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“It’s what needs to be done!” Sorin yelled, pulling at his restraints and trying to call his magic yet again, despite the fact that it was impossible because Kai had temporarily bound it.

“So, going after Nyx wasn’t just bullying, or you being enraged that his allure accidentally impacted your woman?” I put to him.

He glared out at me. “It didn’t impact her.”

“What?”

“He needed to think that was the case.”

Sick motherfucker.

“Do you really think I’d allow a fucking Incubus to impact anyone close to me? Dark Fae magic can work wonders with violations of free will like that. The important thing is that he believed he’d had that much of an impact. On those who he believed were innocent, too. He’s the type who would be hauntedby that. And, better for us and our cause, the type to be broken by that. It’ll eat him up inside. A few moreincidentshere and there and he’ll do our job for us—he’ll end his torment. One less hybrid to concern ourselves with.”

Kai roared and thrust a bolt of his magic at Sorin. It knocked him out in a second, his head lolling to the side.

My phone buzzed again, but I ignored it, watching Kai.

That hadn’t been enough for him, and he stormed toward one of the vampires, both whom were cursing him out and snarling at their leader being knocked out.

“You were gonna break my love’s face, yes?” Kai spoke as he rounded the chair that Drake was strapped to. He eyed me. “Show him what that feels like, V.”

“With pleasure,” I growled, Sorin’s plans for Nyx getting under my skin, too. And the bigger picture of it all, thisPuritas… it was truly sickening.

I threw my fist, pouring a whole lot of my strength into it.

The moment it made contact, it had him shrieking as the impact crushed bone beneath my knuckles, blood spewed, and it created a cavern in one side of his face.

“There you go,” Kai said, sadistic glee in his voice. “You see how different it is to use supernatural strength to attack another who doesn’t possess your same durability? Vorzyr’s durabilityandstrength is far beyond yours.”

“Shithead sorcerer,” Drake struggled to get out.

Kai fisted his hand in his hair and wrenched his head back. “Disrespect really won’t serve you well here.” He released him roughly. “Let’s delay the vampiric healing process, shall we? Let you suffer for a little while longer in the exact pain that Nyx would’ve been in if you’d thrown that punch.” With a sweep of his magic, he had the vampire grunting as the graze that was healing rapidly, slowed to a crawl. Just like the broken boneswould be doing now. Kai grasped his jaw, the guy whimpering, as the hold worsened the agony for him. “Really feel it, fucker.”

A snarl came from him.

Hell, no.

I stepped forward, brushed past Kai and let out a dragon roar, that had the asshole’s eyes shooting wide, his hair flying every which way, the chair wavering. Real fear stared back at me.

“That’s how a real beast does it,” I told him. “Don’t test that again. Don’t you so much as threaten him with the demon in you, because it’ll be decimated in no time by me.”

He shuddered and managed a nod.

I caught Kai’s eye and he was beaming out at me, a whole lot of lust along for the ride as well.

Jace’s grating voice cut into the moment, as he bit at Kai, “You can only dare to deliver punishment while we’re tied up, while Sorin’s magic is bound, while we’re at an unfair advantage.”

Kai strode in front of him and upturned both hands, his palms sparking with rose-gold flames. “Your ignorance is astounding. It’s clear why you need somebody to lead you around by a proverbial leash. You’re tied up for your own protection.”

“What are you talking about?”

Kai stepped closer. “If it was an all-out battle, I’dkillyou, fool.”

His response hit me hard.

Of course I’d come to know very quickly that Kai had a nastier streak, a darkness in him, the full force which he held at bay and controlled very well.

But, here, in this moment, I saw him opening the door so Jace could truly see what he was actually up against, the monster that stood before him.