He’d discovered Jennifer’s ability to forge things one day when she bragged about being able to replicate her father’s handwriting. There had been a few times over the years she’d written goodbye letters from men Amos needed to die. Having letters claiming the men had run off with a mistress or were traveling to a different kingdom helped explain away their disappearances.
All she needed was something handwritten of theirs and their signature, and it was easy enough for Amos or Rainer to sneak into people’s homes to steal correspondences. Their royal glamour often came in handy.
Amos planned to broach the subject with the other leaders of the Hydra. Jennifer had helped him without question, and she hated the highborns as much as anyone else.
It would be easier to tell her than to have her glaring at him with her hands propped on her hips like she was now.
“Soon,” he promised, hoping it wasn’t a lie.
Merrick lay on the ground in the very spot where Amos’ father used to beat him until he could barely stand. Merrick’s hands and feet were hog-tied together, and the gag in his mouth bit into the corners of his lips.
Amos, Rainer, Sariah, Ruth, and Marcus waited for the man to come to.
“Can I kick him again?” Sariah asked. “It might work this time.”
“How much of the tonic did you put on the cloth?” Ruth asked her, leaning over Merrick’s body.
“I just dumped the bottle upside down on the cloth, then turned it right side up really fast.” Sariah shrugged. “He’s big, and I thought it would take more.”
Merrick’s head rolled slightly with a pained groan. Amos crouched down near the man’s head and slapped his cheek a few times. “Rise and shine, you piece of shit.”
The man’s eyes fluttered open, and the group gave him a minute to come to. They all wanted him fully awake for what they had planned.
Once the fuzz of the tonic wore off, Merrick’s eyes widened and he jerked away from Amos, thrashing around like a fish out of water.
“Untie him and secure his arms and legs,” Amos instructed. “I want him to fight you so he can feel what it’s like to lose.” He grinned.
Sure enough, the large man tried to get free once the ropes were off, but they’d prepared for this.
Amos picked up a large bag with their swords and handed them out. “Who wants to go first?”
“I will,” Marcus said, and Amos stood by the leg Marcus held and grabbed Merrick’s ankle to hold the limb in place. Raising his sword, Marcus slammed it through Merrick’s thigh and into the ground to pin him down.
Merrick screamed and jerked, begging them to let him go. Amos went to each limb, holding it so they could stake him to the ground.
Ruth lifted her booted foot and slammed it into Marcus’ chest. “You took my mother,” she snarled, “and you almost broke my sister.”
The man’s eyes widened, and he shook his head, trying to speak around the gag. At the mention of Clover, Amos’ hand twitched, wishing he could rip Merrick’s throat out for the pain he’d caused her.
Ruth took out her dagger and stabbed it through Merrick’s dick. When he screamed, Sariah kicked him in the jaw. “Shut the fuck up.”
Marcus leaned over Merrick’s face. “You took my wife from me. You raped and killed her while my little girl watched.” Merrick cried, his snot mixed with the dirt from Sariah’s boot.
Marcus felt the ribs over Merrick’s heart and positioned his dagger. “Tell Orcus hello for me.” With that, he shoved the blade through the ribs, and they all watched the life drain from Merrick’s eyes.
Rainer, Sariah, and Amos stepped away to give the Ambroses privacy. A few minutes later, Ruth appeared at their side. “I think we need to cut him up and carry him in a bag to the den’s entrance. He’s too big to carry whole.”
There was a den entrance hidden away at the base of the mountains just outside of the capital. Some people knew of it, but anyone stupid enough to venture there never returned.
Amos nodded his agreement. “There’s something I need from him first.”
15
TWENTY YEARS OLD
Clover climbed to her feet, dusting the snow off her frozen hands with a groan.They’ll never thaw out,she thought grumpily. Her breath came out in plumes of fog, dissolving into the cold night air. She’d gotten used to training in the cold by now, but that didn’t mean she liked it.
A branch snapped, and she spun around, relaxing when she saw Eddy scurrying toward her. “Hey, little guy,” she cooed and scooped him into her arms. “Did you have fun?”
