Embers (Dark in You 4)

Grams said he just wanted to say goodbye. I figured I could just let him get it over with and then leave.

Knox’s gaze cut to her grandmother. “You fucked with my trust, Jolene.”

Smoothing a hand down her blouse, Jolene said, “Drew just wanted to say his goodbyes.” It wasn’t a defense; it was a statement. Jolene didn’t justify herself to anyone.

“No, he didn’t want that,” said Knox. “Not at all.”

Harper frowned, wondering if he’d taken a dip in Drew’s mind and seen a wholly different intention.

Knox turned to Drew. “Did you have it removed?”

Drew lifted his chin. “If you mean the tat, no.” And his expression said that he had absolutely no intention of doing so. Jolene groaned in exasperation. Tanner shook his head, mouth tightening. Knox? He just looked at the hellcat blankly.

“That’s fine. I can remove it for you.” Knox gripped Drew, and then fire erupted around them.

“Knox, no!” Harper shouted, but it was too late. They were gone. Sighing, she shoved a hand through her hair. “Well, Grams, I can’t say you didn’t fuck this one up.”

Jolene fingered her pearl necklace. “Will he kill him?”

“I don’t know.” Harper rubbed her temple. The day had started off so well …

“If Knox can pyroport,” began Jolene, “why has he been using Ciaran like a cab all this time?”

“He likes to keep people guessing about what he can do.”

Jolene gave a slow nod of understanding. “His secret is safe with me.”

“I’d like to say your hellcat is safe with Knox, Jolene,” Tanner told her, jaw hard. “But he’s not. Not one little fucking bit.”

*

As the flames eased off, Knox grabbed the hellcat with psychic hands and rammed him into the cracked stone wall. The breath slammed out of Clarke’s lungs. He coughed, body shaking, eyes burning with rage. He would no doubt have stupidly lunged at Knox if the psychic hands weren’t pinning him to the wall like a butterfly.

Knox’s demon bared its teeth in a feral grin, pleased to see the hellcat helpless and—better still—in what was effectively its playroom. Unlike Knox, it didn’t mind the scents of sweat, metal, mildew, and iron that were swirling around them.

Drew glanced around the dull, shadowy space, taking in the tiny cramped cells, the iron maiden, the Judas chair, the rack, the cages hanging from the ceiling, and the sets of manacles attached to the walls. If it wasn’t for the dim recessed lighting, the large space would have been as dark as it was grim.

“Where are we?” Drew asked, voice warbled. Fear seemed to light his eyes from within.

“My sentinels call it the Chamber.” Knox’s footsteps echoed on the hard, stone floor. “Not very original, I suppose. It’s located beneath my prison, and it’s where members of my lair are brought for punishment. Some are then incarcerated. Others are released after paying their penance.” Knox had had a lot of fun punishing Roan in this very room. “It really all depends on the severity of the crime. I also bring here those who have … wronged me or mine. Can’t you hear them?”

The sounds of weeping, screaming, begging, raving, and the sound of whip hitting flesh filled the air.

“Don’t you see them?”

Suddenly they were surrounded by people straining against manacles, being stretched over a rack, forced into the Judas chair, and laid on a bed of spikes.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Drew shook his head fast. “It’s not real!”

“It was real.” Knox let the echoes of the events fade away.

Tanner’s mind brushed against his. Knox, I know you want Clarke dead—you’re not alone in that. But if you haven’t already killed him, think about whether it’s what you really want. His death at your hand could cause a massive rift between Harper and Devon, and that would affect Harper’s life in a substantial way. He’d affect her life. And it could slowly eat at what you and Harper have. Do you want to give him that power? Because I honestly think he’d be happy to die if it meant it gave him that.

Knox didn’t respond. His demon paid the sentinel no mind—it wasn’t interested in reason or rationality right then. Its rage was like a fire in Knox’s veins. The bastard had dared to corner Harper, get her alone, and try to turn her against Knox. There was no way he wouldn’t pay for that. “You should have stayed away from Harper.”

Drew’s eyes snapped open. “She needed to know the truth.”

Knox lazily raised a brow. “About what?”