Chapter 26
Zane’s POV
What the fuck was this?3
I couldn’t move
I tried, but hell, I screamed inside my head to move even a goddamn finger–but it was like I was strapped down by
wn by invisible chains My arms, my legs, my torso–nothing. Dead fucking weight. The only thing I could do was turn my head, just barely. And I turned it fast, watching her walk. No–glide. Like a queen who knew she held power now, every step calm and cold, every flick of her eyes like a dagger under my skin.
What the hell did she do to me?8
One fucking word. One command. And I was down like a dog on a leash. My wolf was snarling inside me, humiliated, foaming at the mouth, but just like me, he was frozen. Round. Caged.
“You’ve gone too far,” I growled, spitting the words like venom, my throat raw from screaming. “You’ve gone She didn’t even flinch 3
100
fucking fart”
She passed by me slowly, her scent brushing past me like a tease, but it wasn’t the kind that made me crave–it was the kind that made my gut twist, knowing I’d lost something I never should’ve let go.
Her voice was a whisper soaked in power. “Before, one command from you and I was shaking in fear. Even when I didn’t want to… I submitted. But now look at you.
She stopped just beside me, her mouth so close I could feel the warmth of her breath, but the coldness in her tone froze my blood.
“I can now do anything to you… with only a word “8
My blood boiled. Rage clawed up my throat and spilled out of my mouth.
“You’re so full of yourself!” I shouted, teeth grinding. “If I fucking knew you’d grow a backbone like this, I wouldn’t have gone with Nina! I would’ve kept you, even if you bored me to death at the time!“¦
1 expected her to snap, to show a flicker of pain or even anger.)
She just shook her head, sad little smile playing on her lips like I was nothing but a pitiful memory.
“I didn’t know if that’s an insult or a compliment,” she said softly. “Maybe if you told the old me I was boring, I would’ve cried and done everything to satisfy you. But hearing it now? I’m fucking glad you found me boring. Because it got me away from you.”
Then she tumed and walked right to Cullan. That bastard was still chained up like a broken beast, and I watched her move like some fucking goddess toward him.
And that’s when I heard a sound like scales dragging against stone.
The snakes.
They slithered out from the shadows of the cave–slow, massive, terrifying. Thick, colling monsters, their tongues flicking in my direction. !panicked
“Quinn!” I shouted, twisting my head toward her. “What the fuck is this?{}
But she didn’t even blink. She just lifted her hand and said one word!!
“Stop.”
And the goddamn snakes froze. Mid–crawl. Like statues made of muscle and scales. The power in her voice, fuck, it wasn’t normal. She wasn’t the Quinn I knew She was something else now. Something… divine. Dangerous!!
She crouched beside Callan and touched him. Her hand glowed and then Callan gasped like he’d just surfaced from drowning. His wounds vanished. His chains fell off.L
Callan looked around like he’d seen hell, and maybe he had. His eyes landed on her, then the snakes, then me.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said, hoarse.
Gunn nodded.
“Wart” I shouted, my voice cracking like
“Quinn, look! Look at my fucking chestry
“Don’t leave me here, you bastards!” My eyes burned, throat tearing with each scream
I moved my head, showing her the symbol. The carved mark. Her name. Still raw Sull bleeding!!
“This is proof that I was faithful to your That I chose you! Please… Choose me. I’ll be a better mate. I swear–I’ll do better Just don’t fucking leave me
She didn’t even spare me a glance I
She walked away. Out of the care. Out of my life E
And then the
One by one, they turned toward me. Their eyes locked onto my chest, like they knew Like they were drawn to the pathetic desperation carved into my skin. The symbol of my failure
NO–1
One launched first, fangs bared, aiming straight for the mark
And when the bet down. I screamed Not just from
pain, but from the truth t
355 PM ď ď
Quinn’s POV
