A man he said he was torturing for me.
The others exchange unreadable glances, but Sai doesn’t look away. He tilts his head and confirms everything without saying a word.
“I’m surprised you didn’t figure it out sooner, Red.”His grin doesn’t fade as he speaks only to me. If anything, it sharpens.“Remember how I tortured you?”
I frown, but he doesn’t let me think.
He flashes images into my mind. His voice telling me not to touch myself, leaving me on the edge of release, ordering Julien to stop. Then, the night where I came again and again until my legs trembled.
“Delayed gratification, edging, overstimulation…”His voice drops, becoming all heat and sin.“So many kinds of torture I want to try with you, Red.”
Depraved.
That’s what I am.
Because instead of being disgusted to hear that Sai has, in his mind, been sexually torturing me, I’m intrigued. Instead of recoiling, I want to know what other kinds of torture he has in mind—because I clearly like the ones he’s implemented so far…
I slam my eyes shut, digging the heels of my palms into them.
How did the conversation end up here?
Because I lost my mind when my darkness got jealous over Julien using his blood to keep enforcers loyal.
That was it.
“Next time you meet with the Lead Commanders, can I join?” I ask, still covering my eyes, needing to block out at least one sense.
“Yes,” Ezekial answers, immediately. “May I ask why?”
“I know you say they’re all loyal, that you’re positive, that you have… strategies in place to ensure it.” I’m now talking to my lap, staring at the black screen for a nice distraction. “But I also thought the same about the staff at The Inferno. Maybe, I’ll be able to sense something you can’t. Emotions are hard to hide.”
Don’t I know it.
I was currently blocking any and all emotions radiating around this table because I couldn’t be sure what would happen if I let them in.
“Amon also asked we ensure his allegiance at the next meeting,” Julien casually mentions, thankfully removing some of the attention from me. I take my chance and finally look up. “He would like to make that clear to whoever is betraying us.”
I sit upright. “Oh, I need to ask you about him,” I blurt, casting a glance at Ezekial too. “Kacey told me that, well… just see for yourself.” I show the memory to them all, trying to focus on the key elements.
“Amon is… distraught,” Julien explains, glancing at us all before landing back on me. “But not for what Kacey believes. Assure her of that. I am assisting him with his control.”
“Hiscontrol?” From what Kacey said, it washer.
“Shifters are tactile beings. He knows that isn’t currently possible with Kacey. If Ezekial had not intervened at that moment, Amon is concerned he may have hurt her,” he elaborates, and my heart sinks for Amon. “Shifters normally complete their bonds immediately. His beast does not understand why they haven’t, and therefore, Amon doesn’t trust himself around Kacey.”
My stomach feels heavy at the thought, but then his words conjure other questions. Things we’ve never discussed. That I couldn’t find the answers to online.
“How exactly do youcompletea bond?”
From the way the room immediately darkens, I realise I’ve made a mistake.
“Because I looked it up. Well—” I shrug. “I tried, but not many people share that information online…”
The men all cast varying looks at one another, before Ezekial settles his gaze with mine. “It’s normally an intimate moment.”
My eyes widen as I seek out Sai. “You mean we could’ve bonded, without me even knowing?” My voice lowers on the final word.
Sai raises his hands. “I wouldn’t do that, Red. I knew how far I could go, believe me.”
