Page 121 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

His outburst elicited yet another smile from the Queen. “But you wish she were?”

It was too late now to convince her there was nothing between him and Diana. Forcing his facial muscles to relax, he asked, “What will happen in a week?”

Kathrine was striding across the lower floor, but when she spotted them at the balustrade, her eyes flicked between them, her features sharpening. Constantine would wager she was the one who’d stolen the journal. It suited her penchant for playing underhanded tricks on her queen mother. A detail he’d wisely kept secret as his last trump card. And very soon, he would need to play it.

The Queen snapped her gloved fingers and started down the stairs, expecting Constantine to follow like an obedient Doberman. And so he did.

As they reached the door of the room where Diana was being held, his hands burned with the urge to grip the handle, and a wave of unease surged within his chest.

“Necromancer, do you know the great favour you did yourself by acquiring these gloves?” She flexed her hand beforehis eyes. “They provide clarity – a true sense of direction, if you will.”

“Splendid. Though, I still fail to see what favour I’ve done for myself.” Constantine’s patience for her ramblings was wearing thin.

“They made me examine you more closely. And your little vampire.” His insides twisted into an immediate knot. “My guards found you tied to the bed, fully dressed. They assumed you were indulging in some sort of amorous game. But I suspect your vampire had other motives and they weren’t related to erotic pleasures. Am I right?”

He didn’t answer, unsure of what trap the Queen was setting.

“And do you know what else?” She studied her gloves as though they were a priceless museum artefact, then lazily lifted her gaze back to him. “Your vampire doesn’t strike me as a woman in love. And yet you went to Hell to save her.”

“What’s your point?” he snapped.

“I want you to be happy, Constantine. Satisfied in every way possible. How else will you be effective in the tasks I have for you?” She reached for the doorknob. “That’s why I decided to give you a gift.”

“If you’ve brought me another parade of whores…”

She opened the door and entered the room.

“What the hell?!” Constantine exclaimed.

The attendants and guards were gone, and Diana sat on the edge of the bed, her stormy expression fixed on them. Her long legs drew his gaze, highlighted by the short lace shorts she wore. Her tank top barely covered her chest and left her arms exposed.

“Why is she tied up?” Constantine bit out. Diana was bound to the metal bed frame. One end of the handcuffs was around her slender wrist, the other around the frame itself.

“Just as she had you tied up before. Now the roles are reversed,” the Queen said with a smile. “Enjoy yourself.Tomorrow morning, I’ll return for the task I expect you to complete.”

“Release her!”

Her heels clicked as she strode towards the door. Before leaving, she turned to him. “I have a habit of forgetting good manners as quickly as I dissect vampires. But somehow, I don’t think you’ll be foolish enough to test my patience. Will you?”

***

Constantine

Constantine approached Diana, fighting the intense urge to punch the wall.Someonehad dressed her in those ridiculous clothes and chained her to the bed.Someonehad touched her, and they were still breathing.

He knelt in front of Diana. Her chin was lowered, thick lashes veiling her eyes. He brushed his hand over her bare knee and murmured, “I’ll torture each and every one of them slowly, then burn them all down – along with this wretched realm.” His gaze swept over her body, searching for fresh scars. If they had dared harm her again after he’d upheld his side of the bargain, he would make good on that promise without hesitation. “But first, I’ll get us out of here.”

Her leg tensed beneath his touch a moment before she raised her head. He’d expected to see pain, disappointment, or even anger, but instead he was met with an impenetrable wall. “Did you tell them to tie me up?” she asked, tugging at the restraints.

“Of course not! Did they hurt you while I was gone?”

“No. Apart from bathing me, perfuming me, and dressing me…” Diana pointed at the scant fabric clinging to her body. The satin traced the perfect curves of her chest, while the lace hinted at its fullness.

Constantine felt a consuming desire to tear the hands offwhoever had dared to touch her. “I’m sorry I waited so long before stopping her.”

“I can endure more than a few lashes across my back. Ihaveendured worse.”

His palm curved around her knee. “Diana, you’ll never have to endure anything like that again. Tell me everything about Swan and what he’s told you about the reptilians. Anything could help me get us out of here.”