“As I said, there are other methods of punishment.”
He lifts me up, oh so gently, and sets me on my feet in front of him. I stand between his parted knees. He’s so tall that we are face-to-face with me standing and him sitting.
My face is flushed and tear-stained, my need surely written all over my expression. My lower lip trembles.
“I need,” I pant. “I need…”
He reaches out to me. The huge hand that just wrung such pain and pleasure from my body now caresses my face.
“I know exactly what you need, little sinner,” he says. “But our work is not yet done.” His hand slides down to grip my throat. “And neither is your punishment.”
Then he stands, pushes me aside with one massive hand, and strides off. I have no choice but to follow, my legs wobbly beneath me and my core throbbing, wondering how much more of thispunishmentI can endure… and wondering if, in the end, that’s all this is: the payment for my sins.
Chapter
Eighteen
Krampus and I head toward the forest in pursuit of our final prey. I pause to grab Theodora’s fallen crossbow and quiver of bolts. I’ve never used one of these things before, but after a minute of fumbling, I manage to load it. I heft the weapon up on my shoulder, wincing as it jostles my wounded arm, and follow Krampus into the trees.
Louis’s trail is easy to follow. He isn’t a man who’s used to struggle or fighting for his life; everything has been handed to him on a silver platter. As I follow the obvious markings—boot prints in the snow, trampled undergrowth, broken branches—I imagine him stumbling through here, terrified and crying, and bite my lip.
I’m sure it’s fucked up that the idea of my fiancé running for his life turns me on, but I’m past the point of caring right now.
On the rare occasion we lose the trail, Krampus pauses, sniffs the air, and leads us forward, following the smell of Louis’s sins. His ears are up, his pupils wide, his tail flicking behind him. Just as eager as I am for the hunt. We move wordlessly, me with my crossbow and him with his chains.
I could distract Krampus, or try to slow him down. Delaying Louis’s punishment in the hopes that the sun will rise beforeKrampus can give me my own. Now that I have blood on my hands, I doubt I’m going to survive the night. But… I can’t bring myself to sabotage Krampus. I made a deal, and for once in my life, I want to be honest. I want to get what I deserve.
When I hear Louis swearing ahead, I hold up a hand, and Krampus hangs back. I creep forward on my own into the clearing.
Louis is leaning against a tree, sweating despite the cold, his frantic breathing forming clouds in the air and his legs shaking beneath him. It’s clear he’s reached the limits of his stamina. When I step on a frozen branch, the crack of it snaps through the air like a whip, and Louis whirls to face me with one raised hand.
The terror on his face shifts to relief when he sees me, but then goes wary again as he notes the crossbow in my grip.
“Diana,” he says. “I… I was so worried about you.”
I smile thinly without lowering the crossbow.
“What happened back there?” he asks, when it’s clear I’m not answering. “With my… my parents, and…” He licks his lips and eyes the trees, as if merely speaking Krampus’s name will summon him.
I cock my head to the side. “You didn’t seem too concerned about any of us when you ran back there.”
“What? No, I…” He shakes his head, eyes wide and pleading. God, heisbeautiful, even after his run through the snowstorm. Maybe more beautiful than usual, with his cheeks reddened from the cold and his eyes glittering with deceptive tears. “I had to run! I didn’t have a weapon, and I’m not…” He takes a step toward me. “I’m not strong like you. God, baby, I didn’t realize how strong you are. But when the morning comes, we can forget all of this, alright? I can’t wait to marry you, Diana.”
As I study him, I think he might really mean it. Louisisthe kind of person who would be willing to forget all of this. It’s not like he’s done anything to be proud of tonight either. Withhis family gone, he’d probably cling to me. This would become a distant memory, a night neither of us want to speak about. Maybe the trauma would bring us closer. Deepen our bond into somethingreal. And with his parents and brother dead, I’m sure he’s set to inherit a truly shocking amount of wealth.
I could live the rest of my life with him and be comfortable. Safe.
It’s too bad tonight gave me a taste for something else.
“I’m going to make this fair,” I say. “I’ll give you a ten-second head start.”
Louis stares at me, mouth slightly open. “Huh?”
“You do seem awfully fond of running, so I’ll give you one last shot at it.” I smile, taking aim with my crossbow, right at his face where it’s frozen in that dumbfounded look. “Run.”
He hesitates, searching my expression. “Diana…”
“Ten,” I say.
