Lost Beauty (The Deadly Beauties Live On 4)

“It makes me wonder what will happen when the world evolves. Already Ella is stronger than Kane and I both.” She places her hands on her stomach. “And this one is draining me of almost everything I have, proving he or she will be just as powerful, if not even stronger. What if that portal is opened, and this world is no longer safe for my children? I’ve always felt like I could protect them, because nothing is supposed to be stronger.”

I put a hand on her shoulder as she sniffs and clears her throat, getting her composure back. “We continue to hope that our next generations get stronger than us. And we won’t let that portal be opened.”

She nods and shakes out her arms like she’s driving out the nerves. Like I’ve seen her do so many times before, she slips back on her unshakeable mask, and heads back into the room like nothing is wrong.

I can’t even imagine the weight on her shoulders right now.

Heading back in, I decide to take a little bit of that weight away. “We need to speak to Gavin.”

Gage’s face hardens and his look turns cold. “No. He could have broken free from the chains by now. He won’t be able to escape. It’s deep underground and warded against him escaping. Breaking free from the chains would be hard but more likely than him breaking out. Unless he had leverage—like a life to barter with.”

“I need to ask him questions, and you admitted he was under blood oath. It’s the only reason he ever worked with them.”

“Exactly,” Gage barks. “He’s under oath still. He can’t say anything. So it’s a pointless risk.”

“It’s possible to ask questions he can find a way to answer without the oath hurting him.”

His lips tighten like he doesn’t want to do this.

“What questions?” Kimber asks.

***

Gage dematerializes us into the small concrete cage below ground. Gavin is still chained to the wall when we appear, and he smirks when he sees us.

“Come to kiss me goodnight and tuck me in, brother?” he drawls.

Gage crosses his arms over his chest, but says nothing.

Crouching down, I study the tired expression in Gavin’s eyes. This cell hasn’t been too kind to him.

“Sucks being locked in a cage, doesn’t it?” I ask, trying not to let this get personal before I get answers.

There’s no telling what they did to Kya in there, and I don’t know if I can handle hearing it right now. I might actually kill him.

“I doubt I’ll be giving it a five star review, but that’s just one man’s opinion. I’m sure you’ve had plenty of other happy guests to help level out the rating,” he quips, trying to hide the fact this thing has weakened him to some extent.

We both stare at him for a few minutes before he finally rolls his eyes.

“I’m sure you’re not here to check my satisfaction levels with my stay, so feel free to ask whatever asinine question you please. It’s not as though I can answer though.”

I stand to my full height and look down at him as he relaxes against the wall and crosses his arms, mimicking his brother’s stance. The chains clank as he does so, and he keeps that damn smirk on his face.

“Mortal witches have turned into demons,” I announce.

His smirk drops immediately, and Gage sucks in a breath as Gavin swallows. He tries to nod, but then he grabs his head and an agonized cry rings out as he sways in his seated position.

“That answers that question,” Gage says under his breath as Gavin continues to struggle.

“They’re running an army of night stalkers they’ve possessed,” I go on, even though Gavin seems to be almost incoherent now.

“Who is it? Someone we can read about? Is there any type of book we should be looking at to give us a hint?”

He cries out again, and his body starts convulsing as blood begins running from his nose and ears. Suddenly, his body goes limp, and Gage curses.

“That was pointless. He passed out and we still don’t know anything.”

“We know more than we did. He just confirmed everything. He wouldn’t have had a reaction otherwise. That means we can read about them somewhere.”