Page 21 of Incoronate
“I wasn’t aware that I was,” he answered innocently. “I was simply going over the possibilities.”
“I think she’s blushing,” noted Trace, his thumb still drawing those maddening circles on my skin.
“She most certainly is,” drawled Dominic as his dark eyes dusted over me with appreciation. “I think she likes the idea more than she’s willing to admit.”
“I’m warning you both—”
“What are you going to do, angel?” Dominic’s smirk was pure sin. “You’re chained to the bed. Rather limited in your options I’d say.”
My pulse spiked traitorously, and I knew they could both feel it. See it. The spell hummed beneath my skin, responding to the suggestion with an enthusiasm I absolutely did not need right now.
“I hate you both,” I said, though my voice came out breathless.
“Hate?” Dominic’s smile widened. “I seem to recall you begging us for more just a few hours ago.”
My face burned hotter. “That was different.”
“Was it?” He leaned closer, something predatory and pleased darkening his expression. “Because from where I’m sitting, you look just as flushed now as you did then.”
I tugged once more at the cuffs, more frustrated than threatening. “I swear to God, I will find a way to hurt you. Badly.”
“Maybe we should let her up,” said Trace, though his tone suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced of it himself. “She’s probably going to need to eat. And maybe a bathroom break.”
“Hmm.” Dominic tilted his head, considering it. “I’m not sure I see the urgency.”
“The urgency,” I cut in, trying to inject some authority into my voice despite my current position, “is that we have things to do. Important things. Remember? Caleb? Figuring out what the hell is going on with the wards?”
The playfulness drained from the room like a tide pulling back.
“She has a point,” said Trace, frowning. “We need to bring him here and find out what he knows,” he added and then sat up fully, the tension already showing around his eyes. “Today.”
Dominic’s features hardened just as quickly, the teasing replaced by a coldness that sent a prickle of unease down my back. “Indeed, we do.” He gazed down at me as he reached up, slipping the key into the first cuff. “As much as I’d rather enjoy keeping you here like this all day, we have more pressing matters to contend with first. Casters to interrogate. Truths to extract.” The metal released with a soft click. “Though I make no promises about later.”
Heat coiled low in my stomach at his words, the promise in them unmistakable.
He moved to the second cuff, his fingers brushing against my wrist. “And if our dear Caleb has been playing both sides, well…” The second cuff opened, freeing my hands completely. “Let’s just say the information extraction will be significantly less pleasant for him.”
“Meaning?” I asked, rubbing my wrists where the metal had pressed and feeling the freedom of movement return.
Trace’s jaw tightened. “Meaning we deal with it.”
My eyes volleyed nervously between the two of them before snagging on Dominic as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and straightened. “Dealing with it how, exactly?” I pressed.
When he glanced back at me over his shoulder, his expression was unreadable in a way that made another chill run down my back. “By whatever means necessary.”
My eyes widened. “What are you going to do? Torture him?” I asked, half kidding, half horrified.
“If that’s what it takes,” he answered plainly.
I flinched at his response. “Are you even hearing yourself? You can’t just torture—”
“Oh, but I most certainly can, angel.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “If he betrayed you, if he helped the Order gain access to hurt you…” He paused. “I’ll do far worse than torture.”
Panic surged in my chest. “We don’t know if he’s guilty. We don’t know anything yet,” I quickly reminded him.
“Which is why we’ll ask him nicely first,” answered Trace, though there was steel in his voice. “Give him a chance to explain. And if the answers don’t add up…” He didn’t finish the sentence.
He didn’t need to.
