what I think you’re saying,” I snarl.
“I don’t know what you think I’m saying. I’m not a mind reader,” he snarks, putting on a show like he’s not scared but the terror in his eyes betrays his bravado.
“Let me be very clear. If you kidnapped my hellhound, the torture I bestowed on Marjorkorie will be child’s play compared to what I do to you.”
The color drains from his face and I take that for confirmation. I don’t know how they managed it, but these fuckers took Snowball. Now all four of my children have betrayed me. Each one worse than the one before.
I don’t even stop to consider the most excruciating way to torture them, I simply lash out, striking Droxley in the face, and gouging his cheek with my claws. His scream fills the room, but it’s still not enough to calm me. So, I strike him again on the other side. It’s not until his head hangs limply that I move on to Bartleby.
“It was his idea!” He cries, throwing his brother to the devil to save himself. “He’s the one that stole all the hellhounds, not me! I only brought Madelyne to my room. That’s it! I swear!”
As if his part in the betrayal was inconsequential. He still participated in Droxley’s scheme and he will pay just as dearly. But not yet.
“How did he steal the hellhounds? How did he getmyhellhound?”
He sighs, as if me asking him means I don’t still plan to torture him. “He has a power he never told you about. He can control hellhounds,” he rushes out.
He can control hellhounds? How did I not know this?
“You lie. He could not have such a power without me knowing,” I growl.
“It’s true! I’ve seen it! You know Snowball would not have left with us of her own free will,” he cries.
"How could he have kept it a secret for so long?Whywould he keep it a secret?" As soon as I say it, I know the answer. Hellhounds can be one hell of a weapon if someone could control them.
“What were you going to do with the hounds?” I grind out, clenching my jaw.
“Nothing! They were just a distraction. They make good distractions,” he blurts and his eyes widen as he realizes what he says.
“Have you used them as a distraction before?” I demand, wanting to know what he’s hiding. I never in a million years would have expected his answer.
twenty
Madelyne
I’mstartingtothinkOz actually likes me. Don’t get me wrong, he can be an asshole, but I think he’s more piss and vinegar than anything else. I also think he enjoys teasing me… Which to be honest, I enjoy as well. We make a pretty good team, chaining up my uncles and rescuing hellhounds. Not exactly what I thought I’d be doing with my life, but at least I get to do it with some serious eye candy.
He pushes me to expand my way of thinking and he has so much faith in me and my powers. I keep getting in my head thinking I can’t do something, just because I never have. But Oz makes me think I can do anything. It’s empowering… and a little terrifying. I don’twantto be all powerful, but it’s pretty convenient to be able to just pop from one place to another. Or send a bunch of missing hounds back to their homes even when I have no clue where that is.
“Good job, Princess,” Oz says when I pop us in front of the castle. I don’t know when him calling me that went from a snarky name because of my technically being a princess of Hell, to a term of endearment that makes me simultaneously swoon and flood my panties.
“Thank you!” I smile at him, loving the look in his eyes.
“Maddy! What are you doing with Oz? Wait, you found Snowball? What about the others?” Belz exclaims, pulling us out of our moment.
“Hi, baby! It’s a long story. But yes, we found Snowball, who’s just adorable isn’t she?” I coo at the hound in question as I scratch the back of her ears. “And we sent the other hounds home. Everything’s good again. Though, I should probably find Gramps and let him know what happened.” Not exactly a conversation I’m looking forward to.
“Gramps?” Zeph sputters. “Did you just call LucGramps?”
“I’m trying it out.” I shrug. “It’s just weird to address your grandfather by name.”