Selma steeled herself, pushing through. “I made him think I wanted him. He said he’d spare me from… from the Lords if I…”
“The Lords?” Blondie cut her off, eyes widening, then narrowing to slits.
Selma nodded. “Y-Yes.”
“She’s Blessed,” Red spat. “Let’s just gut her and move on. Too much trouble.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Cold Eyes snarled. “She’s a fucking Pure Breeder! Do you know what a Lord will do to get his hands on one of these? We play our cards right, the one ruling this territory might even give up Minnesota without a fight.”
“Might being the operative word,” Red said, edging closer. “It’s too risky.”
“I’ll help you!” Selma gasped, pressing up harder against the box. “Please, I promise!”
“You think we’ll be rewarded for handing a Lord an incubator?” Blondie asked, eyebrows raised as she looked at Cold Eyes.
“I think taking this territory is our first priority. It’ll be years before any offspring he sires with this pathetic human is strong enough to fight—and at that point, it’s going to be too late anyway.”
Cold Eyes returned her focus to Selma, a nasty smile pulling up the corner of her lips. “But first… first we need to ensure she’s in suitable condition. What do you say, little Breeder? Think a few cuts on that smooth skin of yours will make the Lord more amenable to our negotiations?”
13
Selma
Selma screamed. Each time that wicked knife sliced through her flesh, claws raked her skin, and fists pummeled her gut, she howled in agony, pleas for mercy bubbling past her lips. She tried to curl in on herself, to protect her vitals, but the two demonesses not wielding the knife held her firmly between them, leaving her body open and vulnerable to the abuse.
They offered no mercy, each second only bringing her more pain. She lost track of time, lost track of everything but the searing agony and cackles of her captors, their amusement at her wails ringing through the warehouse—though to her, they sounded like they were filtered through water. The only clear sound was her own frantic heartbeat.
Until an explosion shook the building.
The three demons froze, turning toward the entrance as one. Selma too lifted her head, following their startled gazes.
He was here—the demon from the bar. His dark eyes were wide and terrifying, his human features pulling into a mask of fury as he took in the scene, breathing heavily.
Selma snorted with weak amusement. She’d found him terrifying before—yet now even a normal human would have called him demonic. She’d never seen anyone look so angry.
“Lord.” Cold Eyes seemed to regain her ability to speak, but there was a quake in her once-so-self-assured voice. “We have a trade to off?—”
He roared, a bellow that vibrated through the warehouse and shook Selma to her core. He was a mountain of fury, molten rage spilling into the air in clouds of inky black.
Magic.
Both Blondie and Red released their grip on her, diving for cover. Blondie, however, was too slow. Black, sparking magic closed around her ankle before she could escape behind the box.
Her foot twisted with a sharp crack, suddenly pointing at an unnatural angle. The demoness screamed—a sound that turned shrill as the black fog gnashed up her leg like a hungry maw, rending her flesh and splintering her bones in a spray of blood.
Cold Eyes lunged for Selma and she squealed, twisting away from her drawn blade—but the demon didn’t go for her throat. She grabbed Selma by the waist, twisting them both out of the way when the Lord leapt into the room, slamming down on top of the remains of the blonde female.
Snarling, he tore her head clean off with a wet popping sound, tossing it to the side. Then he spun around in a crouch, eyes fixed on Selma and her attacker.
Without preamble, the demoness shoved a hand down the front of Selma’s pants.
Too late, Selma realized what she was doing. Before she could shove the demoness’ hand away, her fingertips connected with the small piece of metal encircling Selma’s clit.
Her humiliation. The ring that’d sealed her fate.
“No!”
Her cry came too late. Harsh fingers twisted the metal, squeezing it down painfully on her nub of nerves.
