Page 85 of Beast

He flips the switch, and a howl sticks in my throat. Thepain is even worse, but Dante’s voice is there, comforting me, sharing thepain. I feel him. He is close, so close. The connection between us is a strongrope tethering me to the plane. I feel my heart beating too fast, but then itslows, as Dante takes the pain for me.

Play dead, Kaj. Hurry. I can’t hold out much longer.

I drop to my belly and let my eyes go blurry and unfocused.The pain wracks through me, but it is less now. No matter how bad it gets, Iwill not move because Dante needs me. I think about closing the connectionagain but feel a low growl roll across my skin. It does not come from me. Dantesent it. It is a warning to obey him.

If I do not, I will get the worst spanking. I stopbreathing.

It is time.

The machine flicks off. It takes every bit of myconcentration to keep still.

“Gods be damned, Doc. I didn’t want the bitch dead.”Palgrave still holds his knife. I can hear it humming.

“Bah, she’s better dead. None of my techs would have beenwilling to get close to her. She’s too dangerous. Now I can perform an autopsyand get everything I need.”

There is a loud crash, and I open my eyes.

He is here.

Dante falls from a hole in the ceiling. He lands on his feetand stares at me. I can feel his rage. He understood that I was in a cage, butseeing it seems to have opened something volcanic inside him. His eyes becomeorbs of pure forest green, and his claws are far longer than before.

“What the fuck?” Palgrave quickly yells for security.

“Did you think you could take my consort and I would let hergo?” Dante’s voice is deep, his words clipped.

“I thought you would run around trying to figure out whythat fucker Torin had your consort.”

Another body falls from the ceiling. I immediately recognizehim as the mercenary who took Dante and Meg. He is out of breath, but he has aweapon in his hand. It is reassuring since he seems to be working with Dante,not against him.

“I’m afraid I have a new friend, Palgrave.” Dante is not outof breath. He stands there, a solid figure casting his shadow across the room.Roan moves to stand next to him. Neither one seems to notice White Coat behindthem. He is moving quietly, the needle in his hand.

I bark a warning, but Dante is already in motion. He movesfluidly, his body twisting around. Before White Coat can raise the needle,Dante’s hand is around his throat and he squeezes. His claws sink into WhiteCoat’s throat. Dante picks the smaller man up. White Coat’s feet dangle,kicking out uselessly. After a moment, the man stops moving, his face blue, histhroat a mottled mess of blood and tissue.

Dante tosses him away like a rag doll.

“Whatever you’re on, Dellacourt, it’s some good shit.” Roanwatches him with obvious appreciation.

Dante ignores him, preferring to look at Palgrave, who nowhas the backing of three security guards. Each holds a sonic Taser unit in hishand.

“I really should have come more prepared,” Roan says. “Ifeel naked without my kit, but I can still take out the two on the left.”

“Let my Kaj out, and she can take them all.” Dante’s lipsquirk up as he looks over at me. I can feel his love and desire. “Kaja, whenyou get out, I want you to know that I release you from that whole no killingthings that talk back. You can kill any asshole in this place. Except thatone.” He points to Palgrave. “He’s mine.”

“Like you could take me,” Palgrave preens. “You’ve neverbeen a fighter, Dellacourt. You might be able to take a lightweight like DoctorWilson there, but I doubt you can take a royal.”

“I will kill you. You touched her. I would kill you if youhad touched her with affection. I’ll take you apart for touching her inviolence.”

Roan inches toward the cage. I prepare to pounce.

One of the security guards aims and fires his Taser unit atDante. The air crackles with electricity, but Dante ducks, his body bendingbackward with grace and precision. The dart bites into the wall behind him.Dante straightens up, and his hand is on the tether that connects the dart tothe hand unit. He jerks the line back, and the guard moves with it. Before hecan think to scream, the guard stands before Dante. With a quick flick ofDante’s fist, the other man falls.

“Not so smart, Palgrave, but then I should have expectedthat from you. None of us killed your brother, you know.” Dante steps over theunconscious body of the guard.

“I know one of your cousins did the deed,” Palgrave spits.“I’m not stupid.”

Roan is close, so close. Dante seems to be trying to keepPalgrave’s attention on him. “Torin had a hag in the village. We believe she’sthe one who called your brother to the Refugee plane.”

“You’re lying. And it doesn’t matter. I know what I know.”Palgrave strengthens his stance and holds the blade tightly.