Page 52 of Voices in the Stars (The Lost Witch #1)

Her screams echoed around the room as Ivy ran her knife along Cece’s pale skin. My fist clenched the couch I was sitting on. No one else should be touching her. That was one thing myself and the little voice of remaining humanity screaming inside me agreed on.

The old me wasn’t gone. His fists pounded against my head every time she cried out. I glanced over to my father. How did he manage both with no problem? I could ask, but I knew what the answer would be. Kill my pet. That wasn’t going to happen.

There wasn’t a care in my mind for the power I had at the moment. Eris had all these grand plans of ruining Feycrest he wanted me to help with. If I had it my way, I would lock Cece in my room and never leave.

Just the thought of her sweet taste made me ache.

My mouth filled with saliva as I shifted my weight in my seat.

Patience. I knew what my plan was. In just a few days, his friends would be charging this city.

They’d fight their way here to kill my father.

Or he would kill them. I couldn’t have cared less.

It was so exhausting caring about everyone.

How everyone around me felt. Ways to fix Feycrest. If I could’ve lessened the fear everyone felt toward me.

I had to fight off rolling my eyes. I didn’t know why I tried so hard.

None of it mattered in the end. He gave in and unleashed me.

I hoped I lived up to be every bit of the big, bad monster he feared.

Cece’s screams slowed as her voice went hoarse. She panted quiet moans as she dropped to the ground. His screaming in my head got louder. My fingers twitched with the need to help her. Gods, I was annoying. With a huff, I stood. Ivy and Eris turned to look at me.

“Think she’s had enough today. It’s my turn now,” I said with a smirk, hoping to hide the throbbing that started in my head.

Cece flinched as I walked over to her, grabbing the only uncut part of her arm.

She still hissed as she stood, legs shaking as I led her upstairs.

No words were spoken between us as I led her past my room to the bathroom.

He was the poet. Not me. There were no words I could say to her now to make her feel better.

Not that it would matter. This was her life until she gave Eris what he wanted. Any charming words would only lure her into a false sense of security.

Still, I held her hands as she stepped into the tub. Cece ripped her hands away from mine the moment she was steady. I crossed my arms, waiting for her to undress. There were dark bags under her eyes. Her body was bleeding and covered in gashes. Still, she found the energy to glare at me.

“Turn around,” she muttered.

“Excuse me?” I laughed. “You forget I’ve already seen you naked.”

Cece shook her head, hissing at the action. “No. He has.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” I stepped up to her, grabbing her chin even as she flinched away from me. “I am him. I’ve seen everything he has. That need to bite into your neck? That was me following him every step of the way. Now I’m here and can show you how much better than him I could be.”

Cece grimaced at my words, disgust darkening her face.

I let out a sigh. There was no explaining that would make her stop fighting me.

I reached a hand up, smirking at the way she jumped away from me.

My hand found the plug in the wall, ripping it out to let water from the mountain come cascading down on her.

She yelped as the cold water hit her. I snorted out a laugh, setting the plug down for her before walking out.

Curses were hurled at me as I shut the door.

I pulled a key out of my pocket, and used it to lock her inside the bathroom.

If she was awake when I returned, I was sure she would be pissed.

This was safer than letting my family have access to her.

I knew what I would come home to if I didn’t lock her away.

A dead Cece in my bed. I wasn’t done having my fun with her yet.

As I stepped back downstairs, voices drifted from the living room.

Ivy and Eris were discussing tomorrow’s plans.

The next ways they were going to torture her until she broke.

If I didn’t have her memories, I’d question why she didn’t just give in.

She was trapped. She truly didn’t know what he wanted her to do.

If it made a difference, I might have argued for her. Maybe.

Instead, I strolled out the front door. The air in that house was too heavy. The stench of death tainted every room. Even I needed a break from it.

The townspeople he knew so well avoided me entirely.

It was funny watching their eyes light up as they came to greet me.

Until they saw my dark eyes and went running in the other direction.

I didn’t want to be near their stink, anyway.

How Eris and Ivy drank from everyone, I would never understand.

Everyone else smelt of poison. Just the thought of biting into them sent bile rising in my throat.

No. Cece was the only one for me.