Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“I’m not a toy!”
Ronin glared at the tattoo on my arm. “Prove it.”
“Arrggh!” Screaming, I snatched up the bookbag and flung it at that hateful, smug face. It bounced off Ronin’s chest—
—and I was blown off my feet.
“Ergh!”
An invisible force caved in my chest, punching the wind out of me and popping me out of my shoes. I tumbled head over feet across the floor and crashed into the door, collapsing into a crumpled, wheezing pile.
Pain was my only friend and companion. Anyone who claimed I hadn’t just broken every rib in my chest would get yelled at for being a filthy liar.
“Ahhh...” I sobbed. “Waahhh.”
“Shh,” Ronin soothed. A warm hand stroked my hair. “My point has been made. There’s no need to draw it out, so don’t fight it, Charlie. There’s no pain where you’re going.”
I didn’t fight it. As darkness rose to meet me, I jumped into its arms willingly.
Chapter Ten
Iwoke up in bed, which I guess was an improvement over waking up in Ronin’s lap. But an even more desirable improvement would’ve been waking up alone.
Crunch. Crunch.
I shifted, flipping my head over and glaring at the demon lying beside me.
Handling a wicked-looking dagger with ease, Ronin carved up his apple and ate the slices off the tip of his blade.
He saw me looking. “Finally, you’re up. That sub bond doles out some vicious and swift punishment, doesn’t it.”
My eyes narrowed to slits. “You should leave, Ronin.” My voice was rough and ragged from screaming. “You and I have no more to say to each other.”
“Don’t we?”
“No.” I carefully pushed myself up. The pain was gone, but I still felt sluggish like I’d just run a marathon with cinderblock shoes. “You don’t have to help me find the hallows if you don’t want to, but you’re not going to stop me. Whatever they are, they’re my and Dora’s ticket out of hell, and I’m not throwing that away on the dubious advice of someone who couldn’t be more clear in their goal of keeping me in hell.
“You say the dryads are dangerous and will kill me for asking them for help? Well, I say you’re full of shit,” I stated. “People that evil don’t raise guys as nice as Nik. I’m finding him tomorrow, and I’m asking him to set up a meet with his mothers.”
Ronin nodded along to my speech—hmming and oohing in all the right places. “You’re going to talk to the rat tomorrow, you say?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm.” He tipped his head, gazing at me from upside down. “And you don’t think it’ll be a problem for him that I’ll skin him alive over a boiling cauldron and gift him the pleasure of watching his organs turn to soup? Because that’s his fate if he even looks your way again—as has been explained to him.”
My jaw dropped. “What the hell! Is that why he’s been so squirrelly around me lately? Why would you do that!”
“And here I thought my goal of keeping you in hell was obvious?” he sang, beaming like a bastard.
“You—!”
“Enough, Hunter, I didn’t wait around all this time to pick a fight with you.” Ronin leaned over and stabbed the side table with the knife, leaving it sticking up. “We’re both upset that a fight resulted in you attacking me and winding up unconscious. So let’s make up and fuck all the tension away.”
I gaped at him. “Dude, are you shitting me? You actually think I want to have sex with you right now? I understand the phrase ‘just a pretty face’ now more than ever!”
He laughed. “That hurts, but I know how you can make it up to me.” Ronin reached for my hem.
“Cut it out!” I shoved his hand away, lurching back. “I said no.”
“You always say no. You say no while you’re twitching around my cock and shaking from your fifth orgasm. No’s just your favorite fucking word.” He tugged on my clothes.
“I said stop!” I fell out of bed, stumbling away. “What is with you? Gods, my life’s been such a nightmare since you forced your way into it!” Suddenly, I was screaming. “I made the worst mistake of my life picking up that phone and calling you! I should’ve just let Kazuya, Bruno, and Pravat do whatever it is they were going to do to me, because at least by now, it would’ve been over!”
Ronin’s eyes, his expression, his everything changed. “You’re comparing me...” A sinister edge crept into his tone. “To those worthless, hideous shits?”
“Why not? You’re exactly the same as them,” I whispered. “No wonder they work for you, boss.”
Getting up, Ronin rounded the bed and bore down on me.
I held my ground, not breaking his staredown for a second.
“I didn’t realize I was causing you so much distress, Hunter.” His strange eyes glittered. “I told you once that I don’t believe in forcing a woman, so I defer to you. I’ll let you choose.”