Page 26 of Malice
“Fine is not an answer. You were hardly yourself only hours ago.”
She removed herself from his grasp and stood taller. “I slept all night, woke up, showered, and here I am. Fresh as a fucking daisy. What more do you want from me?”
“That’s a loaded question,” I muttered under my breath.
“Everything, Red. I want every-fucking-thing.”
He was posturing, trying to intimidate her into compliance, but my little hellcat was having none of it. She placed her palmson his chest and shoved at him, not even answering as she waltzed past him into the room.
“Let’s try this again. You four were clearly scheming and talking about your plans for me. So why don’t you go ahead and say it to my face? Feels like I should probably be a part of the discussion, right? Since it’s about me and all.” She crossed her arms over her chest and chose me as her target, leveling those blue eyes on mine.
I had a moment of relief at the sight of the clear blue instead of the solid black we’d all witnessed last night. But then she spoke again.
“Tell me.”
Chaos answered before I could. “What do you want to know?”
Her head whipped to the side so she could stare him down. “Every-fucking-thing.”
Chapter
Eight
MERRI
In a room so filled with testosterone, it was a challenge not to back down as I made eye contact with each of the horsemen. But I had to wait them out, see which one would answer me, and above all, which would give me the truth. Not that I was about to take their word for it. I’d learned my lesson there. And if Malice and Sin hadn’t meant for me to use the skills they’d taught me, then maybe they should have thought about that beforehand.
“Well?” I finally demanded when no one said anything after several drawn-out moments.
“We work in specifics, dearest. Where would you like us to start?” Malice drawled, but I could sense the unease lurking in the words.
“Okay. Let’s start with what you four chuckle-clowns were discussing when I walked in.”
By this point, Grim had settled himself against a serving table set against one wall. He was the picture of male elegance, with his long legs crossed at the ankles and his ungloved hands resting against the wood on either side of his hips. “We want you to resume the dreamwalks.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Only because you don’t understand the danger.”
The chuckle that rumbled from Chaos infuriated me. He hadn’t spoken a word, but I heard every one that was implied in that low sound. He thought I was being ridiculous.
“Laugh all you want, but when you realize I’ve taken you all prisoner with my power, you’ll feel differently.”
Malice narrowed his eyes, expression serious. “What do you mean by that?”
“Do you know why my kind doesn’t dreamwalk anymore?”
“Patriarchy,” Sin offered, his voice back to normal though dried tracks of blood remained just beneath his nose.
I rolled my eyes and continued. “Because we’ve used that as a tool to enslave our victims. With every visit, the noose around their neck grows tighter and the bond stronger. It’s forbidden for a reason. The way you want me? It’s not because you actually care for me. It’s manufactured. It’s a trap.”
I waited for the explosion of voices. For the outrage. Instead I got bawdy laughter.
“Why the hell are you laughing?” I asked, irritation sparking within me.
“C’mon, kitten. You know I’m immune to you. There’s no way you’ve manufactured anything between us.”
“Sin’s right. I’m too strong to be ruled by your power,” Chaos added.
“We all are,” Grim agreed.
