Page 100 of Hunted By Fear

“I’m the one she wronged, not you. She gave me to Rome, but she doesn’t deserve to die for it.”

Her humanity is blinding her.

I remove the blade from her throat, using my grip on her hair to toss her across the cell, where she is smart enough to scurry away into the farthest corner. It won’t save her, but it makes the dark beast inside preen in pleasure to see her fear as I taste it in the air.

“She gave you to Rome, not knowing if you would survive. Handed you back to him after you did so much to escape, left everything and everyone you’ve ever known with nothing but what you could cram in your piece of shit car. She did that to save her own skin. She betrayed aseven-thousand-year friendship instead of simply coming to us for help, and then she ran as if she might be able to escape her punishment.” I see her flinch at the mention of all she did to try and escape Rome, but we both know it’s the truth.

“Lea gave you to Rome despite what I said because she thought it would save her, and she’d do it again if given the chance. Demons are a lot of things, but I expect loyalty, something Lea is very aware of. It’s why she was allowed topside to begin with, to work for me.”

I take a step forward and hear her whimper; I don’t even try and hide the smile that pulls at my lips. I’d like to say I’mreasonable, a businessman if you would, and Lea owes me her soul.

“Asta, please,” Aerilyn begs, her voice small and strained. I don’t like the way it sounds, find no joy in it the way I usually do, but I brush that off. This isn’t about her, not really.

Lea sits in the corner, her knees pulled up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them, making her look small. She’s gasping for air as she looks up at me, and I see her fear; she knows as well as I do that she won’t be leaving this cell.

Death to a demon with angelic steel is the only true death, worse still than sending her soul to the abyss, because nobody knows what happens after true death. And who doesn’t fear the unknown?

“I’m sorry, Aeri, I was afraid and made a stupid decision. I’m glad you're okay.”

I stand over her, watching as she says her final piece, satisfied when I sense no lie.

Too bad it’s too late for that.

I wave a hand and lift her into the air, my shadows reaching out to hold her still, but again she doesn’t fight.

“Turn away, Aerilyn,” I tell her, flicking my eyes up to meet hers as she glares at me through the bars.

There’s so much fire in those eyes, the same ones that have looked so lost since Rome had his way in her mind. It’s intoxicating seeing her like this, and I struggle to look away as my blood runs south. Thankfully, if anyone were to notice, I can blame the torture, but the fact that I’ve reacted to her like that at all is a problem, one I’m more than happy to ignore for the moment.

“Asta, stop!” Her demand cuts through the air like a whip, and I freeze, knife in hand, ready to slit the traitor's throat.

I can’t move. One second ticks by, and then another as I fight against whatever this hold is.

Five whole seconds she holds me, and when I finally manage to break away, Lea is no longer my concern.

My shadows reach for Aeri as I move out of the cell and stalk toward her. She stands her ground, craning her head back to hold my gaze, and fuck if that doesn’t make me harder.

I will not be undone by this tiny mortal!

“She deserves death!” I shout, making her flinch, but still she remains where she is, her shoulders squared and her jaw set.

“She was afraid, and it made her irrational, excuse me if I can relate.”

It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to roll my eyes at her lame-ass attempt to cover for her.

“You are not the same. She knows better. You’re far too forgiving!” I snap, pinching the bridge of my nose to give me something to do that isn’t reaching out for her the way I suddenly want to.

“Maybe you're just too much of an ass!?”

The urge to hold her grows stronger, and I have to force myself to take a step back.

What is happening?

I get my answer a moment later when she gasps, her hand flying up to her chest.

No.

“No,” I speak the word aloud, shaking my head as I take another step back away from her and this.