I jabbed the spearhead inside the keyhole and twisted, straining to get it open. When it didn’t work, I jabbed the iron.
Jab, jab, jab.
I began crying again.
Frustrated, I screamed and jabbed the thing in the hole. It got stuck inside, and I couldn’t get it out. I looked up at the ceiling and laughed, then wiped the tears from my face. The dress proved too hot to wear, so I stripped it and threw it behind me. The lock? Impossible to break for a beast, and for me? A hopeless dream. The cage was built to withstand their strength.
A soft knock came from the door.
When the person behind it didn’t enter, I said, “Come right in.”
I sat back in my corner and pulled up my knees.
Torrent came in. He closed the door softly behind him.
“And he walks,” I said.
Torrent nodded. “Put together a cane from the table legs.”
“Crafty,” I said.
He approached the cage. With a shaved head, a naked, tattooed torso, and standing upright with little support, he looked more like the beast from my memory. Except now he wore a black leather kilt. Cavemen had nothing on Torrent. “You forgot to shave your beard,” I said.
“You like the beard. I’ll let you braid it, and you can tug it when I…”
I stuck my fingers in my ears.
He winked. “I bet you’re surprised to see me.” He raised an eyebrow at the spearhead sticking out of the lock. “What’s this?” He yanked it out with ease. When I didn’t answer, only hugged my knees tighter, his lips stretched into a smile, his eyes crinkled at the corners. “This cage is built for beasts. Even Alpha Beast can’t break out of here. Just so you know.”
“I know.”
“You tried anyway.”
I shrugged.
“The same way you tried to kill me. If you’re gonna kill me, at least kill me dead so I don’t gotta suffer and wish I was dead.”
“I’m sorry about the suffering.”
“Yeah, well, it happens. Against the odds, here I am alive. Again.” Torrent unlocked the door and walked inside the cage. He locked it behind him. “We’re gonna spend some time together. Me and you, Sienna, me and you.”
I scooted back as far as I could, wishing a wall would open and let me out. “I’d rather be alone.”
“I know.”
“I tried to kill you.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“You’re a monster. Why so nice now?”
“I am a monster, baby, don’t you forget it. But I’m your monster, and I’m yours for as long as I live.”
“The mating. Hasel said it’s mating.”
“We don’t have a change of heart, and we only have one mate. You are mine, and I intend to mate you. Come here.”
“Oh, I’m comfy in my corner.” I tightened my arms around my legs. “Very comfy.”
“I want to talk to you in private.”
“We are in private.”
“You are never in private. You’re always followed or chaperoned. I’m surprised you managed to slip anything under Hasel’s watchful eyes.”
“Nobody is here.”
“They don’t have to be here. The guard at the top of the stairs can hear us.”
“What do you want?”
Torrent grunted and managed to sit on the floor next to me. He gathered up his kilt and tapped his good leg. “Sit on my lap, and I’ll show you exactly what I want.”
“No, thank you.”
Torrent snorted. “You won’t sit in my lap, but you’ll bathe me.”
“I had to bathe you.”
“You don’t have to do shit, Sienna. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. The only thing you gotta do is listen to your heart. What’s it tell ya? Are you wrong for trying to kill a person?”
“You’re not a person, you’re a monster.”
“Bullshit. That’s what those crazy bitches taught you to say, tried to get you to believe.”
“Daddy said you all are monsters. I believe him, and all I gotta do is sit tight until he comes for me.” My chin quivered, and tears stung my eyes.
“Sit tight is a human expression meaning you gotta keep out of trouble. You’re in trouble.”
I sniffed and inhaled something pleasant. It wasn’t me, ’cause I needed a bath. “You’re wearing aftershave,” I said. “Zarik’s.”
“Baby?”
“Hm?”
“I’m gonna go monster on everyone in this place if you say his name again.”
“Did you really break his nose?”
“If I’d said to him what he’d told me, he’d have cut my tongue out. Or worse. We do not speak of mates. We tease each other but don’t fuck around about mating, and we certainly don’t share.”