Page 14 of The Guardian (Dark-Hunter 20)
He didn't respond as he ran his hand underneath his chin where that repulsive bolt scar marred his skin ... he could still feel it piercing his mouth and tongue.
It bothered him that she knew what he looked like. No good had ever come from anyone seeing his real features, especially not here. In Azmodea, it was always better to be feared than desired. A very harsh lesson he'd learned the moment Noir had brought him here and drained his powers, leaving him an unguarded victim for all the others until he'd regained enough strength to fight back. It was another reason there was no way into his room except by teleportation.
No one would ever victimize him again.
Except for the two who owned him. There was no way to protect himself from Noir or Azura's particular brand of brutality.
His stomach churned with the thought of that and the fact that he felt like he was naked in front of her. That made his anger rise even higher.
"Don't do it again. Ever."
Lydia rolled her eyes at that overstated growl as his armor and makeup reappeared to cover him. Whatever makes you feel better, babe ...
An instant later, the remains of her food were gone and replaced by more.
She gave him an arch stare. "I take it you're hungry."
He shook his head. "You probably are. How long was I out?"
"I don't know. You don't have a clock"-She gestured to the wall-"or window so that I can check time. Offhand, I'd say a day, maybe."
Still, he didn't move. He merely sat there like an angry gargoyle, plotting revenge on some poor pigeon.
Ignoring his foul mood, she went to the food, hating the fact that she was starving. She'd been living on the fruit, but that hadn't been enough to really satisfy her. She was craving protein in the worst sort of way. "You want some?"
"No."
"Maggot!"
Lydia jumped at the fierce shout that reverberated off the walls around them.
Seth's features tightened into a mask of murder. The hatred in his gaze seared her. Without a word, he flashed out of the room and left her again.
* * *
Seth manifested in Noir's dismal office that was as dark as Seth's heart and mood. "You summoned me, my lord?"
"Well?"
He never wanted to hear the damn cursed word again. And he was confused as to why Noir was using it. "I don't understand."
Noir backhanded him so hard his head snapped back and his neck made a loud popping sound. For a full minute he saw stars as Noir wrapped his hand in Seth's hair and yanked him closer, so that he could snarl in his bleeding ear. "Then I shall speak slowly and use small words so that even a pathetic idiot like you can follow." Noir jerked his head with every syllable to punctuate it even more. "What. Is. Your. Progress? Do you have my key?"
Seth ground his teeth. There was no way to win this. If he told Noir the truth, he'd beat him again.
Please give me my powers for one second, you sorry bastard. That was all he would need to make Noir feel his wrath.
Damn you, Father. Damn you straight to hell! I hope Sesmu is squeezing the blood out of you right now and making you drown in it. More than that, he hoped his father was roasting in the ovens of the Underworld.
But none of that changed his slavery. None of it changed this moment.
Or what was about to be done to him.
And he hated most what he was forced to do. Subjugate himself. "I'm doing my best for you, my lord."
Noir caught him by his throat and squeezed so hard that he wheezed. "You better tell me why you have no more news than that."
Seth coughed as Noir's grip tightened even more. "I-I couldn't."
"Why?"
Even though he knew what it would get him, Seth met Noir's gaze and let him see the full weight of his hatred. "I was left unconscious from your punishment."
"That's what you get for being weak, you pathetic dog. If you were a man you'd have been able to take it."
Only weak because you steal my powers ...
He grabbed Noir's wrist and tried to drag it from his throat.
"Do you dare challenge me, slave?"
Seth didn't answer with the truth. He knew better. But he wanted to. Desperately. "I live only to serve you."
Noir backhanded him again. "You'd best remember that."
How could he ever forget? It burned inside him like a bitter furnace.
"Yes, my lord." He focused his gaze on the far wall to make sure he didn't look the bastard in the eye and incur a worse wrath.
Noir slapped him. "Are you paying attention?"
It took every ounce of will he possessed not to strike out at his overlord. Don't do it. Don't. It wouldn't be worth the cost.
Still, he wanted to fight back so badly, he could taste it.
"Yes, my lord."
Noir shoved Seth away from him. "Your time is growing finite, dog. As is my patience. You either give me what I need, or I'll return you to your pit and let the demons there have you for eternity."
Then why are you wasting my time by making me appear here when I could be pursuing it? That question burned in his throat. Effing idiot.
"I understand, my lord."
"I don't think you do, slave. But you're about to."
