[Diego’s POV]“This annoying fabric needs to go,” I murmur, hooking a claw in the slip that Chanel wears and tugging it off. “Much better.”Once it is out of the way, I begin to work my way down Chanel’s throat to her breasts, where I stop to bite and lick at her pierced nipples. Groans of gratification escape her as her hands wrap around the back of my head, urging me on.Growling, I grab both in one hand and pin them above her head.“You know the rules,” I warn, sitting up and fixing my gaze with her dark one.“No touching,” she pouts. “I’m aware of that rule, but you’re letting me touch you now,” she continues, tightening her legs around me. “So what is the difference?”“The difference is if you don’t want to fucking listen, you can get the hell out of here, and I’ll find another woman to warm my bed.”“No, no,” she sighs, rolling her eyes. “So touchy. Is that woman pissing you off so much?”“Who?” I ask, not wanting to think about the woman who was most likely crumbling in the hol
[Diego's POV]I stare up at the large building in front of me while waiting to hear screams from inside, but when it continues to remain silent, I make my way inside and then up the winding stairs that lead to the single room in the whole thing.When I arrive, I once again wait as the feel of electricity presses against my skin. Even from where I stood, it was unpleasant, so why was that woman able to endure it? Was this some type of ploy to go easy on her because she was so small and weak-looking?Annoyance flaring, I push open the door and let my eyes come to rest on her. Her clothes are in tatters, and her skin is covered in burns from what is being done, making it clear that my assumption was wrong.“What the hell?” I growl, moving forward, just as another wave of electricity erupts from the cords that are attached to the woman.As it begins to travel through her, her body arches and her mouth clamps, but even when she is clearly in severe pain, she doesn't cry out.When it ends,
[Rosalie's POV]Pain. My whole damn world is pain, and when one round of it ends, another begins. Again and again, it goes. I only get a few moments to breathe before it happens again, and when I think I'm truly going to die, my new master decides he wants to kill me.What exactly was it that he wanted from me? He keeps mentioning an ability, but I don't know what this ability even is!‘I do,’ the darkness giggles. ‘Just set me free, and I'll...'‘No!’ I hiss. ‘I can't! He may really kill me before I take back what's mine!’I knew the dangers of letting the darkness take control, and it just wasn't worth the risk, but if this continued, my life would end.“Please,” I rasp, reaching up and grabbing Diego's wrist. “Tell me what it is that you want!”Instead of responding, Diego gives me a look of disbelief before his expression fills with rage.This was it. I was actually going to die right here and now. There was no saving myself unless I actually took a risk.‘Please,’ I whisper inwar
[Diego’s POV]I walk slowly up the long path that leads to the temple, and once I arrive at its entrance, I try to ignore the negativity that presses against me. Peeking out of the corner of my eye, I wait to see if the woman feels it, and when her body shakes and she wraps her arms around herself, I know that she does.“What the hell?” She murmurs, narrowing her gaze. “Are you bringing me to my doom?”“Not quite,” I respond.Lifting a hand, I grab the rope that rings the temple's doorbell and then wait until the door in front of us moves inch by inch so that a glowing blue eye can take us in.“Diego?” A raspy voice announces from the other side. “Is that you, boy?”“Yes, elder Marin.”At my words, the door opens more, allowing us entrance into the dark space beyond. Gritting my teeth, I ignore the energy that continues to press against me while my eyes take in the decrepit space around me.Once upon a time, this place was beautiful with a pure white interior, and it radiated with suc
[Rosalie’s POV]I sit alone in a corner, watching as the phantoms slowly slink toward me, their grotesque mouths open so I can see their rotten teeth that want to sink into my skin.“No,” I whisper, tightening my hold on my knees. “Stay away.”Why was I back here in this place? It was so long ago! I was sure that I managed to escape, but here I was in this place again, surrounded by these dark beings that wanted to devour me alive.“Go away!” I hiss as one wraps its clawed hands around my ankle. “Don’t touch me!”Where the creature's hand connects turns cold, and that cold begins to travel up my leg. It’s painful, and I can feel it sinking through my skin, into my muscles, and toward my bones.“NO!” I scream, kicking out and jumping up so that I can take in the area behind them. It’s my old home in the village with my mother, but it isn’t the same at all. It is decrepit, and the ceiling and walls are beginning to crumble. Even the floor beneath my feet is starting to rot.“Why?” I whi
[Rosalie’s POV]I continue to stare up at the serpent-like creature as it continues to drop, its mouth growing closer and closer to Diego. It was becoming increasingly clear that he was the creature's target, but why was it after him?‘Let him die,’ the darkness huffs. ‘Then we will be free.’‘No, we won’t,’ I hiss, beginning to move. ‘We will just be sent somewhere else, and the cycle will continue.’Diving forward, I push Diego out of the way just as the serpent's fang sinks into my leg. Hissing, I pull it free, leaving a long gash along my skin that reveals the muscle beneath.“What the hell is happening?” Diego growls, taking in my injury. “Where did that even come from? Is this some fucking trick on your part?”As he shoots his accusations at me, the creature prepares for another attack.“CAN YOU JUST THINK WITH YOUR FUCKING HEAD?” I snarl, jumping up and grabbing him before the creature strikes again. “We have to get out of here!”“Not without Annemarie!” He hisses just as the s
[Diego’s POV]I let out a snarl as the serpent’s weight continues to push against me, threatening to not only crush me but the unmoving woman beneath me. Cursing, I try to figure out just how the hell I got here. Why was I even bothering to help this woman? I should have just fucking left her there and gotten out.Questioning all my decisions, I begin to fight against the beast's weight, slowly forcing it up enough until I’ve got enough room to dive forward. Once I’m free, I sit up and take in the woman as she lays motionless.Shifting back into my human form, I begin to shake the woman.“Get up!” I snap as she continues to not move. “You won’t be killed that easily.”Maybe she thought she could fool another with that, but with her connection to the netherworld, I knew better. Of course, she could be killed; that much was obvious, but to die from some simple injuries that were already beginning to heal was impossible.“Alpha!” Elder Marin calls, rushing toward me. “What are you doing?
[Rosalie’s POV]“Right.”Sighing, I close my eyes while the pain I’m feeling continues to radiate through me. I didn’t know why, but I was disappointed by Diego’s answer to my question, even though I now knew what he wanted from me. I was a tool to him, nothing more, nothing less. Once I absorbed the darkness that was plaguing his land, I would no longer be useful.“Don’t try to feign passing out again.”Snapping my eyes open, I look toward Annemarie, who is sleeping peacefully just on the other side of the room we are in.“She’s suffering greatly,” I murmur, remembering how harsh the darkness he forced me to absorb from her was. “She must be strong.”“The strongest,” he admits, taking me. “Much stronger than I could ever imagine being.”Eyes widening, I take in Diego’s expression as he takes in the woman on the bed. What was she to him? A lover, maybe? For him to be so desperate to help her, she had to be important, but how important?This was the second time that he spoke so gently