Page 152 of Wicked Magik

“Things are going to get messy,” I muttered and licked the blood off his forehead.

Benedict had been the estate's eyes and ears long before the courts fell. In Veylor's memories, he appeared to be the perfect servant; in reality, he was a viper who had coiled himself around the heart of this home.

Sylvaine had leverage over Benedict…he knew the identity and location of Benedict's mate. "What choice did I have?" Benedict had whimpered through bloodied lips. "He threatened her. Said he'd make her disappear if I didn't help him."

Benedict was hellbent on finding his other half, even if that meant breaking the triad. The triad that had been so accepting of him, bringing him back, giving him every fucking thing.

We would have helped him…

Instead, he betrayed us all.

The bastard had slipped Vesper a draught that would keep her unconscious for Sylvaine to transport her wherever he decided to take her.

Sylvaine was too cunning to return to his known residence. He'd prepared some secret location to imprison Vesper, revealing nothing of substance to Benedict. Unless he came back with him would he be given the location of his mate.

Benedict wasn’t there… Now was he?

Sylvaine had only made contact with Benedict weeks ago. Under questioning, Benedict revealed everything—how our triad remained unbonded, how Vesper hesitated to finalize our union.

The moment Sylvaine learned this weakness, he mobilized. Benedict admitted that after Veylor's visit to the bookkeeper, he'd sent word to Sylvaine that Vesper seemed ready to commit. That's when Sylvaine packed his belongings and descended upon our estate like a vulture.

What purpose would Sylvaine have with her?

“What else?” Veylor asked as he threw Benedict into one of the cells of the basement. “Anything else I need to be aware of? Like why he wants Vesper?”

Benedict shook his head. His clothes were torn. Scratches littered his body where I took the liberty to rip up the skin that Veylor had gifted him.

I was ready to cut off his dick so he would never be able to bond with his mate, but Veylor said he didn’t want me touching anyone’s dick but his.

He’s sweet like that.

“I swear, I don’t know what he wants with her. He said he won’t hurt her, he just wants her to live with him. No spells on her, no ill intent. Just to be with him!”

Veylor shook his head and clasped his hands around his back.

“This will be painful.” Veylor said as he stared into the cell. His eyes were laser focused as he stared into Benedict’s eyes. It was the same I had done to Veylor when I tried to read his mind.

Benedict screamed.

While it had only been seconds, Veylor let go and took a panting breath. “He’s telling the truth. No idea where they are, and he did it for his own selfish reasons. Sylvaine did elude honesty about keeping Vesper safe.”

I ground my teeth in impatience. “Is it my turn now?” I waved my tail back and forth.

Veylor hummed. “If it will please you.”

"Oh, it will." Each deliberate step of my hooves against stone sent Benedict shrinking further against the wall, his scream rising in pitch as I closed the distance between us.

“Please don’t! I just wanted my mate! To be loved! Please!”

I didn’t answer, instead, I opened my maw and chomped it over his head.

Chapter 49

Vesper

I’m sensing a theme here.

I have been kidnapped for the third time in just a couple of months.