Page 72 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“But you know what? I believe you.”

“Good—”

“I believe you really believe that. And I believe they lie to you.”

The prospect of torture didn’t frighten me, but this man’s interrogation sure did.

He returned his dagger to the sheath then extended his open palm.

I stared.

“You can either give it to me—or I’ll take it from you.”

This was my last chance to end it. To die with honor. To die without betraying my people.

We stared at each other. He waited for me to make my move. I tried to decide when it was the right time.

I stood up.

He did the same.

I only had one chance to do this, so I had to be quick and purposeful.

I reached into my pocket for the dagger and dodged out of the way as he came at me. I stabbed the dagger into my neck, but his hand caught my wrist and yanked it so hard the bone nearly broke.

The dagger clattered as it landed on the stone.

I dove for it, but he shoved me against the wall again. “It’s over.”

I punched him in the face then went for it again.

He tackled me to the floor and reached for the dagger above my head. He slid it across the stone underneath the bars of the cage—out of reach.

I slammed my head into his and disoriented him as I reached for his dagger. Now my agenda had changed. I could kill him and take the key and make my escape.

His hand gripped my neck, and he squeezed, choking me so hard that my airway completely blocked. He did it with a single hand, he was so strong.

I tried to headbutt him again, but this time, he expected it. He threw his dagger between the bars—and now there was no weapon at all. He released my neck and allowed me to breathe.

I gasped as I rolled over.

He stood upright and stared down at me. “I know you think you’re on the right side—but you aren’t.”

Once I caught my breath, I looked at him from where I lay on the floor. “I could say the same about you.”

14

COBRA

I sent my prey away because I wasn’t in the mood after all the action. It was morning by the time the dust had settled. I slept until the afternoon, and the first thing I did once I was awake was make a drink.

I sat in the armchair by the fire, drinking for breakfast, thinking about my dilemma locked in a cage.

Someone knocked on the door before they let themselves inside. “So?” Viper stood in the doorway, already knowing exactly what I would say.

“It’s complicated.”

“How is torturing a prisoner complicated?”