Raiden grunts, as much of a confirmation as we’re going to get out of him right now. With Amara’s attention rapt on the screen, she misses the flash of blood red scales that crawl up Raiden’s arms, the reptilian slits his eyes have become. Jaw clenched hard enough to shatter teeth, he fights the shift with every fiber of his being, body vibrating with pent-up demonic energy that desperately needs an outlet.
Either Raiden blows off some steam, and soon, or he’s not going to have a choice in the matter.
Amara feeds off of the murderous energy filling the room, virtually killing things with single-minded determination. A tiny growl slips past her lips that I don’t think she even notices as she defeats the troll blocking her path in a way that makes me pause, a massive skill jump from the last time we played. She feigns direction and slides between his legs at the last second to slice the monster’s achilles tendons, kicks the back of his knee, and sends him sprawling face first into the dirt. From there, it’s embarrassingly easy for her to unload her entire clip into the back of the giant’s head.
Once she’s finished, Amara’s voice is vehement, if not a little broken. “I’m sick of always reacting to whatever he throws at us.” Setting down the controller, she looks over my shoulder to Raiden and Kodiak. “Stone and I will keep working through the files while you two pay Jack a visit. Get a nut shot in for me while you’re there.”
Chapter 15
Raiden
––––––––
Half of the city knowsabout the sex dungeon underCarina’s, but very few are aware of the torture chamber hidden beneath it. My sister’s entire playground lies beneath her business, for whatever mood strikes her fancy, but that doesn’t mean I ever enjoy trekking through the cum-stained hallways of the exclusive club to gain access to our prisoners.
I can’t argue that she was right, though. We can keep anyone down here for as long as we want, and no one will ever be able to find them. The sex club is a good front if anyone thought we were hiding something under the store, and this far underground, buried beneath a metric fuck-ton of scents, there isn’t a shifter on earth that would be able to pick up on anyone imprisoned on the level below.
The entrance is perfectly hidden as well, behind the wall in one of the fetish chambers. Better, it can only be unlocked from theotherside, requiring the abilities of someone that can wield smoke like a corporeal entity or Kodiak’s metal manipulation that already knows where everything is laid out to input the access code to open the door without triggering the alarm.
Kodiak and I make our way down the stone steps, the wall sliding shut behind us with the faint sound of bolts of various materials hissing back into place as an extra precaution. It’s pitch black until the first bend as the staircase spirals deeper into the earth, and I flip the switch on our way past, a series of blinding lights blazing to life. After being trapped in the darkness for so long, the harsh lighting is just one more thing to throw our prisoners off balance.
“Anyone else down here?” Kodi purrs, not even bothering to pretend to be in control right now.
Shirtless, his wings are tucked tightly against his back, obsidian scales in haphazard patches across his skin. The second we set foot outside of the castle, away from Amara, he obliterated several of the trees lining the driveway. Only the possibility of answers got him to shift back enough to follow me down here, but he’s holding on by a thread, and I’d be shocked if we made it through this interrogation without him using Jack as a chew toy.
“Nope. Just you, me,” I draw it out as we get closer, stopping outside of his cell door, “and the traitor.”
Jack’s wrists are cuffed above his head, hanging from the ceiling. His feet are a few inches from the ground; enough to inspire the urge to extend his toes to try and lessen the pressure on his arms, but just out of reach. Stripped naked and left on display, I have to appreciate the mind games Carina embraces.
Make him feel as vulnerable as my mate did. Out of control. Exposed. Afraid.
My low growl rouses him and, with a groan, Jack lifts his chin off of his chest, blearily blinking our way. His brown hair hangs in greasy tendrils, matted to his head in patches with dried blood, and his umber eyes are glazed over. Faded bruises litter his body in sickly greens and yellows, nearly healed. He’s only spent a little over a week here, not nearly enough to counter his natural accelerated healing, so if he’s still in this state, Carina must have swung by yesterday to work out some of her demons despite her busy schedule.
I need to check in with her. If everything going on with Amara is bringing up those memories for Carina, she needs to talk tosomeone, even if she refuses to talk to me.
“Long time no see.” Kodiak casually strides inside with his hands in his pockets. Using his foot, he nudges Jack, watching him swing, and relishing his pained grunt as the iron cuffs scrape at the raw flesh of his mangled wrists.
