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My chest felt like it was being crushed under boulders and more kept being added.

“And once she’s dead, we will fuck on her corpse.” I wouldn’t have a choice if she ordered it of me.

I wanted to rip her blackened heart out from pure revulsion. Imogen shattered Cat’s bones, so much that fractures of bone punctured through her skin. I gnashed my teeth.

Gore never phased me, but the vision before me was too much for me to handle.

REN

Calliope’s Progenyled us into a chamber located toward the back of Saphire Lounge. Secluded and far from prying ears. As I entered, I rapped my knuckles on the wall. Even sound proofed. I felt special. Her Progeny moved to the side and inclined her head. Calliope had them trained well. A quick sweep of the area showed this door to be the only entrance. Calliope lounged on a leather couch, her legs crossed as she sipped her bloody drink.

How she liked her theatrics.

She’d already made us wait longer than necessary. To the point that the Alistair meeting had to be postponed.

“Welcome, gentlemen,” she drawled, lifting the wine glass to her lips. Blood sloshed from one side to the other, leaving a thin layer of residue behind. She waved a hand around as if we couldn’t see the chairs neatly pulled out around the table. She’d upgraded her interrogation room.

Without compunction, I sprawled in the too-small wooden chair. The legs creaked under my weight. Tobias carefully took his seat beside me, meanwhile, Asher was already strolling around the chairs until he was at the far end of the couch. He reclined on it in a lazy drape. She did not like that. The corner of my mouth twitched.

“What was so urgent you needed a meeting with me again, Crimson Coven Sires?” The slight bite to her tone told me everything I needed to know.

“You’re still bitter about my threats,” I mused. Her shoulders tightened.

“Whatever do you mean?”

I raised an eyebrow. Her temper visibly flared.

“It was in my home,” she sneered. “You were a guest in a Coven Sire’s home and you?—”

“Come now, Calliope,” I mocked. “You’re putting on airs after everything we’ve been through?”

She straightened, leaning forward.

“You uncouth swine! I?—"

“We come to ask a favor,” Tobias interrupted what was surely about to be a scathing comment. I smirked.

That was nicer than I’d put it, especially since it wasn’t a request.

“What do you need from me?” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“Now—"

“Take Imogen in.”

Tobias shot me an exasperated look I ignored.

Calliope’s eyes widened.

“You lot have officially lost it. Imogen is dead.”

“She is not.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “Are you going to elaborate?”

“There was a mistake, she was on vacation,” Tobias offered.

We all went silent, not elaborating.