Page 193 of Huntress

Her heart slammed against her chest as she realized what this meant. She couldn’t keep herself safe outside of the barrier, which meant Saint wasn’t safe. He’d be killed by the hunters if they stayed, and caught by her father if they ran.

Helplessness and hopelessness stole over her. If she released Saint into the world without her, he stood a chance. She had to give it to him. Tears spilled over and rolled down her cheeks, and she doubled over in pain as sobs racked her body.

Elsie hit her knees and let herself wallow in the grief of her decision while desperately trying to keep her emotions to herself. She had to give up her mate, the only person in this world she trusted. Saint was the only man she wanted to belong to. Her comfort, her love, her best friend.

“I don’t want to,” she cried, glaring at the raven’s lifeless form. It was only a matter of time before more ravens were sent to find this one. Without his presence, she wouldn’t have known how close her father had come. She’d have left the compound with Saint, and for a while they’d have experienced happiness. Bliss, even. Until they realized that they’d fallen right into Charlamagne’s trap.

She’d have to be mean. Horrible even, or he’d never believe it. He’d never leave her side unless she hurt him. She’d have to cut him so deeply he’d never want to return. But first, she had to save him.

Lurching to her feet, Elsie felt a tearing in her stomach, the pain enough to make her see stars, but she ignored it, walking and breathing slowly until her vision cleared. Saint remained locked up while she sat around crying for herself, and she refused to leave him there to suffer a moment longer. Not when she was about to break his heart.

Getting closer to the barn, Elsie’s body recoiled as though she’d been doused in cold water. She heard the lash of Clairemont’s whip biting into the flesh of an unfortunate creature, and she just knew who it was.

Stepping over the threshold into that dark corridor, her eyes took a couple of seconds to adjust. Once they did, the seething rage that overtook her almost left Elsie blind.

Clairemont had put another collar on her mate. He’d tied her demon tight to the wall, unable even to struggle as the beastmaster tore skin from flesh.

Saint was slumped over in his hound form, eyes pressed closed, lips drawn back in a soundless snarl. He didn’t offer even a whimper, though his whole body shook with pain and exhaustion.

Elsie didn’t hesitate. She picked up one of the prods the beastmaster loved. Lifting it up, she swung with all her strength, metal coming down across the man’s back. Elsie breathed through the pain; that swing had definitely caused problems with her wound.

Clairemont slumped to the ground with a grunt. Twisting around to see her, his eyes went wide, and his mouth worked to spit out the right words to convince her to spare his worthless life.

“I warned you! I told you he would become disobedient!” Clairemont spoke loudly, perhaps hoping that someone outside would come to his aid. He held up an arm wrapped in bandages. “It bit me, and it killed someone. This beast is out of control!”

Elsie jabbed him with the prod, watching him writhe under the electric voltage coursing through his body.

“I warned you, too, Clairemont,” she said quietly. Saint’s eyes snapped open when he heard her voice. “This demon is mine! I told you that if you ever touched him again, you would answer to me. It’s only been two years, have you forgotten yourself already?”

“Your squad placed him in my care as you were unable to–”

She jabbed him again.

“Be grateful I don’t have access to my ethereal magic, or you’d already be in the hell dimension of my choosing,” Elsie snapped.

She wasn’t interested in listening to anything this disgusting piece of rat shit had to say. Swinging the prod once more, she brought it down on Clairemont’s face. He slumped to the ground. Casting around for something sharp, she found a dull ax. She hauled it to her shoulder with a grunt, then aimed carefully before bringing it down on first one of the beastmaster’s wrists, and then the other, making good on her threat to Marley.

Clairemont didn’t move as his life’s blood spilled on the filthy alleyway floor. Dead or unconscious, Elsie didn’t know or care. The only purpose Clairemont still held was found in his pockets. She dropped the ax and rummaged through them until she found the key to that fucking collar.

Elsie hobbled over to Saint, fumbling with the chains that pinned him to the wall while he pressed his nose to her stomach, making low grumbling noises about the state of her body.

The chains came loose, and her demon hit the ground hard, his legs failing to hold him up. “Hold on, I’ve got you.”

Searching for the keyhole was made difficult by all the black and gray fur matted together by his own blood. Elsie found it, then struggled with the slippery metal before forcing the key inside. The lock clicked, and he was free.

Saint sighed and changed into his human form, crumpled over but smiling. “I knew you’d come for me,” he said, exhaustion making his voice nearly inaudible. He leaned forward and carefully wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered frantically, pressing her face against his throat. “You weren’t there when I woke, so I came as soon as Marley told me where you were.”

“Mistress, I told you to stop accepting blame for things that aren’t your fault.” He guided her back far enough to let him look into her eyes. “Your squad did this, not you.”

“But I’m the one who made you come back here. I should have listened to you, we should have run. But it’s too late now.”

He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her so gently it broke her heart. He opened his end of the bond, pain and exhaustion coming through, but his love… Gods, the love Saint had for her had seeped into his soul. She put her hand over his, new tears spilling down her face.

The touch of his lips on hers was sweet and trusting, and it nearly broke her. A sob wrenched its way out of her throat, and he stopped. “Mistress?”

“Kiss me, Saint.” Elsie held on, pulling him back. If these were the last moments she’d spend with him as her mate, she wanted it to be something worth remembering.