Surrendering(97)

But it wouldn’t come to that. While he knew Xavier had been plotting his capture and undoubted torture, he’d been doing a little planning of his own.

They’d been back to Xavier’s compound to see if he’d foolishly brought Kate back there, which he had not. He assumed Xavier had taken Giselle as well, since there was no sign of her. There were, however, definite signs of a struggle in his office, including several pools of Giselle’s blood. But none of Kate’s, thank God. He wasn’t sure he should be grateful for that, but at least that meant she’d most likely been alive when Xavier took her.

And on her way to him was Esmeralda, his traitorous witch. She most definitely tampered with their shroud, allowing Xavier to not only kidnap his mate, but also one of his most loyal vampires, leaving another in pieces. Literally. This was entirely on her head and she was going to help them fix it before he killed her. Xavier clearly had his own witch issues, so with any luck, Esmeralda would find Kate through a locating spell.

Speaking of the devil, the commotion at his door dragged him from his thoughts.

“If you know what’s best for you, you will take your hands off me. Right now.”

“Not a chance, witch.” Ren was barely able to rein in his anger. Dev knew he and Elle had a special bond and her disappearance was killing him. He felt helpless, just like Dev. And Ren was a smart vampire. He knew if something happened to Kate, that this was the beginning of the end for Dev.

“Sit the fuck down and shut your fucking mouth before I shut it for you.” He practically threw her in a chair. Yep, holding to control by a hairsbreadth. Exactly how he felt. Esmeralda had enough self-preservation sense to look scared.

Dev came and sat in a chair directly across from her. He never did that.

“What’s go—”

“Stop. If the next words out of your mouth aren’t the truth, so help me God, I’ll rip your black, treacherous heart out right fucking now. No second chances. So…think very carefully about what you want to say.”

The look on her face revealed she knew she’d been caught. He could see every emotion pass through her beautifully criminal face.

Remorse.

Fear.

Shame.

She broke eye contact, looking at the floor instead. Just as well. He could hardly stand to look at her without wanting to rip her lying tongue from her rotten mouth.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

She’s fucking sorry? His rage was an out of control inferno.

“Did you think with Kate out the picture that you’d be able to step into her place? That I would want to fuck you instead? Bond with you, instead? Is that it, Esmeralda?” He rarely used her full name when speaking to her and at the sound of it her eyes flew to his.

Dev threw his head back and laughed, but it was laced with disgust, not humor. He stood, looking down at her cowering form. She looked as young and vulnerable as he’d ever seen her. And he couldn’t give a shit.

“Get this through your thick skull once and for all, witch. I don’t want you. I never have. I never will. I would rather stick my cock into a Venus flytrap than in any black hole in your body. Your actions caused the death of a longtime friend of my family. Your actions caused one of my most loyal vampires to be kidnapped, perhaps even killed. And your actions have caused my beloved mate to fall into the hands of my most powerful and dangerous enemy. And you did this all so you could fuck me? You disgust me!”

He was screaming at her now as he grabbed her by her clothes and shoved her hard up against the wall, feet dangling inches from the floor.

He growled through gritted teeth, “Hear me and hear me well, Esmeralda. If he so much as harms one delicate hair on her precious head, I will personally take it out of your hide. Tenfold. So you’d better pray that she’s unharmed, untouched and healthy, or you’re in for a world of hurt, witch.”

He released her, uncaring as she dropped in a puddle to the floor, legs buckling beneath her.

“I’m sor—”

“Shut the fuck up! You will keep your goddamned mouth shut and I will do the talking!”

He sat down behind his desk, calming himself before he spoke again. The next time he spoke, his voice was even, in control, but menacing.

“You will use your magic to find Kate and you will do it now. I have her hair and blood right here. I have her clothing if you need it.” He glared at her, still slumped on the floor.

“And if you don’t, I’ll kill you.”

Esmeralda stared, witnessing a side of Dev she’d never seen before. A side he didn’t show many people. Those who did see it rarely lived. But he hadn’t decided Esmeralda’s fate. Yet.