Alex ignored him and focused on Laina. “As I’m sure you know, those chains are not meant to hold you in your wolf form. By that time, you should be fairly hungry, practically starving with your accelerated metabolism. How much control do you have over your wolf, Princess? Enough not to make a meal of your boyfriend?”
“What do you want, Alex?” Laina desperately tried to work the manacles over her cupped hands, but they were hopelessly tight.
Alex laughed through his nose. “Only my true place. For me to obtain what’s rightfully mine, your two brothers must die. Then, Fireborn pack will bow down to me. Oh, I’m not so crass as to believe the Lycanthropic Society will accept me as their leader, not at first anyway. But blood rules. I will take you as my mate, and we will sire a legion of purebred children. Eventually, the other packs will have no choice but to recognize our superior race.”
“You’re insane.”
“Probably. Love will do that to you.”
“Love? You don’t love me.”
Alex stepped closer to her, squatting down to her level. A wicked smile spread across his face. Close up, his skin took on the appearance of plastic, not quite human or werewolf. A sourceless breeze cycled through the room. “Silas returned the amulet to the dragon fae himself. How do you suppose I got it back, Princess? No, I don’t loveyou, but thankfully, that emotion is not necessary to sire werewolf children. The one I do love understands the importance of my work and my rule and supports my use of you.”
Laina’s thoughts swirled. Rumor had it that a dragon fae princess had fallen deeply in love with Alex and had given him the dragon fae amulet as a gift, but he’d left her and chosen to murder his own parents rather than return it. What if the dragon fae princess still had feelings for him? What if she was helping him now? Laina tried to remember the name of the princess but couldn’t. Why hadn’t she paid closer attention to Silas?
“Now, you will help me call your brothers out to play.”
“Go fuck yourself.” She sucked her teeth and hurled a wad of spit that landed wetly on the side of his face.
Alex paused for only a moment to wipe away her saliva with a handkerchief before pulling a phone from his pocket. Her heart sank when she realized it was hers, the untraceable phone Silas had given her for emergencies. He tapped the screen a few times.
“Laina?” Silas’s voice came from the speaker.
“Tell him to come for you.” He held the phone toward her face.
She sliced her head tot he left in refusal.
“Laina!” Silas yelled.
“Do you know why Kyle was attracted to you? Do you want to know the magic behind love at first sight?”
She glared at him, a dark ribbon of preemptive grief unraveling like a worm in her torso.
“It seems his father had a penchant for supernaturals. Kyle is a dormant. His mother was a shifter. That hole, the missing thing, the something wild he’s felt deep within his soul, recognized you. He would have never shifted on his own—his mother’s blood was too diluted, but I have the power to make him.”
With a wave of Alex’s hand, Kyle bucked off the marble floor, waking with a scream and contorting with the grotesque snap and slurp of breaking bones. Kyle’s screams grew more tormented until Laina could stand no more.
“No! Stop!” Forcing the shift on a dormant was said to be pure torture. Depending on their physiology, it could even be deadly.
“Tell Silas to come, or we’ll find out if Kyle has what it takes to survive a forced shift, or five, or seven. I can shift him back and forth all day if you prefer.” Alex raised a hand, and Kyle screamed again, arching off the floor.
“Stop!” she screamed, tears streaming.
He held the phone toward her. Kyle’s body slapped the floor, rattling his chains. He groaned and curled into the fetal position, facing her.
“Silas, Alex is alive. He has me,” she whimpered. The connection ended. “He hung up.”
“Don’t worry, Princess. Your brother heard enough. He’s on his way.”
Nate glared at Alex from Kyle’s side. “This was not our deal, Alex!”
“What did you do?” Laina barked at Nate.
Ignoring her, Nate pointed a chubby finger toward her nemesis, as if his human self had any hope of controlling the evil beside her. “You said you wanted the girl. Let us out of here. My brother needs help.”
“Hmm. You are correct. I did promise I’d only take the girl in exchange for you planning this event and providing me with your blood. That was our bargain.” Alex nodded slowly.
“So, unlock Kyle. Let us go,” Nate gritted out.
