Fuck.
42
Sloane
I hear running from somewhere behind me. It’s becoming louder and louder. All I want to do is stay on Riven’s lap, comforted by an embrace that only his arms can provide. I look at him, his eyes widening with shock and then pure fury. When I turn my head to see what has himthisangry, I nearly come face-to-face with Sabel.
Riven jumps from the ground with me in his arms and sidesteps out of Sabel’s way just in time. Callum grabs Sabel’s forearm, yanking her over to him, and then holds her back firmly against his chest.Callum, that big sneaky bastard. Seeing him come in here earlier only brought up more questions that I’ll need answers to once this is all finally over.
Sabel claws at Callum’s large arms, but it’s no use, not with his size and strength. The size and strength equal to that of a certain Illyrian warrior. I shake off the thought, knowing thatnow is not the time or place to be comparing Callum to one of my fictional book boyfriends.
“What’s got you smiling like that?” Riven asks, smirking.
“Oh, nothing. Nothing at all,” I say, patting his beautiful, bare chest with my hand. I don’t know how I didn’t recognize it before.
I snap out of it as an idea surfaces. I push off of Riven for him to put me down, and although he’s reluctant, he does. I give him a look that says “trust me,” and then I turn and walk back toward the chair that I was restrained to minutes before. Seeing the restraints reminds me of what Sabel was planning to do to me, and my blood boils with rage. I almost losteverythingbecause of her.
I turn to Callum and say, “Let her go.” I’m sure the look on my face is unnerving, but I don’t care. Sabel will pay for what she’s done.
Callum glances at Riven. Riven looks at me, and I nod. Riven must like what he sees when he looks into my rage-filled eyes, because he grins wildly. Damn, he’s sosexy. I didn’t miss when he called me “little nightmare” while trying to break the compulsion, and I’m about to show him exactly how much truth there is to the pet name.
Riven nods toward Callum in approval. Riven’s complete trust in me ignites a fire inside of my veins and …otherplaces. Callum raises an eyebrow, and the guy who looks oddly similar to Riven chuckles under his breath. The other one with the bleached-blonde hair and crazy baby blues is sitting cross-legged on the floor with his head in his hands, smiling broadly. I can’t wait to hear all about them once this is over. But first, there’s something that I need to do.
“On your count?” Callum asks gruffly. A grin pulls at the corner of my mouth, loving the idea.
Sabel eyes me, a skeptical look on her face. She stopped fighting Callum several minutes ago, likely realizing how useless it was. She’s leaning back against him now while his arms bind her tightly in restraint.
Sabel scoffs. “I’m not afraid of you,darling,” she mocks.
“We’ll see about that,” I say. I abandon her gaze to glance up at Callum.
“One,” I say. Sabel opens her mouth to say something, but she’s rendered speechless by Callum’s large hand. I grin in approval.
“Two,” I say. Sabel’s eyes widen with fear, and it awakens something inside of me that I didn’t even know was there.
“Three,” I say as Callum drops his arms, releasing Sabel from restraint. Sabel stands frozen for a second, unsure of her next move. The room falls silent, crouching in the corners like a viper ready to strike at the first movement of its prey.
“Run,” I say, nearly a whisper. Sabel runs, but not away from me. No, this bitch is running straightforme.
Even better.
Time halts as I stand frozen, waiting for Sabel to reach me. Only when she’s nearly inches from me, teeth bared and eyes nearly bulging from her skull, do I move. She launches herself at me like a damn kitten ready to pounce, and I side-step out of her wrath just in time. She throws her head back in laughter, the sound unnatural and deranged.
“Come here, you littlebitch,” Sabel snarls, lunging like she’s getting ready to pounce on me a second time.
This time, I let her have me. She wraps her arms around my body, taking me to the ground in force. We fall to the ground, her on top of me. I let my arms fall above my head and remain there, wanting her to think that she has the upper hand. I even steal a fraction of time to glance over at Riven and wink. My unexpectedgesture has the desired effect of turning his worried grimace into a pleased grin.
Sabel grabs my attention back by attempting to strangle me with her kitten-like claws. I reach my right arm alittlefurther out,justenough to grab hold of her shiny, red stiletto that’s laying on the floor. I pretend that her pathetic grip around my throat is doing something by making choking sounds and holding my breath. I claw at her hand with my left one to let her think she’s winning. Her grin stretches further, maniacal and monstrous. I fight the urge to mirror it. Just when my pretend gameshouldend in me losing consciousness, I grab the top of the stiletto and shove the long heel of it right into the side of her crone-like neck.
Sabel chokes and gags, showering me in her blood. I throw her off me, disgusted. She falls to the side, sputtering out the remainder of her pathetic soul. I refuse to look away, not until the last remaining flicker of life drains from her eyes. Riven runs to my side, pulling me to stand and wrapping me tightly in his strong embrace. He pulls back to study my face.
“That was …sexy as hell, darling.” Riven hums in approval, voice low and dark. My breathing hitches from the adrenaline of what I did, and from the way that his words make my insides burn with desire.
“Get a room, you two.” Riven’s look-alike chuckles, walking over and stopping down to admire my work.
“Sobeautifullybrutal,” Callum says, nearly a whisper.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” the blonde one grunts, hunching over and dry heaving. I can’t help but giggle at the unexpected sight of it.
