Symond turned to Violette, his voice still low but insistent. “Is it permanent?”
She nodded. “This one is. But it’s not specific memories, so it’s easier on the brain.”
Symond’s expression shifted—focused, distant. Like a plan was taking root.
She stepped closer. “Symond.”
He didn’t look at her.
“Symond,” she said again, sharper. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop.”
That made him glance her way. His face was unreadable, but his eyes were spinning with questions, withwant. Not the kind she liked to see.
“I’m just curious,” he said coolly. He just stared at the empty chair, now devoid of blood and pain and the man’s memories.
“Whatever it is you want to forget—it won’t help.”
Symond’s lips twitched. Not a smile. Just the ghost of one. “Thanks for the concern.”
And he walked out.
Chapter 36
Elora
"Elora?" Rell's voice was a soft whisper fluttering on her closed eyelids. She opened one eye to find the disheveled mercenary leaning over her, his hand resting on her shoulder. “You were slashing the air in your sleep. ‘Bout clawed my arm off.” He had a shallow cut beading with blood on his forearm.
Elora instantly sat up, checking her claws to find fresh blood.Don’t lick it off.“I’m… I’m sorry.” Rell began to tell her it was alright, but she shocked herself anyway, letting the claws, fangs and beast characteristics shrivel back to where ever they lived dormant inside her.
“You didn’t have to—”
“I did,” she stammered, still winded from the nightmare. The corpses. Rell’s corpse shredded to ribbons. She did that. She couldn’t stop herself, nor did she want to. Rell told her the previous night that she had been shifted for too long and now she had to agree with him. The beast was trying to take over not just her body, but her mind.
Rell sat back on his heels, giving her space. "Well you’re going to need those claws, we’re hitting the camp."
Elora's head snapped up. "What?"
"The Snatcher camp." His voice carried an edge she hadn't heard before—an undertone of simmering fury, well controlled but needing release. "The one that bastard mentioned before I cracked his skull. Half a dozen, maybe more, camped south near the ridge."
"Rell—"
"They're selling girls to Empire buyers." The words came out flat, emotionless, like if he added too much conviction to his words then he’d reach his boiling point sooner than he’d like. "Young ones.Specialones for their top clients."
Elora's stomach lurched. She thought of the cage, of being nothing more than merchandise to be bought and sold. "I know what they do. But going after them is a detour from our mission—"
"It's a small detour," Rell interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. "And between the two of us, a handful of Snatchers shouldn't be a problem."
She wanted to agree. Part of hercravedit—the chance for revenge, for justice, for making them pay for every child they'd taken. But the larger part, the part that had woken from nightmares of losing control, recoiled.
"I can't," she whispered.
Rell frowned. "Can't what?"
"I can't shift. Not again. Not so soon."
"Why not?"
She looked away, shame burning in her chest. "Because I'm scared I won't come back."
