He pulled a knife from his belt, and I couldn’t look away from it as he handed it to Madison. Dread built in my stomach as he took it, the blade shifting in the light so it glittered as it moved. With the familiar threat of pain, my protests shut down as survival kicked in. Even my purr died in my chest.
Be still.
Be silent.
Be small.
My world narrowed to the mesh pressed against my face, the way my breathing was hard enough to move my whole body. The cold of the metal. The dust in the air.
“You’re lucky that you can make this all better, sweetheart,” Dax said. “Lucky that there’s more than one way to rut an alpha, especially when they’re already close to the edge.”
My gaze flickered up to a grinning Madison, then back to Dax.
This anticipation was its own torture as the cold sweat on my skin, the memories of past pain, came back to haunt me.
But I could bear this.
I’d lived through worse.
Hadn’t I?
“No? Nothing smart to say?” Dax asked, and when I didn’t answer, he gave a single nod.
Madison tugged me closer. He stuck his knee between my legs, hoisting me higher on the fence before pinning my back with his forearm. I gasped as his elbow dug painfully into my bond mark.
He gently moved my hair, tucking it behind my shoulder.
There was a shearing sound as he sliced away my favourite soft cardigan.
A shiver ran across him as he pressed the knife against my shoulder, a rippling wave of disgust and humiliation washing over me as I felt the proof of his excitement pressing against my back.
“Didn’t think I’d get to mark you so soon, my pretty.”
Madison’s breath was rotten warmth on my ear as he dragged the blunt edge of the knife across my skin. Every muscle in my body was tense, trying to shy away from him, but I was stuck fast.
“I’ve been dreaming of your screams, Duchess.” His voice was melodic, almost reverent. “What you’ll sound like when you let go.”
Excruciating pain flared as Madison dug his sharp blade into my skin. Though I couldn’t stop my flinch, I gritted my teeth and only let out a hiss. He wouldn't get screams from me that easily. The pressure on my back eased, and I felt Madison’s weight shift away from me as he leaned back to examine his work. I was abruptly left to cling to the mesh myself, else I moved and disturbed the knife.
The coppery tang of blood was filling the air, and I felt Madison drag his fingers through the warm, sticky liquid as it ran down my shoulder, soaking into my tank top.
I choked back another sob. I never thought I’d find myself wishing for my father’s punishments, but I’d enter his office a hundred times over to avoid this.
Madison gave that soft, dry chuckle that I’m sure would be haunting my nightmares from now on. “He needs to hear you, Laurel,” he crooned, leaning his body in to press against my blood-soaked back again.
My eyes were watering, and I opened them slightly, unable to resist seeing Ocean. He was trapped under his opponent, close to losing.
Madison grabbed the blade again, and a sob escaped me as he pressed it deeper. He snarled in frustration and twisted it deep into my flesh. I wasn’t sure if I was just imagining that I could feel it scrape my shoulder blade, but it didn’t seem to matter either way. I couldn’t hold back this time, a desperate scream tearing from my lips.
Madison yanked the blade free, and I heard the wet splatter as my blood hit the floor.
I saw Ocean flinch, saw him whip around at the sound. I saw the moment the scent of my blood and pain reachedhim, his lips pulling back into a snarl, his pupils blowing wide.
Madison was crowding me closer, his huge hand pressing against my shoulder. The wire of the mesh fence was pushing into my face hard enough that I was sure it would leave marks.
I felt Ocean’s aura shatter, and his eyes went wild. The match changed, Ocean now fighting with a desperate frenzy as he tried to throw his opponent off. From here, I could scent his rage, and the bond was pouring it into me, my bond mark burning like fire.
Madison’s breaths were coming in heavy pants, and I squeezed my eyes shut as I saw his face inches from my broken flesh. My vision blurred as I cried out again at the feel of teeth sinking into me, and it felt like my skin was ripping clean off. Madison pressed himself harder into me as I writhed and screamed beneath him.
