Page 91 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

I remained silent for a moment. I was already tired of this conversation. Finally I said, “I’m sure you do.”

“Tell me, Prince of Hell, what does your father know about my Master?”

My brows furrowed. That was not the question I was prepared for, and it was simple to answer. “Not as much as he’d like.”

Niko chuckled as if I’d pleased him. I blew air through my nose, watching as the man stopped by Faye and leaned in. “Do it.”

The air around me suddenly crackled with energy, spiking down my skin with a burn. I grunted in surprise, pain pulsing in my mind.

“Don’t be cute, Fallen. We don’t have time for that.”

I shook my arms out, glaring first at him and then at the slender witch at his side. “That hurt.” I grunted at her pointedly.

To my surprise, she blushed and then stepped farther behind Niko.

He rolled his eyes. “Witches, I swear. Such emotional creatures. But then, you know that since your mate is one as well.”

Alarm bells were ringing in my mind, and I kept my face carefully calm. When I didn’t react, I could see the visible disappointment in his gaze. He tried again.

“You should hear what it took to break this one into her powers, even with a teacher as powerful as…” He trailed off, grinning at me wolfishly. “Well, anyway. We always find a way to get what we need.”

He circled me. “Those who do not bend at the knee, often break, Fallen. Why don’t we work together to make sure that doesn’t happen for your spicy little redhead.”

I grunted, steeling myself for the next wave. This time I could see the way the witch shifted, her gaze flickering ever so slightly to the man standing beside her. And then, a caress against my mind. Not a knock. Not an invasion like my family’s communication. Something else.

I focused on it for only a breath before it broke in.

Faye’s voice was soft and hushed inside my mind. “Close the bond to her.”

“Why?” I met her eyes, seeing the fear invade them now as Niko looked at me with such hatred.

“Because what he will have me do to you…” Faye’s eyes met mine, even as her lips remained unmoving, her voice speaking directly into my mind. “It will hurt her too.”

Horror filled every part of me. “What?”

“I’m sorry” was all she said, and then she was gone from my head.

Panicked, I threw my magic against the bond in my chest, closing it down, keeping it far away, putting pressure on it until it was nothing but a tiny speck against the very core of my soul.

Only then could I hope that she would be safe from their hands. Meeting the witch’s eyes, I nodded. Fangs dropping, I snarled at Niko. “I am a prince of Hell, the heir to my father’s kingdom. I won’t tell you anything.”

Niko’s handsome face turned dark in an instant. “We will see about that.”

***

29

Justine

I ran through the halls, my feet slapping against the cold floor as Faye shouted my name. I could hear the loading of weapons as the soldiers for the Master—fuck, I meant the Drude, trailed after me. They only jogged, which made sense because they knew that I couldn't actually escape.

I ran anyway. Deep in my chest, I let my bond rip open, flooding desperate love and need down the tremulous bond between Nephesh and myself. There had to be a way. There had to be a connection still. If Faye could still feel hers, even after shoving it down and hiding it for most of her life, then Nephesh’s attempt couldn’t be the end of us.

It could be a beginning.

But I had to get to him first. I charged down past the furnished part of the warehouse and into the cold, dimly lit space that had been home for those first few days. It had been only last week, but it felt like forever, especially knowing what might have happened to Nephesh while I was there, unable to reach him.

Too fucking afraid to reach him.