Page 142 of Knight’s Retribution

“We just saw her,” T said to Scarlet.

Scarlet’s eyes widened. “He let her out?”

“He was with her the whole time, and only for a few minutes.”

She nodded, and pain filled her eyes. “He keeps her hidden in his chambers and controls her every move.”

“Her condition?” Roc asked hoarsely.

“Lately, a lot better.” That pain in her eyes grew. “She fought him when she first came here, tried to escape, and he made her pay for it. I was her healer…” She shook her head, not elaborating. “I gained her trust, and then we found out who she was, that she was yours. We’d planned to get her out today, if not through the portal, then bring her here. Diemos has been easing up on the guards. I’d been coming and going more freely, but then he doubled her protection this morning, and they wouldn’t let me in. Not even to give her food. He’s been promising to give her more freedom all week, now this? Parading her around for a few minutes? There’s no way Tobias could get her away from Diemos. From another guard, yes, but not that fucker. He’s toying with her, or testing her.” Hands planted on her hips, she strode away and back. “I gave her hope, Roc. I truly believed we could do this. I’ve just made everything ten times worse for her.”

Typical Scarlet. She didn’t beat around the bush or leave him hanging. She told it to him straight. Roc had to fight not to double over and throw the fuck up or go apeshit and tear the room up around him.

He breathed deep, trying to keep it tight, while his demon screamed for the both of them. “Why would he even promise her more freedom?”

Scarlet moved in, getting close, and put her hands on his forearm. “She was trying to win him over. He’s…obsessed with her. He wants her to love him, worship him. He wants her to offer herself to him body and soul…he hasn’t tried to take that from her, not yet, anyway. He wants her to be his, but of her own free will.”

Rocco dragged in a ragged breath.

Scarlet gave his arm another squeeze, and he braced.

“He bathes her, keeps her naked and vulnerable at all times, and forces her to sleep in the same bed with him. The last couple of weeks, she tried… She’s forced herself to make him believe she was starting to care for him, that they were heading…there…”

His demon’s cry of pain broke free, the sound leaving Rocco in a soul-shaking roar while his entire body shook so hard it was an effort to hold himself together. That his female was forced to even contemplate that tore him to shreds.

“Keep it tight, Roc,” T said. “Kyler needs you to keep it together.”

He clenched his teeth and nodded.

“I don’t know what happened this morning,” Scarlet continued. “But instead of giving her the breathing room he’d been promising, he locked her down tight, and we couldn’t get anywhere near her.”

Rocco’s skin rolled, his demon just below the surface, desperate to break free and tear Hell apart to get to her. “So now she’s stuck in there with him, and she’ll either have to give herself to him, or be tortured? Is that what you’re telling me?”

Neither of them answered. They didn’t need to.

Chapter 8

Diemos looked down at Kyler, his gaze searching hers. It was as if he’d climbed inside her head and was shuffling through her thoughts. He’d barely let her step foot outside before bringing her back to his room, then he promptly left. She’d been so desperate to get out of here, she’d actually hallucinated that she’d seen Rocco’s face among the demons out there.

He’d said she could leave, that she’d have more freedom, repeatedly. She’d let him hold her, touch her. She’d kissed him.

Oh god.

Panic built steadily inside her. “You said when I’d proved myself to you…”

“You haven’t, not yet. Words are so easy, precious one.”

His eyes were wide, piercing, and he looked, god, he looked unhinged. More than usual.

Something was wrong.

He knew, didn’t he? He knew she’d been playing him.

There was a knock at the door.

“Enter,” he called without looking away from her.

Taren walked in, a female demon behind him. Some were more human looking than others. This one had dark hair that reached her waist and black eyes. They slid to Diemos, then Kyler, and she smirked.