Quin looked apologetic as he unlocked the door and swung it open. “We aren’t in the habit of needing to . . . detain people who deserve grander accommodations.”
Trinity’s eyes were focused on Effie as Lucian crossed the threshold and carefully lowered her body to the floor. She clearly did not believe Effie fell under such a category.
“Who else besides you two holds a key to this cell?” Lucian asked, his voice low and angry as he stood to face them once more.
“There’s only a handful of keys that will grant access to this part of Val’don. Councilman Vance holds one, my sister and I as the head of the security detail hold two more. The last are shared by those that rotate through the night guard shift.”
“I am going to need those keys.”
Trinity’s eyes narrowed. “No.”
“I wasn’t asking.”
Cheeks bright with anger, she opened her mouth, but her brother cut her off. “For the safety of our people, you must understand why we are hesitant to grant your request.”
“If you think the lack of a key will bar my entry, you clearly know nothing of a Guardian’s power. I want to ensure no one else has access to this cell. She looks harmless enough for the moment, but make no mistake, she is as clever as she is deadly. She will only grow more so as the days pass. I will not risk your people falling victim to her deception.”
Quin paled, his eyes dropping to her chains and lingering at the red scrap of fabric around her mouth.
“Yes, even chained and gagged she remains a threat.”
“Do you not need to feed her?”
Lucian let his silence answer for him.
“If she is so dangerous, Guardian,” Trinity spat, “why bring her here at all?”
Feeling every year of his age, Lucian’s eyes met hers. “Because it is the only way to save her.”
Trinity’s expression softened, and though she didn’t voice it, he could clearly see the question burning in her gaze. Can she even be saved?
“Very well, Guardian. If she is as dangerous as you say, we will agree to your demand.”
Lucian gave Quin a nod of thanks. “Would you two mind giving me a minute?”
Trinity and Quin exchanged an uneasy look before nodding and moving back out the massive metal door that marked the gaol’s entrance.
Dropping to a knee, Lucian crouched beside Effie’s unconscious form. If not for the gaunt cast of her face, or dull sheen of her hair, he could have believed she was still whole. Still his.
Lucian brushed his knuckles across her cheek, leaning down to press his lips to her forehead. Eyes falling closed, he sucked in a ragged breath. It took everything he had left to lift his head up from hers and rise back to his full height. His heart was demanding he stay and curl himself around her, protecting her in her vulnerable state. His mind was shouting for him to get the hell away before she came to.
Although it tore him apart, Lucian exited the cell and shut the door. The click of the lock echoed around him, causing his jaw and fists to clench.
Even though she couldn’t hear him, or care if she did, Lucian couldn’t leave without promising, “I’ll be back to check on you tomorrow.” Swallowing, he silently added, one way or the other, fledgling, this needs to end. I fear what will become of us otherwise.
Disorientation lingered, momentarily muting the dull throb of pain that emanated from her arms and head. Something had pulled her from the darkness, but she could not say what.
Slowly, she took stock of her surroundings, starting with her body. The soft scrape against her wrists told her she was still bound, even without the all-too-familiar clink of chains. Her mouth was raw where the damp fabric had chafed the skin. Sucking in an angry breath through her nose, she rolled to her knees, eyes open into slits as she regarded her newest cage.
There. Something in the air.
Sniffing again, she struggled to make sense of the smell.
Damp. Earth . . . underground?
But that wasn’t all. There was another scent in the air. It called to her, wrapped itself around her and sunk its claws in deep. It made her want to purr—no. Cry?
Confused, she whimpered. Nothing was making sense.
As awareness grew, her head throbbed, the pain slicing through the rest of the fog in her mind. A low growl sounded in her throat when she caught the unfamiliar scent again.
Midnight. Musk.
Her growl deepened.
She didn’t like the way the scent twisted her emotions, making her feel weak and scared. Or that she couldn’t identify it. In the end, it didn’t matter. There’s only one reason for another’s smell to be in her cage.
It marked her captor.
Enemy.
The need for revenge built inside of her, bubbling up until it spilled over; the only thing she could understand. No one caged her. Not unless they wanted to die.
Her eyes closed at the memory of tearing into tender flesh, the hot spray of blood dripping down her chin. Her stomach grumbled at the thought of metallic tang. So hungry. The need was nearly unbearable.
Another whiff had her groaning with savage want, the desire to sink her teeth into her enemy and until she was bloated with his blood all-consuming.
Delicious.
She crooned the word, mouth salivating at the thought.
This one would pay for his crimes, but not before she tasted him. She would not let him die until she feasted on his still-beating heart.
Scooting back, she pressed into the wall. Something sharp poked her and she shifted, her neck swiveling slowly as she eyed the jagged rock.
Another low rumble sounded, this one filled with satisfaction. There was little she could do about the chains, but it took only a few tries sawing the cloth against the edge to pierce through the gag around her mouth. She didn’t stop when the rock raked against her flesh, just adjusted her position and continued with her slow progress. Soon the smell of her own blood filled the air, but it did not dissuade her.
She didn’t stop until the fabric sagged and fell down her neck, collaring her like some kind of defiant necklace. Feeling vindicated, she spat the wad of cloth from her mouth onto the floor. Licking her cracked lips, she bared her teeth, the feral smile a sinister promise.
He would come and she would feast. A creature such as herself did not need use of her hands to be a threat. Her bite was her greatest weapon, and she’d just stolen it back.
Pressing herself back into the darkest part of the room, she waited. Her hunger and need for revenge thumped through her with each slow beat of her heart. Hours passed, the tantalizing aroma of her target—the focus of both her desires—her sole companion. It was a scent she memorized until she knew every facet of it. She would recognize it anywhere.
Now, even if he ran, she would find him. She would never stop hunting him. Not until he slaked the need burning in her veins.
He was marked, and only death would free him.
Chapter 10
Impatience battered at Lucian, pushing him to walk faster even as his fingers fumbled to tighten the belt slung low on his hips. He’d lain in bed until he couldn’t stand the silence—or his own company—any longer. He was beyond exhausted; the days since the battle merging together in one never-ending blur, but sleep never came. Not for him. When your soul was haunted, there could be no peace.