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“What?”
“They may not bleed—or, at least, they may not leave behind any blood—but they can feel pain.” Knox’s tone deepened. Darkened. “That brings me a lot of comfort, because I intend to put them through a world of endless, unendurable, soul-destroying torment. I’ll revel in every cry and scream and plea for mercy. Lap up their fear and terror and hopelessness.”
“And when it’s over?”
“It’ll never be over.” Even before she’d gotten pregnant, Knox and Harper both vowed that if anyone dared to come after their child, they would subject that fucker to an unimaginable suffering and relay a strong message that targeting their child would be a grave mistake.
Levi’s grin was somewhat bloodthirsty. “It’s been a while since we really partied like that. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll bring the popcorn. And the chainsaw. The rusty one with the duller blade. The fucker won’t be needing their limbs for what we have in mind.”
Knox returned his grin. “Just don’t forget the hot iron so we can cauterize the stumps. You always forget the hot iron.”
“I know. Who forgets to bring a hot iron to a party, for God’s sake?”
CHAPTER FOUR
A few days later, Knox looked up from the computer monitors within his home office when there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” he called out. As Levi strode inside wearing a sober expression, Knox’s muscles went rigid. “What is it?”
The sentinel let out a long breath. “There’s something you need to see.” He held up his iPhone. “This footage was aired on YouTube last night, but it took a while for anyone to really notice it.”
Knox took the cell phone and tapped “play” with his thumb. The camera provided a close-up view of a woman bound to a chair with thick rope, her lips and chin trembling. The only light in the dark room seemed to be the one above her head, and that light illuminated the sheer terror in her familiar eyes. Fuck.
“Smile for the camera, Alethea,” a voice in the background said. Oddly, that voice belonged to Alethea herself.
Another figure appeared then and moved to stand behind her. It was impossible to be sure of their height, since only a slight portion of their body was visible.
“As you can tell,” the voice went on, “I’ve stolen Alethea’s voice for a little while. Can’t have her shouting anything incriminating, can I?”
Alethea mouthed something, but no words came out.
“I think most of you will know who I am,” the person behind her continued. “Well, maybe not who I am exactly. But you’ll know what I am. You’ll know you’re looking at the fourth Horseman.”
Knox swore through gritted teeth, but he didn’t move his eyes from the screen.
After a pause for what was clearly dramatic effect, the voice went on, “Yes, to all those who doubted my group’s existence, we are real. Although my compatriots—Isla, Nora, and Roan—are dead, the goal remains the same. The US Primes have to fall. But, really, must there be deaths? I don’t see why. If each of the US Primes step down, this will end here. If not, many will die. And you, Mr. Thorne, will be the first to do so. It’s nothing personal. You’re simply in my way, much like Alethea is in my way.”
She snapped something at the Horseman, but her words were once again silent.
He rested his hand on her head. “Now you get to see what I do to those who stand in my way.” Hellfire streamed out of his palm and engulfed her body in a rush. Her screams would have no doubt overridden the sounds of fire hissing and popping if the Horseman hadn’t stolen her voice. Her skin blistered and melted as the hellfire ate at it. Finally, her charred, blackened, steaming corpse slumped in her seat. Then the video came to an end.
Knox rubbed a hand down his face. “Jesus.”
Grim, Levi nodded. “I never liked her, but death-by-hellfire … I wouldn’t have wished that on her.”
If he were normal, Knox probably would have felt some element of grief over her death. He’d known her for centuries, and they’d shared a bed many times. But she’d also done her best to hurt Harper ever since Knox claimed the little sphinx as his mate. As such, he’d come to feel little for the she-demon other than utter contempt.
Like the other women from his past, Alethea had been elegant, cultured, sophisticated, and well-groomed. Since she’d viewed Harper as somewhat beneath her, Alethea had taken his claim on Harper as, in Levi’s words, a “personal insult”. But that wasn’t the only reason Alethea had been an absolute bitch to her. She—like many others—was intimidated by Harper. Moreover, Alethea had been unable to work out what made his mate “tick”. Unable to pierce Harper’s aloof “you’re not worth my time” air or hit her where it truly hurt, no matter what Alethea did or how far she went.
Harper was indeed a hard nut to crack. She was difficult to predict. Hard to offend. Impossible to manipulate. Rare for their kind, she also had no aspirations for power whatsoever. Nor was she driven by greed, addictions, or a craving for adrenalin rushes. Unlike other Primes, she didn’t demand respect or submission. Didn’t flaunt her status or act like she was above others. Alethea had just never been able to understand her.
She’d no doubt also been jealous that Harper was incredibly powerful—so powerful, in fact, that she’d fought off a death hex. Demons respected strength and, as such, the other Primes had grudgingly come to not only respect her but accept her as Knox’s mate. Alethea, however, had never treated Harper with anything less than hostility. For that reason, he couldn’t find it in him to feel any grief over her death. But, since he didn’t have a lot of good in him, that wasn’t at all shocking.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Knox handed the iPhone back to his sentinel. “I’m surprised the clip even made it onto the website.”
“Some viewers have commented on it, slating the ‘special effects’ and calling Alethea a bad actor. I doubt the people at YouTube thought it was real. Why would they?”
Knox inclined his head, conceding Levi’s point. “I’ll need to call Jonas. I’m sure he’s seen the clip by now and isn’t in the mood for conversation, but I need to speak with him. The Horseman said he wanted me to die first. And although he also said he’d only kill me if the Primes didn’t agree to step down, I don’t think it means he’s not behind what happened to Asher.”
“Neither do I. It doesn’t make sense that he’d give you advanced warning that he meant to attack—he’d need whatever advantage he could get. I think he sent someone after Asher. I think he waited a while, hoping you’d lower your guard, and then struck out of nowhere. Probably believed that an abrupt attack would be effective.”
