Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
On cue, a door opens to my left, and I hesitate for a second before I head in. I do my best to walk normally, but it’s impossible. Painful soreness explodes between my legs with every movement and it’s a struggle to breathe properly, let alone walk.
The room’s walls are made of irregular stones, and the ceiling is shaped like a dome, adorned with a gruesome image of a vicious fight between a black snake and a large crow.
The vast space isn’t as dark as the tunnel, but it’s not bright either. Five people stand in a circle in the middle, holding lit torches with leather-gloved hands.
They’re wearing long oversized black cloaks, so I can’t tell their gender. Their faces are covered by masks just like Kane’s. The serpentine and talon details look monstrous under the dancing fire.
The thought of these perverts watching Kane fuck me to within an inch of my life makes me physically sick.
My hands shake and I consider turning around and running as far away as possible.
But I don’t.
Not after what I endured to get here.
Two cloaked Members ease back, allowing an opening in the circle. I take that as my cue to step in.
As soon as I’m inside, a suffocating presence materializes behind me. One—or a few—cloaked people glare at me through the tiny eyeholes of their masks, but I still turn to face whoever’s hot on my heels.
A tall shadow towers over me, holding a silver cup with carved serpents coiling around it in his left gloved hand. The right hand, however, is naked, with veins protruding on the back, showcasing the black ring on his index finger.
Kane.
I don’t know what it says about me to be able to recognize him from just his hand despite the fact that he’s fully cloaked and masked.
He must’ve followed me in from outside, because the circle that closes around us still has five Members.
The throbbing between my thighs intensifies, and I’m not sure whether it’s due to disgust for what he made me go through or something entirely different.
Kane places his right hand on top of my head. It’s rough, big, and makes my heart beat faster.
Just when I think he’ll probably crush my skull, he pushes me down firmly. “Kneel.”
The single word is nonnegotiable, and I bend my knees, slowly dropping into position—not that I can refuse.
I just hope this isn’t another exhibitionist sexual act. I don’t think I can do it in front of so many people. Hell, I still feel nauseous knowing that these people watched my unraveling through the camera.
“Repeat after me.” Kane’s voice sounds so cold, my blood freezes. “I pledge my soul to the shadows.”
My forefinger traces a small circle on my thumb, and I gulp the ball in my throat as I speak in a low but steady voice. “I pledge my soul to the shadows.”
Kane’s fingers dig into my scalp and I think he’ll smash my head into pieces after all, but he releases me and outstretches his big palm in front of me. “Hand.”
I offer him my left hand and he pulls out a black dagger from the back of his jeans and cuts my index finger. The sting is small, but blood pours out and Kane drips it into the cup.
Then he cuts his own index finger and I watch with bated breath as our blood mixes together as if it’s a satanic ritual.
Kane dips his cut index finger into the cup, swirls it around, then uses the blood to draw what I think is a serpent symbol on my forehead.
Once he’s done, he lets the cup fall to the floor, its loud clink echoing in the silence. I stare up at him, and although I can only see dark holes through the mask, they’re glinting.
Shining.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen his eyes so…thrilled? Is that the right word?
One of the men surrounding us speaks, his scratchy voice filling the space. “Now, pass her to the others so they can come in her mouth.”
My skin prickles and my eyes widen.
I’ve been so focused on Kane’s miniature movements, I somehow blacked out the other Members surrounding us.
My gaze searches his, but only for a second. A foolish one.
Because the truth hits me like a knife to the ribs. Kane isn’t on my side.
No one in this room is.
Will I be able to lower myself that far? Even if it’s for Violet, I don’t think I can do it.
Kane doesn’t react to the man’s words. Instead, he reaches into his cloak and produces a silver mask—similar to the guards’ ones—and straps it around my face.
He grabs my hand and pulls me up to a standing position so that I’m facing him. His chest grazes mine for a brief second, hot and hard, like a wall.
“Not interested,” he says in his usual emotionless tone, but I think I detect tension beneath it.