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Roman circled him, watching him hang there like a fox caught in a snare. Tonight, Roman was the bigger, more powerful predator. One that had paced inside his cage long enough.

Simon squirmed, his booted feet kicking in the open air like a fussy child in need of a nap. How rewarding it was to finally watch this man—this bully—get what he deserved. “Fuck you,” he spat.

With a flourish of his right hand, Roman lifted him higher—till the top of his head nearly brushed the ceiling.

Roman squeezed the hand he still held aloft into a fist.

The shadows around Simon’s neck obeyed his command—and tightened, just like his fist, slowly digging into Simon’s flesh like wires. Crushing his neck, like a snake squeezing the life out of its prey.

Simon’s face turned a bright red that quickly deepened into a dark shade of purple. His eyes bugged out of his head, the blood vessels bright and threatening to burst. His tongue poked out of his mouth like a thick worm.

“Asphyxiation has always been a favorite of mine,” Roman said, again tightening his fist, his knuckles cracking. “There’s just something so…rewarding about it.”

The shadows dug in deeper.

Roman gave a little smile, his eyes black as pits. “Have a nice time in hell, Simon. You won’t know a moment’s peace where you’re going.”

He whipped his hand in a downward motion?—

And ripped Simon’s head off.

Roman exhaled deeply, the tension in his muscles melting away.

He set his shadows free, releasing Simon’s body. It struck the floor with athud,his head doing the same.He swore he could almost hear Ignis cackling as she welcomed another irredeemable soul to her realm of torture.

Not a moment’s peace, indeed.

One down. One more to go?—

Reality hit him like a slap to the face, the blood draining from his head so quickly he felt woozy.

Pax.

Roman spun around. “Pax?” he panted. The black was already out of his eyes, his act instantly forgotten. Paxton wasout of sight—crouching behind the crates, his heart thrumming so fast Roman could hear it from here. Roman took a tentative step toward him. “Pax, it’s okay, buddy—it’s just me. It’s Roman.”

Paxton didn’t move.

“You can come out now,” Roman tried again. “You can come out, Pax—you’re safe. I’ve got you.”

Paxton—wide-eyed and pale—stepped out from behind the crates on wobbling legs.

And coming around the corner a short distance away, her arms wrapped protectively around Eugene, was someone Roman feared he’d never see again.

Something inside his chest cracked, and so did his voice as he whispered her name. “Shay.”

34

South Yveswich City Limits

YVESWICH, STATE OF KER

“Darien?”Loren whispered. Her voice was small, her pulse way too weak for his liking.

Darien’s, on the other hand, pounded with rage.

He threw open his door, pausing to grab his heavier black jacket from the back seat. “Put this on, please.” He passed it to her, and she took it with a grasp as weak as her pulse. “Come with me.”

He stepped out, slamming the rain-slick door. Loren got out on her side, his jacket big enough to easily fit over her own. He met her behind the car and took her cold, delicate hand—drowning in the sleeve—into his, leading her to the driver’s side of the truck idling behind them.