More and more often now I was relying on her to engage in partial shifts, or using her power to keep others in line. Right now I was still getting the better end of the bargain, and she had yet to ask for her pound of flesh in return. But the time was coming when she would, I could feel it. She would want to shift, and she would want to run, and once we were in wolf form, I had no idea if I’d wield any control at all.
Sometimes I wondered if she would keep us in that form forever.
A small part of me asked if that would be the worst thing to happen.
Several of the vampires had reacted to my cry, crowding around the edge of the pit to look down at us and watch what was transpiring. Desmond’s lips relaxed so I could no longer see every tooth in his mouth, and he gave a short growl before finally whining and lying down, covering his snout with one paw as if ashamed to face me.
“You do not dare to disobey your queen again. If it happens a third time, I will not be gracious.”
The bitch meant business too. I could feel the truth of her words reverberate through me. She wasn’t one to toss down empty threats, and apparently it didn’t matter that Desmond was our mate—as she constantly reminded me—she would make him regret another assault on us.
I found it bizarre I’d needed to resort to threats against Desmond, of all people. In his human form he was the kindest, gentlest man who wouldn’t dream of doing anything to hurt me. Even the first time I’d seen him in his wolf form, he’d been so careful with me. Yet he was showing an antagonism he never had previously. It was like Desmond was hiding away a part of himself that wanted to hurt me.
I didn’t want to dwell on that thought too much.
I rose to my feet, and Desmond settled into a crouch beside me, butting his head against my thigh like a dog begging for a head scratch. I obliged him, and he licked my fingertips.
“Any bright ideas on how to get us out of here?” I wasn’t sure if I was asking Desmond or my inner wolf.
Considering Desmond couldn’t speak, he wasn’t going to be much help. And taking into account the wolf and I shared one mind, if I didn’t have any notions, she wasn’t likely to be much use either.
I have done my job.
Yeah. Helpful.
“My dear, I can’t help but notice you haven’t been shredded to a bloody mess.” Peyton didn’t sound disappointed so much as he sounded nervous.
It was then I remembered our deal.
“I’ve bested the wolf.”
“But you haven’t killed it.”
“I won’t.” He didn’t need a big speech about my reasons or a plea for Desmond’s release. If Peyton had his way, Desmond and I would be dead before sunrise, and I wasn’t going to play into his plan. He could turn Des against me, but I wouldn’t kill the man I loved.
Calliope’s voice nagged at me, reminding me of something.
You will die standing next to the one you love.
And what was it she’d told Desmond that same night?
You’ll be with her in the end.
No. I refused to believe we’d go down like this. I might be a fairly depressed and slightly morbid sack of shit these days, but I never thought I’d face off against Peyton and he’d win. Never. The
plan had always been for me to leave here with his decapitated head as a trophy.
“I understand if you’re afraid to face me alone,” I called up. “After all, it would certainly be humiliating for all your minions to watch someone with a pulse kick your ass.” I knew Peyton would hate the idea of a human killing him, even if he knew I wasn’t altogether mortal.
He sat down on the edge of the pit, dangling his feet over. One good hop and I might be able to grab him. Maybe if the stones weren’t so slippery.
“Let’s talk frankly, shall we? Now that I have you as a captive audience.” He laughed, and the shrillness of it sent me into a full-body shudder. It might be hubris on his part, but he wasn’t scared of me in the least.
Hard to blame the guy when I was at the bottom of a pit and he’d managed to turn my backup into a wolf.
“Go fuck yourself, Peyton.”
“Or I could have you bound in silver and left to rot, and I could have my way with you until your body was nothing but bone and ash.” His voice was cold and level, but an edge of hysteria crept in as he got further along. “Because silver chains would bind you, wouldn’t they, Secret? Don’t pretend you’re mortal. I don’t feel like playing dumb with you anymore, little bitch.”