Page 28 of Tempting Her Dragons (Embracing The Bond #10)

Epilogue

Heath

A s I walk through the crowd, they move quickly out of the way. The tap of my cane is drowned out by the fists being thrown in the ring and the shouts from the watchers. Many of them know I own the place but have never spoken to me. It could be the mystery surrounding me or the coldness in my eyes. Either way, I’m grateful. I don’t need or want their curiosity or friendship.

Opening the door to the floors below, I shut it softly and lock it. I enter numbers in the keypad, ensuring no one but my most trusted can come through. I can count on one hand who that is.

I wind down the stairs, the noise dimming the deeper I walk, and the darker the light becomes. The tenseness in my shoulders relaxes the further I go. This is my home. I belong in cool, damp places. I don’t need light to see or heat to keep warm. My body can regulate its temperature depending on the environment, but I despise the heat. I don’t like people or noise, so living down here is comforting.

Another door blocks my path, and I enter another series of numbers. Bane and Hunter stand on either side of the door. They are the only two men here that I trust.

“Everything taken care of?” I ask, and they nod. “You can go.” I watch them leave, reset the lock, and continue down. I come to the final door. I press my hand to the screen attached to the wall, and once I’m verified, I lean down and it scans my eyes.

The click of it opening is loud in the silence. Even Hunter and Bane can’t get in the rooms beyond the door without my permission and presence. I allowed them to enter today to bring the man I’m going to kill.

Don’t worry; he deserves it.

After the door is secure, I move through the space to the room at the end. It has no windows and no furniture. Another keypad allows me to walk inside and to the man chained to the wall.

“Who are you?” he screams, yanking uselessly on his bindings. Turning, I press my palm against the steel door, shutting it tight.

I don’t form many attachments, but my chosen sister is one of them. She was bleeding on the street, broken and assaulted when I found her. The man in front of me was one of ten who abducted her. I have killed five, this is the sixth.

My blue eyes brighten and my pupils elongate. I don’t often let my beast out to play. He’s more often angry and unpredictable, much like the man who holds him. Only five people know what animal is inside me. Now there will be a sixth, but he will take his knowledge to hell.

“Asshole, I asked a question,” he blubbers.

“I heard you. How could I not?” I remove my jacket, fold it neatly, and place it by the door. I ignore his following words, taking off the rest of my clothes. I prop my cane next to them. My eyes lock on his and he stills. “You will die. First, you will tell me where the rest of your friends are,” I hiss as I move closer. His eyes are vacant and I swish my head back and forth, back and forth with every step.

“Okay,” he says softly.

“Good.” I dive into his head, sorting through his memories, finding others who will die soon. Blood trickles from the corner of his eyes and I acknowledge it dispassionately. A little blood is the least he deserves as I find the memory of what they did to my sister. I break the connection when I know everything.

“Please,” he moans.

“That doesn’t work on me,” I say. “I am constantly asked what I am. They ask, but they really don’t want to know. You’re lucky; you didn’t have to ask.” I step back and welcome the beast.

I shed my skin.

My body is electric blue and poisonous to those I wish it to be. I can choose the size I transform into when I shift, but can adjust my girth moment to moment. I grow as he watches in horror, and his fear feeds me.

I coil around his feet, sliding easily around his legs, up his chest and neck, until finally, we’re face to face. I hiss, my long tongue smelling his disbelief and the piss that covers him. He tries to fight the squeeze, but he can’t win.

No one can beat my snake.