Page 120 of Pretty When She Breaks

“You scream just as sweetly as he does,” Madison’s wet voice murmured into my ear.

All my control broke, my instincts taking over as I screamed and snarled. I bucked, desperately trying to get the monster off my back, but it was useless. I was trapped, and I was going to be stuck here forever while Madison tortured me.

Then I heard Dax curse. I looked over to find him staring at his phone, his lip curling in annoyance. “Thaddeus needs us, apparently,” he said, looking up at Prince. “Madison, let her go. We got what we wanted, anyway.”

Madison growled but stepped away, and I found myself standing on trembling legs. I clung to the chain-link fence, panting, unsure if I was going to pass out.

“Later, Duchess. Don’t get into too much trouble without us,” I heard Prince say, but I ignored him.

I breathed in gulps of air as the sound of their footsteps receded. In front of me, Ocean had finished off his opponent, and his head snapped up, eyes meeting mine. He left his opponent on the floor and rushed over until he was pressed against the bars of the cage, trying to reach through the chain link separating us. A keening whine was coming from him as he struggled.

“I’m okay,” I hiccupped, finding his hand and stroking his fingers. “It’s okay.”

“Miss?” I jumped as an unfamiliar voice sounded in my ear. Ocean snarled as I pulled away.

One of the medics had approached, his lined face looking vaguely annoyed as he placed a fold-out chair behind me. “I was told to see to your shoulder,” he said, and I nodded numbly, sinking down into the chair.

It took four alpha guards to drag Ocean out of the Sink and away from me.

SIXTY-FIVE

KAOS

The evening was a perfect time to do more snooping because everyone was so busy and loud, I would never be noticed.

They just didn’t make buildings like they used to. I was exploring near the Blood Well tonight. The fact they were underground meant they needed huge ventilation systems, which were a pain, as I kept having to stop to deal with all the pesky fans.

It was good to keep myself busy again, though I got absolutely filthy as I scrambled up ancient beams, collecting plaster and dust.

I wanted to be busy, especially tonight. The bond was alight with the feel of anguish and fear, and a bloodlust that hovered at my periphery. It had ramped up my haunting emotions until I felt like I was screaming in my head.

I was trying to shut it all out, and distracting myself with this challenge was doing the trick for now.

The fighting arena was made of multiple stories, and I climbed up the inside of the walls, noting possible vantagepoints. The fire suppression system was extremely poor, as was the electrical design, which wasn’t a good mix.

Someone had been slacking.

Naughty, naughty.

I stopped as I reached the ceiling. There was a large amount of space up here, but that wasn’t the part that made me pause.

There was a familiar scent up here. Roses and vanilla.

Was it from the Duchess Suite nearby?

I made my way along the outer walls until I stumbled across something that didn’t belong. I fumbled with a switch, and fairy lights lit up a pile of blankets and pillows that smelled like rose and vanilla.

I edged toward the pile curiously.

It made sense.

It was Laurel’s nest.

But it also didn’t make sense in the slightest.

Omegas were supposed to nest in their house, in the place they felt safest. I mean, we had invaded her house, but this nest was far older than that, the scent layered over and over in what must have been years.

I studied the space, puzzling it over in my mind.