Page 265 of Craving Venom

I snort. “Since when do you let anyone do anything?”

“You made it this far. You’ve earned the right to choose.”

“Before I make my decision.” I drink again. The heat burns my throat. “You said you were infiltrating the cult. To get Corrine out.”

“Yeah.”

“How?” I lick a drop of coffee from my lip. “Wouldn’t people recognize you? Especially if you’re attending the auction?”

“I’ll be in a mask,” he says. “One of theirs. I stole it off a Dominion enforcer a couple of hours ago.”

He lifts his hand and pulls something from beneath the bed frame. A black case. When he opens it, I see a bone-white mask with slitted eyes and jagged gold teeth. It doesn’t look human. It doesn’t look alive. But somehow… it breathes.

“Jesus,” I ruminate. “That’s what they wear?”

“Every inner-circle buyer wears one. Each mask is etched with a rune unique to their bloodline. This one is from John Bailey. He won’t be attending.”

“You killed him,” I say. It’s not a question.

Zane just takes another sip of coffee.

“You saved Nina then,” I say, but the words taste ashy in my mouth.

Saved.

That doesn’t feel like the right word.

“She’s safe.”

Safe. Not saved.

That tracks.

“How did you know John Bailey was her buyer?”

“I have my ways.”

“Define ‘ways.’”

“I’ve installed cameras. All over your college. Main hall. Dorm exits. Library elevators. Admin offices. Some of them are hidden in the walls. Most are piggybacking off existing security. Others are patched into fire alarm systems. I monitor all the feeds.”

“That’s illegal.”

His lips twitch. “So is selling girls.”

I can’t argue with that.

“How many?”

“Seventy-two. Within a ten-mile radius.”

I almost drop the mug.

“You’re insane.”

“I’m prepared.”

My breath gets stuck somewhere in my throat.

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