Page 51 of Pretty Little Prey
Damn it, why did she have to keep getting reminded, in the worst ways, that all predators were monsters?
She was still fighting to free herself when Sly returned to the living room, holding a toolbox.
“Please, don’t do this,” she pleaded, hating that she begged a predator for anything. “My answers aren’t even interesting. They have nothing to do with you or your king. I—I don’t even know anything about the dragon!”
Sly calmly lowered the dark red toolbox to the coffee table.
“If you torture me, Kobe will be pissed. He thinks I’m his mate.”
That caused Sly to quirk an eyebrow.
“A-And I’m your king’s mate. Do you think he wants me to be tortured?”
“I thought we already established this,” Sly said, petting a hand over his ominous toolbox. “I’m brave enough to disobey my king once in a while.”
Chapter 21
“They’re heading in the opposite direction. Our work here is done,” Nikolai said as the three men watched the dragon’s soldiers march farther and farther away from the cabin. “That was good thinking to plant her old clothes to the north. Her scent will draw them away. They won’t think to search our area again.”
Bastille examined the vampire’s face. “You told Luna you were thirsty. Yet, you didn’t try to feed off any of them when we got close.” Typically, Nikolai did not fight his bloodlust. It was a part of him.
Nikolai looked away from his king, peering into the woods.
“We could have killed some of the dragon’s guards. Why didn’t you want to?” Bastille asked again.
Nikolai remained silent; his lips pressed into a thin line.
“She is changing you,” Bastille stated, his tone one of annoyance.
“She is not.”
“We need to get rid of her.” Bastille kicked a large stick. “She is doing damage to us.”
A light growl came from Kobe’s chest.
Bastille gestured to the werewolf. “See? She’s making Kobe—one of the most loyal of you—growlat me.”
“Moonbeam stays,” Kobe said.
“Imake the decisions.” Bastille slapped at his chest. “Iam your king.”
“The sun will be down soon. We need to head back,” Nikolai commented.
Cursing, Bastille said, “We can’t keep her.”
“Then let her go,” Nikolai said simply. As if it weresimpleand not utterly complicated.
Just the thought of letting her go drove Bastille crazy. His fists balled at his sides; his fangs lengthened in his mouth, feeling full of venom andwrathat the idea of returning to a home without her and her sassy, haughty mouth and adorable glares. “Ican’t,” he bit out.
Nikolai sighed as he said, “Then, my king,don’t.”
“Please don’t hurt me,” Luna begged as Sly fooled with the locks on the toolbox of his “interrogation tools.” “I’ll tell you things; it’s really not worth cutting me up. I promise.” What would telling him about Rohan really do? Worst case scenario was they gave her over to the wolf who killed her family. She’d be hurt either way. She had no reason to undergo torture.
“Aw, don’t be like that.” Sly pouted. “Don’t ruin the fun by breaking before we’ve even begun.”
“Sly, please.”
“Mmm,” he purred. “I like the way you say my name when you beg like that.”
