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Without hesitation, we step forward, following Sable through the inferno. The fire kisses our skin but does not burn, swallowing us whole before spitting us out into the night—where our first victim awaits.

7

CHAINSAWS & GASOLINE

RILEY

The fiery inferno sizzles behind us as it seals shut and we step into the crisp, summer breeze. Moon hanging low and full in the sky, illuminating the isolated park around us. A parked car sits before a cliff, overlooking the town of Luxfall. Racy pop music echoes through the speakers as the car rocks back and forth, the sound drowned out by the chorus of passionate moans with every jerk of the wheels.

Sable giggles, pulling a cherry lollipop out of thin air, and plopping it into her mouth. She tilts her head toward us with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “Are you ready to fulfill your end of the bargain?”

I nod slowly before glancing at our surroundings, and it would appear that aside from the two having sex in that car, there is no one else around. No one to hear themscream. My fingers twitch with anticipation as the blood lust I’ve been burying deep within the darkest parts of my soul scream as they rush to the surface.

Bending down to reach for my blade, I realize that I’ve left it back at the house. I scrunch my face, slight embarrassmentcreeping inside that I have to even ask this of someone who isn’t inexperienced when it comes to murder.

I clear my throat. “I left my blade at home, and we aren’t super prepared to you know… kill anyone.”

A soft gasp escapes Willow and Sable laughs, loud and without a care in the world as if the alleged victims in the car can’t hear us. “Well, you’d be surprised what damage you could inflict with your hands alone.”

Willow tenses next to me, reaching for my fingers to keep her grounded. Sable notices Willow’s apprehension and licks her lips after sucking on her lollipop once more.

“But…” she begins, turning away from us and snapping her fingers. “That wouldn’t be very fun to watch.”

My eyes widen as an array of weapons ranging from knives, axes, bats embedded with nails, chainsaws, and even an entire can of gasoline occupy the once-barren grass. There’s pepper spray, brass knuckles, rope, and other shit I can’t even put a name to.

I’m rendered speechless as I take in what this all really means. My eyes flick over to the two unsuspecting victims in the car, and a wide grin creases my face.

“Who’s in the car?” I ask huskily, eyeing the chainsaw as my potential date with murder.

Sable pops her hip and clicks her tongue. “I think you’ll be pleased with the two I’ve chosen for you both to send to Hell.” She wiggles her fingers at the weapons, strutting slowly in front of them. “Put on a fun show for me. My Master and I will be judging you, so don’t disappoint.”

She summons another flaming portal before turning towards us. “And don’t hold back. I want to feel your passion and rage,” she says with a wink.

Willow’s grip on my hand becomes almost painful as Sable disappears into the night. It’s us out here alone, with anabundance of weapons at our disposal, and two people who must die tonight—and it won’t fucking be us.

Letting out a shaky exhale, I turn to Willow and place my hands on her shoulders. I capture her emerald eyes with mine and study her features. “It’s us or them, Will. You know I won’t let anything happen to you, and I don’t want you to do anything that you don’t want to do. So I need to know now, do you want to sit this out?”

She worries her bottom lip between her teeth and looks away.

“Hey, no. Look at me,” I plead, cupping her cheeks. She hesitantly glances up at me, worry etched into her beautiful features. “I can do this alone if?—”

She shakes her head, furrowing her brows. Backing away from me, she turns to stare at the weapons. Her eyes lock onto something, which brings a smirk to her lips. She rushes over to the murderous items, leans down to pick up the can of pepper spray, and hands it out to me.

I cock my head, mimicking the smirk playing on her lips. “You want me to get the party started then?”

She flutters her lashes innocently, shaking her hand holding the can, gesturing for me to take it.

Raking my eyes over her lithe body, how her skirt rides her thighs, the way her shirt clings to her curvy hips. Desire pools low in my core as my eyes roam over her perfect body, her stunning face that I would quite literally kill over. She is my weakness, yet with her I feel strong.

Tonight, I’m going to claim more than just my revenge. Under the moonlight, after bathing in the blood of our tormentors I’m going to make her mine once and for all.

Willow stalks over to me, swaying her hips, eyes half-mast, and places the canister in my hand.

My eyes darken as I pull her face to mine, crashing my lips against hers. I slip my tongue into her mouth and our tonguesdance in the heat of this tense moment, swallowing our sighs and groans. I kiss her so hard that it’s bruising. I want her to feel how much I need her, how much I crave her.

I lean closer, grabbing a fistful of her hair, and whisper into her ear. “Once we’re done playing with them, I want to hear you make those pretty sounds again. Will you scream for me my little strawberry sunshine?”

Willow shudders under my hold, grabs my face, and kisses me again. As she pulls back, she drags my bottom lip between her teeth, pulling roughly and I groan at her roughness. Her storm-lit emeralds dance with fire and mischief as she nods toward the car, urging me to get on with it.