Page 70 of Retaliation
“Why?” I panted, ready for more.
Andras stood, stalking toward us with a daemon’s grin. “Because I’ve decided your punishment for leaving.”
I pouted. “What? You know it wasn’t like that. You heard what happened.”
Andras nodded, unaffected. “Yes, and you still made the choice to run away instead of telling us the truth.”
I scoffed at him, sliding out of Ty’s lap and placing my hands on my hips as I stood. “It’s not like you are Mr. Open Book, Andras. All four of you have secrets too.”
“If you don’t accept the punishment, sweetheart, it’s going to hurt so much more,” Andras purred.
I shivered, debating whether or not I wanted to push him on this. I crossed my arms. “Fine. What’s the punishment?”
“The punishment is two-fold. First, we’re going hunting.” Andras left the room without another word.
I turned to the others, confused. “Hunting?”
Ty grinned, his biceps bulging as he crossed his arms and towered over me. “Yes, pet. But don’t worry, you’re not the prey this time. My father is. Well, one of his men.”
Whatever I expected him to say, that was not it. We were hunting one of The Obscuritas members? My mind spun as Levi grabbed my hand and tugged me after Andras. Dev said nothing as he followed behind with Ty. We marched in silence to the garage. The Princes pulled on their winter coats and grabbed several weapons from a locker just beside the door. Andras held out my leather jacket, and I slipped my arms into the sleeves.
“So what exactly is going to happen on this hunt?” I asked, unable to keep silent any longer.
Andras gazed into my eyes for several moments, his expression unreadable. He pulled out a cell phone, and I realized instantly it was mine.
“You received several messages from Ms. Audrey Kingston.”
I frowned. “She’s in my class. Why is she messaging me?”
I reached for the phone, but Andras snatched it away like an asshole.
“She messaged you asking for help.” Andras gripped my arm and guided me to the Land Rover. “Apparently, her friend has hinted at some trouble with a teacher, and now the friend has gone missing.”
“I don’t understand. Why did she message me?”
Audrey and I only spoke a handful of times. She seemed nice enough in class, and we swapped numbers, but nothing I’d said led me to think she would contact me for help, especially for something like this.
Andras opened my phone and pulled up a screen. It irritated me beyond belief that he was looking through my messages, but there was nothing incriminating for him to find on that phone. He handed over the cell, and I quickly read the first message.
Audrey
I don’t know why I’m asking you for help, you just seem like someone who can make things happen. The way you stand up to Andras in class and snap back. No one has ever done that. I don’t know who else to ask.
I smirked, and Andras rolled his eyes, snatching the phone out of my hand.
“Audrey’s family is not part of The Obscuritas, but my father has hinted at recruiting them. Her friend is in trouble and potentially being held captive by her teacher. The psychology professor in question is a member. And the missing girl, her name is Danielle Portman. She has no family in the area and got into Lesley College on grants. She is, well…”
“An easy target.” Ty finished his sentence with a grim face.
He jumped into the driver’s seat, and Andras helped me into the back. Levi and Dev followed, smashing me into the middle seat as Andras walked around to the front passenger side.
“Why would you guys give a shit about this girl? Especially when the professor is a member of your little cult.” My tone was mocking, but I was genuinely curious.
Andras turned his body, and his furious eyes caught me off guard. “I do not, nor will I ever, support the torture and kidnapping of innocent men, women, or children.”
His words forced memories of my sister and mother screaming as they died during that horrible ritual, and I snarled at him.
“Unless it benefits you, right? My mother and sister died for your fucking cult!”
