Page 160 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

I run straight into the arms of his most reliable devotee. Over his shoulder, I see the night sky and those storm clouds.

In my mind, I see King’s gentle smile as he brushes back my hair. Blaze dancing with his dao, spinning with so much grace. Sage grinning wickedly as he sticks another of those bobble-head toys up, knowing it will irritate Blaze. Rolly and his enthusiastic emotions. Pix and his eyes that hold shadows like mine, and Roseland watching me like he’s waiting. What is he waiting for?

I was so close.

Brian is a beta who loves to hurt people as much as Father does. He has a thick neck and the visage of a monster. His scarred and pockmarked skin does little to hide the cruel and too-wide eyes; they always look like they are bulging. His lips are grotesquely large, and his beard grows patchy and wispy. He’s got muscles on muscles, and he is strong. I once saw him crush a man’s head just with the strength in his fists.

Brian is a monster, but he’s Father’s monster. A trained and reliable lapdog that is eager to please and attack on call.

He holds me by the throat, squeezing so tight it’s hard to inhale, as he walks me away from the night sky and the stars that are so close.

“Father is waiting for you.”

I tremble and give up my hold on the body.

There’s nothing I can do to save us now.

Jay

Ilet go of the weapon and stare at Brian impassively. He likes fear, so I will give him exactly none of it. Father will let him hurt me, but only so far. He can’t break bones or injure me so I die.

It will hurt, but I can survive a little pain. And a lot.

“Come on, little girl.”

Asshole. It’s not even a good taunt. My lips curl, and he has to almost shove me to get me moving. I refuse to go willingly anywhere with him. If Father wants to hurt me, he can do it his damn self.

The smell of dust is familiar. Soon, it will mix with the smell of my blood. I hate that smell.

Just being here has my stomach churning.

The body is reacting, even if I don’t feel fear, the body is reacting like it feels it.

I lose track of the turns, but then I’m searching the shadows, looking for him and anything else that can save me.

I stumble to a stop, my thoughts tangling with Merle and Raptor’s memories, and I realise the critical, absolutely idiotic, foolish mistake we just made. Pix isn’t with his family.

He’s with our alphas.

“Fuck,” I breathe out, stunned by how incredibly stupid we were.

We lost our damn minds because we let ourselves panic. We just handed ourselves over to him. Gift wrapped. He never had anyone. This was all just to get me back here.

Brian drags me to a room that I’ve never been to before, but when he pulls up my wrists and secures me to the chains, I realise I know this room. I know this room well.

I stare straight in front of me, staring at my mirror.

She’s alive.

She’s dead.

She’s me.

She’s a stranger.

My fear turns the room sour, and I turn my head quickly and vomit as I try to press the memories down, forcing them to be gone.

He’s carving her up, and we’re both screaming.