“Trust me. She’ll understand.” He scans me, brows furrowed. “Senior is dead. That makes you top contender.”
I shift as the topic changes. Hayes told me what he had to do—who he had to do it to.
There’s no guilt. If anything, I wanted to help torture him.He deserved worse.
The hitter shrugs. “Still one more trial.”
“You know what needs to happen.”
Both men stare at each other and I wave my hand to get their attention. “Hi, what needs to happen? No one explained it to me.” And why is this happening out here? We’re going to catch a cold hanging in a thunderstorm.
Killian turns away, looking to the surroundings, leaving Hayes to explain. “The final trial is a test of loyalty. We all were given a code word that we need to protect.”
“Right,” I encourage. “So whoever keeps it longest, wins?”
“With one twist,” he says, rubbing his forehead.
“Which is?”
“Torture,” Killian cuts off. At my alarmed expression, he shrugs. “They all have to be tested, Coli. Whoever keeps their codeword during their torture session, wins.”
My heart aches.Torture? Forget that I’ve seen the worst that can come from it, healed people and allowed them to be hurtagain, Hayes will be subjected to it. He’ll be tied down, beaten, forced to endure incredible pain.
If I’m terrified of the idea of it, how does he feel? How can he agree to this?
For me.He’s doing this for me.
Warmth spreads through my chest, on the wings of love and adoration. He’s already endured so much in his life, and he’s willing to brave more for me. To keep me safe.
“Who’s doing it?” I ask, throat dry. “Who’s doing the torture?”
Killian flicks ash away. “Maeve.”
My blood runs cold. There’s a reason our enemies give her a wide space. My sister’s reputation for torture is legendary.
Hayes grabs my face, pulling me close. “I’ll be fine, viper. This isn’t anything I haven’t seen before.”
“But,” my bottom lip trembles, “Maeve is your best friend. How can she—how canyoulet her?”
I used to be jealous of their connection—until we got our own. Now, I know, Maeve was Hayes' safety in rough waters. To torture him would break that trust. Both of them need the other in this dark world.
“Viper,” he calms, rubbing my bottom lip. “I signed up for this. I knew what was going to happen. I willingly took on these trials for you.”
Emotions clog my throat and I blink back tears. “I know, but you didn’t have to?—"
“I did,” he confirms. “Because I would soon rather break every bone in my body than let Roman get you. I did this for you, and I’ll finish it. Foryou.”
His soft lips dance across mine—a chaste kiss compared to how ours usually go. “I love you.”
I hiccup, chest tight. Grabbing his hair, I pull him close, opening my mouth to say the words back. I need him to know how I feel. I want him to know he isn’t alone—that he's loved.
That the broken boy is whole in my eyes.
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “Tell me after I win.”
Gently, another tear falls and I nod once. “Fine. But youbetterwin.”
“There’s that venom.”
