Part 30 (1/2)
”No.”
Gaius put in his two cents. ”Mortals describe a girl fitting your description with Dirk outside a hotel.”
”There are lots of pet.i.te, dark-haired girls in New York, in case you never noticed. He hired a hooker, who looks like me- that surprises you?”
”Gaius, are you satisfied? She claims innocence.”
The Wolf was nonplussed. ”She's learned subtlety and deception from Ethan. It grieves me to harm this lovely, talented talented child but I've lost my second and some very expensive property.” child but I've lost my second and some very expensive property.”
”You've no proof the girl was there.”
”Old friend, you want to spare the feelings of your beloved servant but the girl must be bled. We'll see if she tells the truth.”
Brovik sighed, as if the entire thing were an annoying inconvenience to his nightly walk in the woods. ”Mia, now is the time to confess. I offer you a swift and painless death.”
”I didn't do it.”
”You leave me no alternative.”
Kurt retorted, ”You heard her! She's innocent. All of his alphas despised Dirk. They hired a girl to make it appear Mia was behind it. Look to your alphas, Gaius!”
Uproar started among the alphas. Gaius just sat there chuckling.
Brovik's voice dropped into a deadly register, ”Consider what you're saying, Kurt.”
”I've withstood their insults for years. Dirk was the worst of them. The world is well rid of him.”
Gaius was highly amused. He gestured casually toward Kurt. ”This pretty one is worth more than the lot of you dogs.”
Diego's pasty face went red. ”I won't be insulted by this rent boy rent boy.”
Wow, they'd struck the heart of Kurt's deepest demon, and I'd seen what happens when this one awakened. Kurt trembled from head to foot. I worried he'd spring at Diego, but instead he lashed out at him verbally, ”I've met your victims- living in sewers. One who takes children isn't fit to live!”
Gaius chuckled. ”Who would have guessed the boy capable of such pa.s.sion pa.s.sion?”
Kurt turned, North Sea cold, ”You're a pestilence pestilence on this earth.” on this earth.”
Brovik stepped between them. ”Kurt, you overstep your bounds! Let's get this done.”
Kurt whirled on his master. ”No, you won't do this!” Blue pinpoints of rage burned in his eye sockets. ”Why must you constantly torment her?”
Brovik's chill overtook the room. ”Restrain her.”
Diego came forward bearing a pair of shackles. Kurt stepped between us. ”Don't you dare!”
Brovik dragged Kurt by the arm to my side. I'd never seen him so close to rage, seething, but on so tight a leash, that emotion escaped as a low, growl, ”You claim her? Then it's your duty! Bleed her!”
Utter disbelief flooded Kurt's eyes. ”You can't make me.”
”It's clear your loyalty is compromised.”
A realization finally struck Kurt, his voice fell to a shocked whisper, ”You're afraid afraid of her!” of her!”
”I fear nothing, especially not this woman woman. Do it or I'll give her to Gaius to do as he sees fit!”
I laid my hand on Kurt's arm. ”I'd rather none of them lay hands on me.”
Kurt took my face in his hands. ”I swore to never hurt you, from the first night we were together.”
”I told you not to make promises you couldn't keep.”
Diego called out, impatiently. ”How long will this take? Get on with it!”
Kurt took a deep breath. ”Forgive me.” ”Forgive me.”
I sat in the heavy chair, placing my hands behind my back as Kurt shackled me. Gaius leaned forward in his chair, immensely turned-on.
I looked up at Kurt's anguished face. ”I'm ready.”
He kissed my throat, his tears running over my skin as he whispered, ”I'm so sorry.” ”I'm so sorry.” His lips searched for the artery. I braced for the pleasurable p.r.i.c.k of his fangs, not wanting them to enjoy this any more than they did already. A quick sharp stab- I willed myself to not cry out. Kurt held me gently. Heaven at first- but then h.e.l.l opened. I choked back a scream. Kurt pulled back. His lips searched for the artery. I braced for the pleasurable p.r.i.c.k of his fangs, not wanting them to enjoy this any more than they did already. A quick sharp stab- I willed myself to not cry out. Kurt held me gently. Heaven at first- but then h.e.l.l opened. I choked back a scream. Kurt pulled back.
Brovik admonished him, ”I'll tell you when to stop!”
I writhed in the chair as Kurt took more, struggling to remain quiet, but the pain was too great. A vise wrapped around my head and I screamed.
Kurt pulled back again. ”More will kill her!”
Brovik nodded, ”Enough, let her stay until she's ready to speak.”
I panted, weak, and in pain, but Kurt didn't let go. ”I'm here, Mia, tell them.”
I gasped, ”I did nothing wrong!”
Gaius rose, staring at my face in fascination as he circled us. ”Let her stay so for three hours... ”
Kurt was infuriated. ”She'll die!”
Gaius wasn't impressed. ”She's made of the iron of Vesuvius. She'll withstand a great deal more.”
Kurt soothed me, as I drifted in and out of consciousness, screaming with searing pain. No pain is greater to a vampire except the sun. Diego yawned loudly. Visions of Dirk's severed head haunted me. I was terrified I'd scream out what I'd done, but the horror of his threat to Kurt made me hang on. I'd done nothing wrong nothing wrong. It was the truth.
Finally Brovik put a stop to it. ”Enough. She's withstood a full fifteen minutes longer than most. Ask her again and be done with this.”
Gaius rose, crossing the room. Kurt hovered protectively over me.
”Move aside, little Amor Amor.”
Kurt's eyes blazed. ”No.”
”You are bold, my beauty.” Gaius reached out to ruffle Kurt's hair, but Kurt pushed the hand away. The alphas sprang to their feet. Gaius backed them off with a casual wave of his hand. ”Very well, I'll ask you a final time, Mia. Are you guilty of these crimes?”