Page 44 of Beast

The hags behind Torin stare through the tablet screen, theirdark eyes glittering as though they can see through me. Torin turns to the oneon the left. He lifts a brow.

“He will do as he says. He believes this will satisfy thatdark place in his soul. It thirsts for blood. He believes the twins tooksomething from him,” the hag says.

I never mentioned to the hags why I’m willing to help Torin.I wish Torin hadn’t told them. I don’t like them knowing something so personal.It’s smart to keep as much distance as possible, but there’s no reason not tospeak now. “They killed my brother.”

The hag on the right giggles. It’s a terrible sound. “Yes,you’re a smart one to have figured that out. So smart.”

I have the distinct impression I’m being taunted. “What doyou know, hag?”

Torin reaches around and slaps the female. Her head snapsback with a vicious crack. A thin line of blood runs down her chin, but there’sa smile on her face. Her sister gets to her knees and rubs her head on theking’s lap. I’m nauseated at the sight.

“Don’t mind them,” Torin says, dismissing the hags. “They’reuseful, but they enjoy causing chaos. We have excellent intelligence that itwas the warrior half of the twins who slaughtered your brother. Your brotherwas a threat to them somehow. I had a spy there. They killed her as well.”

The hag with blood on her mouth leans in. “Our sister.”

The other smiles a vicious grin that shows shiny teeth. Shelooks vaguely reptilian. “The twins will pay, and so will their bitch. Theythink we don’t see. We see everything.”

“Then you saw how my brother died.” I need to know.

“Oh, yes, dear,” the hag on the left says with her hollowlaugh. “We saw the it. Such a messy thing when a vampire dies.”

My fists clench, and I vow to kill Beckett Finn slowly. IfKinsey exploded, then the bastard caught his heart. It’s the only time avampire explodes. It’s said to be a horrific, barbaric death, and one notfitting my brother. Yes, the twins will pay, and their bitch and their bastardcousin. “I’ll get you their heads.”

“And I’ll reward you,” Torin says in a soothing voice. “Allof the Seelie Fae will bless your name. Trade will flow through our people.You’ll be a hero, Chalen Palgrave. Now, is there any way I can help? Did theogre do its job?”

The ogre was a gift from the king. Apparently Torin madedeals with certain factions in the Unseelie plane. “Currently the renegades areon the Refugee plane in the forests. Those forests are vast, Your Highness. Ifyou could, perhaps, spare a search party? My mercenaries will have troubletracking them.”

“I have a few friends who might be willing to help. Theyaren’t really friends, of course. They’re stinking Unseelie, but they’ll doanything for gold. Tell your mercenaries to expect a group of goblins. They canbe quite devious. And, Chalen…”

“Yes?”

“I don’t expect to see my friends again. Do you understand?”

I’ll have to tell Roan to kill the goblins when the missionis done. Of course, perhaps the goblins could kill Roan. I’ll have to think onit. Treachery is a difficult business. “Absolutely, Your Highness.”

When the tablet blinks off, I lie back down in my bed, mydreams filled with blood.

ChapterSeventeen

Kaja

“Dante, get off the poor girl.” Meg stands over us,her eyes rolling as she looks at Dante.

I smile up at her. It is easy since Meg is my friend. Myfirst friend.

“I do not mind.” I like how Dante lays his head in my lap. Ilet my hand drift down to rub his scalp. The clothing I wear feels odd, but heassures me I need it. He gave me some of his clothing. Like magic it became askirt and shirt for me to wear, and Dante’s own clothing grew, creating more sohe lost nothing by giving to me.

His eyes drift closed. “That’s nice, Kaj. As for you, Meg,don’t you have something to do?”

Meg’s hands are on her hips. “Well, I thought the point ofthis exercise was to flee and attempt to survive. You’re the one who’s turningit into a honeymoon.”

I am mightily confused. “Why does the moon need to besweetened?”

Meg gives up and sits down beside me with a laugh. “I don’tguess the translators are completely up on all the Earth lingo. You see, on theplane I was born on, when a couple gets married, they take a trip together.It’s time for the couple to celebrate their union.”

Dante yawns, his arms stretching and then wrapping around myhips. “We call it bonding time. It’s a special and sacred time between avampire and his consort. It shouldn’t be interrupted by a harpy.”

Meg’s eyes narrow. “Harpy? Have you forgotten that we weretaken prisoner yesterday? I am not overreacting. Torin is making his move.”