Page 77 of Knight’s Salvation

“Is he all right?”

“He’s fine.” His grin turned wicked. “Though I’m not sure how happy he’ll be when he sees you.”

Crap.Perhaps coming here hadn’t been such a great idea. She didn’t want to add to his worries. Well, it was too late to go back now. He’d just have to get over it. Maybe next time he wouldn’t run off without telling her first. “How long have you known Zenon?”

He chuckled, and the raspy sound sent a shiver down her spine. “Oh, I’ve known Zenon for a very long time. We go way back.”

The elevator opened to a large entryway. Her escort led her to a set of double doors and knocked once.

It swung open and a tall woman in a beautifully tailored deep scarlet dress stood looking down at her. Her hair was dark, long, and glossy. Her almost black eyes traveled over Mia from head to toe, and the tight-lipped curiosity turned dark with disdain.

“I, ah…I think I’m at the wrong place.” Mia took a step back, but the silent male at her side halted her retreating steps.

“No, you’re right where I want you. Please, come in.”

Why would Zenon be here with this woman? Everything in her told her to go in the other direction, to get out of there. But Zenon had told her he was sending someone down for her, and these people had been expecting her, so pushing aside her misgivings, she stepped over the threshold. The woman started across the room and without looking back crooked a slender red-tipped finger over her shoulder. “This way.”

When they entered what she guessed was the living room, the woman stopped and turned to face her. “You really shouldn’t have come, demi. Now you’ve left me no choice.”

“What are you talking about? Where’s Zenon?”

The woman’s beautiful features twisted into what could only be described as utter loathing as she gave Mia a slow perusal from head to toe. She glanced at the male standing behind Mia. “What can he possibly see in such a frumpy little mouse?”

“Excuse me?” What a bitch.

“What you don’t understand, little mouse, is that Zenon is mine…and that will never change.”

That’s when she felt the dark power radiating from other woman. This was her, the woman who kept Zenon as her slave. Fear for him gripped her, making her knees weak and a cold sweat coat her skin. “Where is he? What have you done to him?”

“Nothing he doesn’t beg for. I promise you that.” The sadistic heat in her eyes made Mia’s stomach churn and acid flood the back of her throat.

Oh God. Oh God, no.

Reaching behind her, the woman grabbed the door handle at her back and pushed the door wide. “See for yourself.”

Her feet took her forward, while fear at what she was about to see seized the breath in her lungs.

The room was dim, but she had no trouble seeing him. A sob burst from her throat. His lifeless form was strung up on some steel contraption, his arms and feet spread wide and shackled to the framework. He was completely naked, his beautiful skin scratched and bruised.

“No.” She ran to him. His head was slumped forward, his long black hair covering his face. He didn’t move, didn’t answer. His breathing was shallow, labored.

She spun around. “What have you done to him?”

“He defied me. This is the price he paid.” She sneered. “You can blame yourself for his condition. He took this punishment to keep you safe. You failed him, made all he’s suffered for nothing, because now he will watch you die.”

Mia barely managed two steps before she was grabbed and thrown roughly onto the bed in the center of the room. The male she now realized was a demon pulled her arms and legs wide and tied her down. When he stepped back, sick anticipation covered his face.

The sadistic monster who’d spent several lifetimes making Zenon’s life a living hell stepped forward, and this time when she smiled, she let her pointed teeth peek past her full lips. “Time for the real fun to begin.”

Helena fuckinghim up more than he already was wasn’t Zenon’s only problem, because right then his mind was playing tricks on him. He could smell Mia. Smell the woman he craved with every fiber of his being. He sucked in another breath and his gut tightened.

Tilting his head, he listened for movement but couldn’t hear a thing. Not when his pulse pounded so hard it felt like someone was playing a fucking drum solo against his eardrums.

Helena wasn’t in the room, he knew that much. A low buzz vibrated over his skull, the same feeling he got whenever she used her powers. She was in one of her trances somewhere else in the penthouse. He could feel the difference in her power, like she was on a different frequency. In that state, she could communicate with the demons she hoped would help her overthrow Diemos, could get in their heads. She wasn’t aware of much when she was like that, so she’d have herself locked away in one of the rooms, have it well warded.

He tried to lift his head but it was a complete fail. His skull felt like a dead weight hanging from his neck. His limbs screamed in protest at being stretched out too long, and his muscles spasmed and knotted, sending sharp stabbing pain to his joints.

He licked his dry, split lips, and a groan slid up his throat.