by J. N. Colon
“Sometimes.” His dad would let him have the belt when he had the urge to just watch.
They were both sick bastards. Shame weighed me down, and I couldn’t bear even Viktor’s reflection anymore. “You probably think I should have stopped it long before fifteen, ran away, or called the cops.” I shook my head, fighting back the tears. “I tried to run, but they dragged me back every time.” And then I couldn’t run because of my sister. “Calvin was best friends with the sheriff anyway. No cop would have believed me.”
“Sloane.” Viktor’s hand shook as it lightly lay on my shoulder, turning me toward him. “Did either of them hurt you like…did they touch you?”
Better me than Jilly.
My silence was answer enough. Viktor cursed and released my shoulder. The fury radiating off of him had my knees weakening. “I knew you’d been hurt, but I didn’t think—”
“Maybe I deserved it,” I muttered.
Viktor flinched. “What?”
“I’m a disgusting mutt. I mean, even my parents tossed me aside.”
He drew my chin up with his finger and forced me to look at him. “No one deserves that, Sloane. You didn’t deserve anything that happened to you. You’re a good person.”
If only he knew I was here to kill him.
“Tell me you believe that.” When I didn’t say a word, he trapped my face between his hands. “Sloane.”
I could no longer breathe. I’d never told anyone what happened. Not even Jilly knew what went on in that shed. Saying it out loud took some of its hold away, but it also made it real. I felt exposed and too vulnerable in front of Viktor.
A tidal wave of emotion loomed on the horizon, heading straight for me while I had no protection. I wanted my armor back. I scrambled for it, but it couldn’t be found. Without it, there would be nothing to shield the raw pain tearing at my soul.
The first sob slipped out. Hot tears slid down my cheeks over Viktor’s hands. Another sob. And then another and I was finally breaking down.
Viktor cursed again and drew me to him, wrapping his arms tightly around me. I wept into his bare chest, painful, choking cries. Agony poured out, all the shame and terror I’d felt. All the times I forced my weaknesses away, told myself I had to survive, took the pain to protect my sister—it fell at my feet.
The unseelie rubbed my back while I buried myself in his familiar scent. He didn’t speak or hand me platitudes. He was just there, letting me release the darkness poisoning me. When my knees buckled, Viktor set me on the bathroom counter. My limbs curled around him, and he embraced me tightly.
No one had ever held me, not while I cried or any other time I needed comfort. Never. Until now.
After a few minutes, my sobs finally quieted. I hated to leave Viktor’s warmth, but the real world began to peek through the haze. Heat crawled up my throat. How did I let him strip me so bare? What if he told someone?
When my gaze found his, I knew he’d never tell a soul. He’d take my secrets to the grave.
Viktor gently dried the remaining dampness from my face with his fingers, and then grabbed his t-shirt off the counter and pulled it over my head. “You’re staying here tonight.”
Like I wanted to take my chances out there alone after I just cried for the first time in front of someone in years.
“And tomorrow, I’m going to make sure Faolan and everyone else knows they will suffer my worst wrath if one single fucking hair on your head is harmed again.”
A shiver spilled down my spine at his words. The unseelie prince’s threat wasn’t an idle one.
He released a ragged breath and forced his muscles to loosen. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think Faolan would go after you so soon. I didn’t anticipate—”
“I’m fine, Viktor.” I brushed tangled strands of hair from my face. “I’m just glad you took the goblin cuff off at the club.” Otherwise, I wouldn’t be in his room…
His shoulders tightened again. “I’ll have to talk to Balfour about getting that off you.”
“That would be great.”
Viktor stared at me for a few long, heavy moments as a line developed between his brows. “You’re a lot stronger than I thought.”
I shrugged. “I am a seelie-dae.”
“I’m not talking about your powers.” He gently clutched my chin to force my eyes to his. “Others would have crumbled if faced with the same horrors as you. Not many would have the strength to endure it and come out still fighting.”
Viktor didn’t even know the half of it.
I pulled his fingers from my chin and looked away. He also didn’t know the only thing keeping me going was my sister. And her life depended on his death.
Chapter 26
I stepped out of Viktor’s cell after him, avoiding eye contact like I’d done all morning. Last night still had my nerve endings raw and exposed. The unseelie prince had seen a side of me no one had. He’d held me, soothed the deep aches inside, and I was freaking out about it.
Sleeping in his bed didn’t make things any less awkward. He carried me to it last night for shit’s sake. Asking him to stay had been on the tip of my tongue, but the words never came. Instead, he slept on the couch. I felt him check on me a few times, though.
I toyed with the goblin cuff on my wrist. He had to put it back on before we went to the cafeteria. Hopefully, he could convince the warden to take it off for good.
“A guard should be here any minute.” Viktor leaned against the wall, shoving his hands in his pockets.
I nodded and shifted on my feet before taking a place on the wall next to him. We weren’t touching, but we were close enough that his body heat slid along my side. I could only imagine what Kimber and Barlow would think about me showing up in one of Viktor’s shirts again.
My chest tightened at the thought of my cellmate. I couldn’t believe she invited Faolan into our room after what he did to me. Had he used magic on her? Tricked her?
“Are you really going to ignore me all morning, Sloane?” Viktor’s husky voice broke through my thoughts.
I finally turned to him, swallowing hard as that unsettling icy stare bored into me. “I’m not ignoring you. I’m just tired,” I lied.
He scoffed, not believing me for a second. “Don’t be embarrassed about last night.”
Heat instantly crawled up my throat and into my cheeks. Damn him. Why did he have to go there? “I’m not,” I snapped. “I shouldn’t have even told you. Pretend I didn’t.”
Warm fingers curled around my hand. “That’s not something I can forget. And I’m glad you told me. You needed to get it out. Have you ever told anyone?”
I shook my head and fiddled with the hem of the t-shirt. “Who would I tell? People I trust are few and far between—if any exist at all.”
A beat of silence passed between us during which Viktor moved closer. “But you trust me?”
Footsteps suddenly echoed down the hall. “I guess this is why you never found me last night.”
My head swiveled to see Tristan marching toward us with Officer Torrance following behind. I pried my hand out of Viktor’s and inched away. Shit. I’d forgotten all about the seelie. I shouldn’t have gotten drunk and then thrown myself at him. I’d only done it to irritate Viktor.
“Tristan, it’s not what you think.” I needed to come clean and admit I wasn’t interested in him that way. It wasn’t fair to lead him on.
The guard smirked as he allowed the seelie to stop in front of us. Apparently, Officer Torrance enjoyed the drama.
When Tristan noticed me wearing Viktor’s shirt, his hands curled by his sides. “Tell me then, Sloane, what is going on between you two? I thought we had something or at least starting to.”
“Viktor and I are just friends.” I stumbled over the words. There was no way in hell just friends could ever describe our relationship. Enemies, frienemies, partners-in-crime, or maybe lust buddies were more accurate.
A barking laugh exploded from Viktor. “Yeah, right.” He moved from the wal
l, angling his body between Tristan and me. “Come on, seelie, you can’t handle Sloane. You’re not dark enough or man enough to match her.”
I sputtered trying to gather my thoughts. What the hell was he thinking?
Viktor leaned toward the light Fae. “She might have danced with you last night, but we all know it was me she was thinking about.”
“You’re so full of shit, Viktor.” I gripped his arm to pull him back.
Tristan lifted his palms. “Whatever. I’m done waiting around for you, Sloane. I’m sure you two will be really happy together—until Viktor finds someone else to screw over.” He turned and marched off without another word.
Officer Torrance chuckled as he followed Tristan.
I turned to Viktor, my molars grinding. “Why did you do that?”
He scoffed. “Come on, Sloane. I know you aren’t really interested in the seelie. I did you a favor. He was going to keep following you around like a little puppy dog.” He slipped his fingers through mine, yanking me toward him. “And I meant what I said. He’s too nice. He’s not the right guy for you.”
“Who is the right guy then, Vik?” My heart knocked against my ribs from the unrelenting look Viktor suddenly trapped me in.
The languid brush of his body against mine sent tendrils of heat through my belly. My blood began to boil. He didn’t speak out loud, but I could almost hear him think the words I’m the right guy.
Someone cleared his throat. “Are you two ready for breakfast?”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to thank Officer Garrett or punch him for interrupting.
A feral grin curled Viktor’s mouth. “I’m starving.”
I gulped, not sure if the unseelie prince was referring to food or something else more primal.
Kimber bit her trembling lip when she spotted me walking into the classroom. My gaze quickly averted as I darted to the wall of chipped maple cabinets and grabbed my books on Fae history. The urge to talk to my cellmate had abruptly diminished. Why couldn’t I have a cell by myself? It would probably be best for everyone.
When I folded into my desk, the succubus leaned forward. “I am so sorry, Sloane.” Her quivering voice pulled at my thin heartstrings. “I should never have brought Faolan to our cell. I shouldn’t have trusted him.”
I whirled around, gritting my teeth to try and tamp down the anger burning in my veins. “Why did you? You know what he did to me. I would have died if not for—” I would have died if Viktor hadn’t given me his blood.
Tears watered in her eyes. “I was hungry and restless. When Faolan walked by and offered, I couldn’t resist.” She rubbed the side of her head where he’d hit her. “That’s no excuse, though. I should have known that creep was up to something.” She swiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Did he hurt you?” She searched for any visible injuries.
“Not really.” I’d gotten away by shadowmelding into Viktor’s shower. The shower part I didn’t mind too much.
“I’m glad.” She tugged on her rose gold locks. “If anything would have happened…” A sniffle slipped out.
I staunched the growl crawling up my throat. Kimber was a succubus, and she had this hunger I didn’t understand. Maybe she didn’t always think clearly, but she’d been my friend from day one. I would have endured a lot more torment without her, and I never would have gotten into that first fight either. The image of her unconscious body lying haphazardly on her bed haunted my dreams last night.
A sigh spilled out as my muscles loosened. “How’s your head?”
She shrugged. “It’s fine. It’s my heart that hurts. You’re the best cellmate a girl could have, and I don’t want to lose you.”
“You’re not going to lose me, Kim.” I gave her a small smile. “Besides, no one else is willing to room with a seelie-dae.”
“Really? You forgive me?”
How could I turn down those big, sad eyes? She was worse than Puss in Boots in Shrek. “I guess. Just be more careful with who you bring back to the cell.”
She smiled through her tears. “Totally, girlfriend, or maybe I’ll just try to eat out.”
“That would be nice sometimes.”
“So, where did you sleep last night?” she asked, leaning her cheek in her hand, almost back to her usual sunny succubus self.
My gaze unconsciously flicked down to the shirt I wore. Those damn initials were stitched on the sleeve.
Kimber’s fingers splayed over her mouth. “No way. You stayed with Viktor last night? Again?”
A scoff echoed from across the room. Helena perched at her desk with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. “That’s bullshit.” Gemma sat beside her, making an origami rose out of a piece of paper with her air magic. Had she grown bored of her friend’s obsession with the unseelie prince?
I flipped Helena off. “Mind your own business.”
My hair began to blow as she pulled on her magic.
“Helena, none of that.” Officer Laveen marched into the door, his slanted eyes narrowing on the unseelie girl. “You know I don’t allow magic during study time unless it’s for a good reason. And irritating people is not a good reason.”
I snorted on a laugh watching Helena frown at the elf.
He shut the door and trudged to the desk in front of the chalkboard. A couple of the students shot him appreciative glances as he bent over to place his bag on the floor. The navy and silver uniform fit his lean body well. “Everyone, get started on your work.”
My shoulders slumped. Where was Viktor—not that I was looking forward to seeing the unseelie prince or anything? Faolan hadn’t shown up either.
I opened the book on Fae history and found my place from the other day. Bog sprites, small creatures the size of a tree frog, liked to sling fowl mud at travelers. I’d like to toss Helena into a bog infested with those sprites.
I flipped to the next section, and the smirk on my face disintegrated as I read the heading entitled Seelie-Dae. I hadn’t seen one word pertaining to my race in these books until now. Clearly, we were a blight on the Fae world, maybe only a few notches above wraiths. When I began to plow through the material, dread knotted in my chest.
The union between daemons and seelies were frowned upon because, for some reason, any resulting offspring didn’t adhere to the same rules as other combinations of Fae races. Creating a faeling with no power was the best-case scenario. Having a seelie-dae was the worst.
In the past, we were used as assassins because of our untraceable magic. In the past my ass. Queen Isadora wrapped her noose around me the moment those F.I.C. officers called her.
Seelie-daes had the potential to be very powerful because of the seelie daemon mix. Some had elemental magic while others possessed daemon powers.
I had a little bit of both.
Icicles clogged my lungs as I moved onto the next section. Young seelie-daes were often sold on the black market and trained as mercenaries or assassins. Had my parents sold me? How did I end up in the human world with my powers bound?
Maybe my fairy godmother rescued me.
A bitter laugh slipped out. I’d just traded one hell for another, though.
My race was nothing but a weapon. The queen was using me to kill her brother, and even Viktor had me in his holster, ready to pull the trigger on Faolan.
At least I hadn’t been born from a royal seelie. According to this book, I would have been immediately exterminated—like some kind of disease-carrying vermin. Then the royal seelie parent would be ousted or even hunted.
What a crock of shit. The Fae used us, but if we were too powerful to control, they’d murder us.
“Viktor will drop you as soon as he’s done scratching whatever demented itch he has.” Helena loomed over my desk, yanking me from the dark thoughts beginning to descend. “He’s not the staying type.”
“I’m not worried about Viktor.” We weren’t even together, and I had no intention of going there with the unseelie prince.
A voice in the back of my head
laughed at me.
“You should be worried.” Helena squatted, splaying her hands on my desk. “Without Viktor’s protection, the Fae here will tear you apart. Except for a few misfits like Kimber, no one likes seelie-daes.”
Their disdain was obvious. I didn’t need the psycho queen to tell me.
“Go screw yourself, Helena.” The succubus behind me flipped her off. “No one likes you, and it isn’t because of your race. It’s your horrendous personality.”
Helena sneered at Kimber. “No one was talking to you, pathetic slut.”
My blood suddenly sparked, my body jolted, and a flush spread over my skin. This kind of reaction could only mean one thing—the unseelie prince had just entered the room.
Helena turned back to me without missing a beat. “Viktor is only playing some twisted game. He hates seelie-daes more than anyone. As soon as he’s done with playtime, he’ll probably be the first one in line to torture you.”
“Since you know me so well, Helena, please tell me what I’m going to do after hearing you talk shit to Sloane.” Viktor had materialized behind the unseelie girl without making a sound.
Every drop of color drained from her face as she slowly stood. “I, um, didn’t mean—”
“Harass Sloane again, and I’ll remind you of what I do to enemies.” His icy voice sent shivers down my spine even though it wasn’t directed at me.
Helena nodded and scurried back to her desk. Gemma stared, her mouth gaping wide.
Viktor’s gaze landed on the succubus behind me. “Mind if I sit there? You can have that desk.” He jerked his chin toward the left.
My brows lowered. “You can’t just kick my cellmate out of her seat.”
“I’m not. I asked.” He gave a casual shrug.
Kimber jumped to her feet so fast you’d think she’d spotted a tasty snack. “Of course. No problem.” She shot me a dramatic wink, setting my face on fire.
I glared at Viktor as he folded into the seat behind me. “Where have you been?”
The edges of his lips twitched. “Miss me?”
