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See this pathetic, beaten beast. Naught but a defeated animal at our feet.
Already, the plateau was packed—the smaller humans in the inner circle, Immortals behind them forming outer circles. The crowd parted as the soldiers dragged him forth. In the inner most circle, the Dark Queen sat upon a makeshift wooden throne on top of a platform, surrounded by her personal guards, Commander and Consul.
Sin always wondered why the Immortals that came obediently to watch his public torture didn’t rush the Queen and kill her dead. Even if they sacrificed their lives in the process, it would be well worth it.
Hewouldn’t think twice before making the assassination attempt.
But then, the Immortals who were made to attend were mostly Pure Ones, the naïve fools. They were known for their childlike innocence and docile nature. Sin supposed it was why they were the lowest of the low in a world ruled by savagery.
Pure Ones wouldn’t think to murder a queen. They barely fought back when they were attacked. And with humans standing between them and the Dark contingent, they wouldn’t risk hurting others in the process of achieving their goal.
Weaklings, every one of them.
Sin couldn’t stand any kind of weakness, least of all in himself. If the loss of his mate taught him anything, it was that solitude was far better than succumbing to hope and love. He was stronger alone. He had nothing to lose—
And all the violence and retribution to wreak upon the world who took everything away from him.
“Ah,” the Dark Bitch murmured, setting her calculating sights upon him.
“Here is our guest of honor, looking slightly worse for wear.”
Her glowing dark eyes flicked over his frame, lips curling with pleasure at his filthy, bloodied, emaciated state.
“Are we not feeding you enough, my gorgeous beast?” she cooed with false sympathy and clucked her tongue.
“All you have to do is transform into your human self, bend a knee before me, and you can have every luxury you desire. As long as you obey my command, you may live freely as well, come and go as you please. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Any “freedom” she promised would be a fucking illusion, Sin thought bitterly, growling low despite himself, baring his long canines. None of his Kind would ever stoop to be her lap cat.
She interpreted his display accurately, shaking her head in mock disappointment.
“Such a shame,” she tsked.
“So rare, so strong, yet brought so very low and made so unbearably weak. You chose this, you know. Never let it be said that I am not merciful and offered you no choice.”
There was never a choice. He would never bow to her.
“Well, Master Hunter,” she murmured to someone standing just to the side that Sin had not noticed until now, his face hidden in the shadows of his hood.
“It is time to put this Beast in his place. Do us proud. Show me just how lethal you can be.”
The tall, muscular Dark One stepped forth as the soldiers holding onto Sin’s restraints stepped back, pulling the ropes and chains tight so that he couldn’t move, his legs braced apart.
A subtle breeze teased the air around them, brought a whiff of the male’s scent to Sin’s muzzle.
His nostrils flared with recognition, hackles raised, whiskers tensed.
Not unlike a reaction he’d had for the first time decades ago.
Only this time, it was a thousand times more intense. It made his entire body vibrate with awareness. But he couldn’t place where he’d encountered this male before.
The cloaked Hunter possessed the smell of new leaves, amber, leather and a unique, earthy musk. He smelled like the jungles and mountains where Sin used to roam. If they were there now, Sin might not even be able to distinguish his scent from their surroundings.
Here, on this barren plateau with only a few gnarled trees and bushes dotting the landscape, his smell was particularly “loud.” It called to Sin the way the forest did.
It beckoned himhome.
But the stranger was clearly not here to provide any sort of welcome or comfort.
