She nodded, stuttering with nervousness. “I-I work for Brimstone Industries. Y-Your company. I...I’ve seen pictures of you and...and I’ve always imagined meeting you.”
“Is that so?” He smiled wider, his fingers tracing the side of her face and tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “Why?”
“Why?” She gulped. “Because...because you’re so handsome and...”
“You thought you could be the first to entice me into your bed?”
Wait...the first?
I rubbed my temples, trying to claw through the stress. Did that mean he was a virgin? The deeper into this world I fell, the worse my questions became.
Why was he so black-hearted that he could dispatch a stranger with his bare hands?
Why did he have a panther as a pet and wore all black as if he was a ruling underworld emperor?
Why had no one come to arrest him forkillingsomeone?
“No, I mean...” The girl struggled for something, someone, to help her. No one made eye contact with her. No one dared. Including me.
“What do you mean then?” Lucien asked quietly. “Perhaps you’re not here to sleep with me but to end me instead?”
“No. I would never. I—”
A battle-cry cut her off as another woman launched to her feet, yanked a dagger from a sheath beneath her skirt, and flung herself at him.
The blade twinkled in the lowlights.
Lucien rose effortlessly to his feet and sidestepped, just as she slashed her knife through the air where he’d been.
Smirking, he backed up a little. “Impatient to begin I see.”
“I’ll fucking gut you, you psychotic asshole!” She charged at him, her arm sweeping upward to plunge into his chest.
And he didn’t move.
He stood his ground. He held her eyes and I swear his chest puffed up as if begging the dagger to sink deep—
But the panther pounced on her, knocking her sideways and pinning her flat on her back.
She screeched as she tried to stab the beast, but was too late.
Its giant jaws latched around her throat and with a savage shake, it ended her with a wet crunch and a sickening gurgle.
The women who’d chosen to stay all flattened themselves over their knees, no longer submitting but committing full self-flagellation by bowing for their lives.
Nausea drenched me in ice-cold sweat.
I glanced behind me to the exit.
I begged my legs to stand and run.
If only I wasn’t so pathetic.
If only I’d fled with the other women who’d come here by accident.
Then I wouldn’t have to see. Wouldn’t have to be at this monster’s mercy.
Get up, Rook. Go. Before it’s too late!
