She could hear Sebastian’s plight. She could stand with him during this. That would have to be enough for now.
Sebastian's approval was a caress against her mind as she steeled herself for what was to come.
She glanced at Caden, feeling his eyes on her in the dark. "Do what you need to do. I won't interfere."
Brave words, full of resolve. She hoped she could keep them.
Caden nodded, respect in his expression. Eva straightened her shoulders, her mouth firming.
He bent down. "What is your name?"
The other man glared, not answering.
Caden picked up his hand, breaking a finger without a hint of remorse. Eva's stomach jolted at the easy violence.
"It's much too soon to be so stubborn. A wise man would pick his battles," Caden advised over the man's whimpers of pain. He jerked the man back to a sitting position. "Now, let's try again. What's your name?"
There was a long stubborn silence. Caden let out a sigh, reaching for the man's hand.
The man broke. "Mathias."
Caden settled back. "Very good, Mathias. You saw what I did to your companions. Do you want me to do the same to you?"
"You're going to do it anyway," Mathias said, huddling over his injured hand.
"Perhaps," Caden agreed. "But your willingness to answer my questions dictates how long it will take you to die."
There was a soft cruelty to Caden's voice that made the threat utterly believable.
A small, fearful whimper escaped Mathias and he nodded quickly.
"Good, we understand each other," Caden said, right before he sank his fist into the man's stomach.
The man groaned, bending forward and dry heaving. "You haven't asked me anything yet."
"I wanted to remind you what the consequences will be if you don’t do what I want," Caden explained.
Eva blinked and gave Caden a sideways look, her expression filled with disbelief.
"Why were you following us?" Caden asked.
"We weren't following you," Mathias said, pushing himself upright.
Eva leaned forward. "You were following Sebastian."
"Who?"
She sighed. Of course, he wouldn't know Sebastian's name. To him, Sebastian was a beast. Unimportant except for what he could give them. He wouldn’t see the Kyren as a thinking, feeling being. "The winged horse."
The man’s expression was cagey.
"That's who you were looking for at the lake last night, too," she offered.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Mathias snarled. Even Eva could hear the lie that time.
There was a crack of bone breaking and then a cry of pain from Mathias that was quickly cut off as Caden slammed his hand over the man’s mouth to muffle the sound. A smart move considering what could still be waiting for them out there, hiding in the dark.
"What did I tell you about lying?" Caden's voice was filled with dark promise. He sounded like a completely different person than the quiet man she knew. Yes, she'd always been aware of the monster lurking inside on some level, but knowing something was different than coming face to face with it.
