Page 31 of Beast

Of course, the Taser they used on him would have beenintensely painful, too.

“And you have the female?” I ask.

The feed from my mercenary’s tablet turns. Former SergeantMajor William Roan nods shortly, his manner as crisp as his clothing. I doubtthe man would get dirty even in the middle of a war. “Her Highness is secured,though I will say, sir, she has quite the mouth on her for a royal.”

“Yeah, well, she’s a cut-rate royal at best,” I shoot back.“The twins had to make do with a woman from the Earth plane. I believe theycall themselves humans. Ever since Torin shut the borders, finding a consorthas been difficult at best. I heard even the Malone heir recently took one ashis consort. It’s ridiculous that we have to lower ourselves this way. Once thetwins are dead and Torin reopens our trade routes, I’ll be a hero.”

And my company stock will be up.

More importantly, my brother will be avenged.

I can’t be absolutely certain Beck and Cian Finn had adirect hand in Kinsey’s death, but they are undoubtedly the reason my brotheris dead. I don’t need to see a body to know that my only brother is gone.Kinsey understood the obligations of family and business. He would never walkaway from his responsibilities.

I remember the last time I saw my brother. Kinsey was filledwith hope as he planned his travels off plane. He promised to bring back abeautiful consort named Meg.

He never returned.

The fact that the Finns have not accepted their place—thatis what truly caused Kinsey’s death. If they accepted the stronger man as theirking, there would be no need for my brother to seek out a consort. Kinsey wouldhave done what should have been his right—purchase the finest consort moneycould buy. Because the Finns refuse to accept they lost their throne, mybrother died trying to marry himself off to a disgusting human.

“Well, if you need to, feel free to slap Her Highnessaround. I’m sure she’s used to it,” I offer. Everyone knows the warrior king isa barbarian. He can’t help it. Beck Finn lacks half his soul. He and his twinare freaks of nature. The planes will be a better place when they’re gone.

The sergeant’s eyes narrow. “I believe I shall forgotorturing Her Highness. I think Beck Finn will turn himself in much morereadily if he believes his wife is in good shape. He could be dangerousotherwise. If he believes no harm has come to her yet, he will be moreamenable.”

I don’t care how it happens. I have no intention of givingup the woman who tempted my brother. The sergeant can play it any way hewishes, but I intend to have that bitch’s head.

“Just make sure you keep tabs on her after you let her go,”I say with a nod. I’m not going to betray my true intentions. This is the best team I could buy for thesituation. I’m not going to lose them due to their leader’s outmoded moralitywhen it comes to consorts. Vampires are taught to treat consorts withgentleness. But I doubt my brother was shown any. “We wouldn’t want her to beleft behind with no one to aid her.”

The very British mercenary bows slightly. “I would neverleave a woman out in these woods alone, much less a consort. She will bring amighty price, sir. Her glow is quite strong.”

Yes, she would if I intended to sell her. I have no doubtthat Megan Finn would be sought after by every available vampire, but thatwon’t be her fate.

Meg Finn is going to pay with her life.

And so will Dante Dellacourt.

“Is he dead?” I ask.

Dante hasn’t moved. He lies there like the lazy,good-for-nothing slug he is. Gods, I don’t want the asshole to be dead. There’sno way Dante has paid properly yet. More pain. That’s required to feed my needfor vengeance.

The sergeant shakes his head. “I assure you, he’s alive.He’s merely unconscious. He received a large jolt of electricity. I had to takehim down that way. The original plan was to create so much chaos we merely hadto pluck our targets from the crowd. The ogre created the chaos needed, but Iwas rather surprised that Dellacourt was able to bring the bugger down.”

I feel my jaw drop open. “What are you talking about? Whatdid Dante do? Fuck the ogre to death? It’s about all he’s good for.”

That bastard has been fucking my mistress for months. Thatrankles as well. It isn’t fair. I’m willing to admit it. I was the one who putAmanda in Dante’s bed, but I can’t stand the thought of touching her now. Atone point, I considered offering her a permanent position, but now I must thinkabout getting rid of her entirely. She knows far too much.

No one will miss a peasant girl.

“I’m still not sure how he did it,” the sergeant replies.“But he wasn’t at all what I expected. From the report you gave me, I ratherthought he would be huddling down with the women. Instead, he saved thevillage. The ogre still did what we needed. The village has been emptied, andmy men are going to ensure it stays that way until we can negotiate the termsof Their Highnesses’ surrender.”

“Torch it when you leave,” I order.

The sergeant stops, his face becoming a blank mask. “As youwish.”

“Keep me informed. I want to know the instant you have thosetwins in custody.” I turn off the monitor, and my office sinks back into gloom.I don’t bother with the lights nor do I open the blinds. I like the dark. Itsuits me.

A wave of stock numbers begins to crawl across the bottom ofmy monitor. The Dellacorp symbol flows by, along with a ridiculously hugenumber attached to it. My fists clench. Palgrave Industries is in the toiletstock wise, and it has been since the day my brother walked into the arena. Thepress got word that Kinsey Palgrave was fighting Beck Finn, and the company’sstock took a dive because no one believed Kinsey could best the Fae warriorking. The stock dove even further when news of Kinsey’s disappearance made thepress.

No one believes I can handle the company the way my brotherdid.