Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Raphael nodded in agreement. “We’re not out to disrupt what you have with him. In fact, it’s in our best interest to keep all your … interests safe.”
Aisha looked at me, eyebrows raised, as if to say, Are you really buying this?
“Sounds tempting,” I replied, watching them both closely. “But I also want assurances. Not just your words. I want something solid.”
“What do you need?” Rafe asked, his tone earnest.
“A guarantee. Something that proves this is legit.”
They exchanged a quick glance before Eryx responded. “Well, that’s easy. You get us.”
“Get you how?”
“However you need us,” Raphael replied smoothly.
“However you want us,” Eryx added with a slight smirk,
I glanced at Aisha again, who returned my look with a silent nod, giving her tacit approval. I turned back to them, my expression playful yet calculating. “And if I want two collared, obedient pets?”
Eryx’s eyes glinted with amusement, and Raphael’s lips twitched at the corners. “Not sure about obedient,” Eryx admitted, “but loyal, protective, unhinged, and at your beck and call. How does that sound?”
The proposal hung in the air, charged with the promise of danger and the thrill of control. It was an enticing offer—one that had more pros than cons. Control. Power. Chaos. All elements I thrived on, and they were offering it on a silver platter along with watching out for Sinclair and being in the know about plans for the Infernal Syndicate.
“Sounds like a deal to me,” I said, extending my hand to seal the pact. “But keep in mind, if you fuck me, I’ll fuck you harder.”
“As will I,” Eryx said, a wry smile forming on his lips as he took it.
I did the same to Rafe and asked, “What would you have done if I said no?” I asked curiously.
“Our long-term partnership was always contingent on you,” Rafe replied earnestly.
“So, you two wouldn’t have linked up?”
Eryx shook his head, his eyes serious. “We already did before this all came about. We had our own reasons for working together. If we hadn’t, we’d be trying to kill one another.”
“Shirtless?”
Eryx’s lips twitched, a hint of amusement breaking through his typically stern demeanor. “What exactly do you mean by that?”
“Never mind.” I waved him off. “So, how does this grand pact work?”
“Well, for starters, we’re going to put these masks back on and get out there to clear your way. Wait two minutes and then come out. Go around to the other side of this building, and you’ll see the path. A little way down will be someone you’re waiting for.”
Aisha glanced between us, her expression a mix of intrigue and concern. “Just like that?”
Rafe nodded. “Just like that.”
Eryx looked over at Juno. “Do we need to make sure she can’t and won’t share this conversation, or is she still loyal to your brother?”
Wow, he really had done his research. “She’d already be gone if my brothers thought she was an issue.”
“I won’t say anything,” Juno quickly supplied.
Eryx gave her a long, evaluating look, his gaze sharp enough to slice through the tense air. “Good. We’re all clear then.”
He and Rafe pulled their masks back over their faces, transforming once more into the enigmatic figures of Judicium. Before slipping out the door, Eryx turned to me and said, “We’ll see you soon.”
They vanished as quickly as they had appeared, leaving behind a palpable silence that left Aisha, Juno, and me staring at the sight of Kristy still hanging from the hook, her body occasionally twitching in an imitation of life.
Aisha let out a low whistle, breaking the silence. “Well, that was something.”
“Yeah,” I replied, my eyes still fixed on Kristy. “Something they clearly took time to plan.”
“Is she …?” Juno began to ask, motioning to Kristy.
“Her breathing is shallow, but she’s not dead yet.”
Aisha glanced at the door through which Eryx and Rafe had exited. “So, what now? We just follow the plan?”
“That’s the best course of action,” I confirmed, already moving toward the door, feeling a mix of adrenaline and apprehension. I didn’t trust them anywhere remotely enough to take all their pretty words at face value. Whatever they did or didn’t do within Judicium from here on out would clue me in on just how serious they were about this pact.
I pushed the door open, and they followed as I rounded the corner of the shed, the path forward unmistakably clear.
We moved in a tight formation, Aisha on my left, Juno on my right, each of us scanning our surroundings. The woods now felt quieter than a tomb, which only amplified the tension threading through my muscles. Every rustle, every distant snap of a twig, put me on high alert. I wasn’t keen on being jumped by someone hiding in the bushes. As we approached a gentle bend in the path, I spotted Liam, along with the remaining competitors—those who’d managed to survive the chaos thus far. No sign of Eryx or Rafe yet, which both intrigued and irritated me. I wondered how many steps ahead they were.