He kisses me, lips hard and tongue hot. My body ignites, want and need swirling in my gut. This is different from how he makes me feel. Those are carnal and possessive—this is heartbreaking, full of love and need so deep, I’m going to fall off a cliff and be swept away into the ocean.
Clearing his throat, Killian interrupts. “We need to get back. I’ll need to explain this to Maeve and I want to hide the knives first.”
Snorting, Hayes pulls away, tucking me into his chest. “No, you don’t. You’d rather her use the knives.”
Killian smirks. “What can I say? I like my women bloodthirsty.”
We walk back the way we came, stopping in front of Maeve’s G-class. Hayes grabs the keys, opening the back door for me, but I grab Killian’s forearm, pulling him close.
“Promise me, Killian,” I whisper, eyes wide. “Promise me, you won’t break him.”
He rolls his eyes. “Coli?—”
“I know what this trial is supposed to do. I know the rules.” My voice drops. “Promise me you’ll do it. If Maeve does, it’ll break everything between them. And as much as you might dislike Hayes, as envious as I am of their relationship, they need each other. They need the other in their corner when they do dark things.”
I don’t know what Hayes provides for Maeve, but she’s his rock. And survivors need someone to be there for them when they’re healing. To take it away could damage Hayes more than anything else.
Killian’s jaw bounces before he nods once. “Fine,” he bites out. “But I’m doing this forMaeve.”
Together, we climb into the car, thoughts silent. I don’t tell Hayes what Killian promised, but I know, it’s the only way I can save him from losing everything to these trials.
41
HAYES
The splash of cold water startles me awake.
Lurching forward, I’m stuck, tied to the metal chair, ass numb and uncomfortable. Dripping dark strands fall into my eyes as I blink them into focus.
Grey cinderblock walls. Cold hard dirt under my feet. The smell of wet mold and old blood. The large wooden dungeon door with three different metal locks. A two-way mirror to my left.
Fuck.It’s a torture room.
I knew it was coming, but I didn’t expect to be kidnapped off the street to do it. Leave it to fucking Linwood to make an entrance. Give him a little bit of power and he runs wild with it.
Looking up, I see the reaper leaning against the wall, arms and ankles crossed. In a pair of steel toe combat boots, a pair of jeans and an old band shirt, he looks normal—and that scares me.
I see the silver tray next to him, his favorite knives already placed on top.
“I thought Maeve was doing it?”
My voice scratches something horrible, but I ignore it, keeping the reaper in my sights.
“I wanted all the fun,” he comments, smirking slightly. “You know how this goes, Prince. You’ve been in my shoes. Want to make it easy?”
I glare, biting my lip.
“Codeword.”
Snorting, I shake my head. “You didn’t really think I’d give it, did you?”
He shrugs, pushing off the wall. Picking up his knife, he inspects it under the singular bulb. “Worth a shot. Ethan did.”
Pussy. “How did Maeve take it?”
Killian smiles, thoughts of how vicious Maeve was floating through his mind. “Less than pleased.”
“So this is your revenge, huh?” I adjust my hands. I could try to break out, but the point of this is to endure. To not give up the codeword. I can hang in until time ends.
