Page 31 of Cost of Courting

“Oh, by the way, Selene.”

I glance at Benson’s smirking, vile face.

“If you mutilate any more of my dealers, I’ll take your sister’s clit and wear it as a necklace. Last warning.”

I just have time to absorb that crippling blow before someone calls the start of the match.

I whirl back frantically, trying to organize my thoughts and focus on survival.

He moves quick for such a huge guy, but he’s not overly smart. He throws a fist that I dodge easily. His foot lashes out and, damn, but he’s got some long legs.

I shift away, and instead of hitting me, he grazes my hip. It still hurts.

The first blow that lands turns my left arm completely numb. I’m rasping for breath and soaked in sweat, and I’m flagging.

The blows come thick and fast, the beating I was promised hammering down, leaving me a crumpled wreck on the concrete floor.

Breathing hurts.

Benson comes to stand over me. He kicks my thigh hard.

“Listen here, you beta whore. Learn your fucking place, and I can stop having people beat your ass.”

“We’re even for my people,” I spit out with a mouthful of blood.

“Yeah, yeah. Get lost.”

I struggle to my knees and, step by painful step, make my way home. I come in through Dot Neilson’s backyard. Her eyes get really wide as she helps clean me up. I’m forced to listen to a verbal reaming while she checks my ribs and head. After I’m numb and floating with the aid of a really good painkiller, she helps me pass into my property undetected.

I go to bed.

I ignore the banging on my door.

I refuse to answer my sister, who shouts abuse at me before storming away.

The callers at my front door stand in the sunlight waiting, but I’m not coming.

I just hurt.

I hurt so bad.

I peel open myeyes and stare at the demons. I should be afraid, but I’m never afraid of these monsters. No matter how long they’ve been gone.

One is perched on the windowsill, the other creeps towards the bed and pulls the sheet from my body. The third curses and carefully lifts me up.

I cry out and pass into the darkness where I can’t see my demons leave me.

Chapter eight

Mael

I fairly float overthe ground as I cross from her house to ours. Edric and Kingston are flanking me, one on either side. No one is going to get close to her. This shouldn’t have happened. We were right here!

I’m more angry than I’ve ever been in my life. There are only two questions that are pulsing through my mind. She’s got bruises all over her.

Who did this to her?

And where are they because I’m going to kill them.

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