Page 76 of Hellbound

“It’s at the intersection of ‘get wrecked’ and ‘fuckboy.’ ”

Roman stood stock still, his eyes glued on her. His features slackened, as if he didn’t have a thought in his head. Then he flashed her a toothy smirk.

“You’re not funny, bitch.”

All that youthful ignorance fell away, replaced in an instant by a violent knowing that better suited his venomous aura. Something shoved against Marian’s mind so hard and fast, it made her sway. She clamped down against it, shutting out the sensation of needles piercing her skull.

But she didn’t miss the subtle falter in Roman’s smile.

“She told you about me, didn’t she? What a goddamn pain in my ass.”

Marian stifled a groan as the pressure in her head dissipated.

“What are you? This power … this is not what the Gifted do.”

“Shut up,” He extended a hand to her, and the pressure around her head turned crushing. “You really want to help that sweet kid you met at the coffee shop. He seems like a nice enough guy, and he’s really worried about his cute lil’ friend, Tori. So where is she?”

Marian bit down hard, but her defenses held, and the tide of his will retreated. This time, Roman let out a frustrated growl. His eyes sharpened, irritation flashing across his pasty white face. “Why is it always so weird with you?”

Marian unclenched her jaw. Fuck, she didn’t have the stamina for this. They needed to leave. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

Roman prowled toward her. Marian backed away.

“I tried to will you to me for days, but you wouldn’t come. There’s something inside you that won’t let me all the way in. Makes me want to slice you open and see if I can’t bleed it out of you. But my lady said you’re off limits.”

Roman kept walking, and Marian sidestepped out of his reach and backed up along the length of the dresser spanning the long wall.

Marian risked a darting glance at the space under the bed as she edged along the dresser. She spotted the sole of a white Samba before it disappeared fully from view.

Marian swallowed hard.

“How did you influence me? You only touched me once.”

Roman’s boyish smirk widened into something vulgar and cruel.

“Once is all it takes for me to get under someone’s skin. And people are very malleable when they’re not paying attention. It’s amazing what you can convince them of when you put a little ‘oomph’ into it, especially when they want to believe you. You were hungry for what I had to say and ate up every word. Damn shame your brain is a scrambled mess.”

Spite flared again as Marian bit back with a soft snort.

“Or maybe you just suck at this.”

Roman let out a peal of laughter that struck her like lightning. Her skin pricked as her heart lodged itself in her throat. Stuck in a room with a rabid dog, and all she could think to do was taunt it.

Good job, me.

Roman slowly licked his lips as his laughter died away. An unusually long tongue swiped across his front teeth, which seemed more pointed than they’d been moments ago.

“You’re all nerve and no sense, aren’t you, you bony little shit?” He looked at her like a starving beast cornering its prey. “But hey, whatever—here you are now, right where I need you. I’m curious, though. Did Tori tell you the whole story? Because she has a knack for leaving out the most important details.”

He tilted his head back. “I know you’re here, by the way. I’ll drag you out of whatever hole you’re hiding in soon enough.”

Marian bristled at his taunt.

“She told me plenty.”

“Really?” Roman cocked his head. “You must be a real bleeding heart then if you’re still sticking your neck out for her. Y’know, since she was going to sell you out to my lady.”

A subtle rattle of the floor lamp behind Roman caught her eye. Marian quickly looked away and forced herself to look at the menacing Gifted. “Yeah, we went over that.”