"We were just having a problem with the engine, officer," Dante answered. "We'll be on our way now."

"Didn't look like it to me. What do you have in back?"

"Just a guy who couldn't hold his alcohol, sir," Brice answered.

"Is that so? You know, gentleman, public nudity is a crime in this county. And it certainly looks like you were up to something other than what you're telling me."

There was a quick moment of silence.

"I a.s.sure you, there is nothing to be alarmed about. We only had engine trouble, that's all." Dante's voice came out strong, different.

Another moment of silence followed.

"Yes, well you two be careful tonight," the officer said.

Before I knew it, they were back in the front seats. The door slammed shut and the van's engine roared.

What the h.e.l.l just happened?

"s.h.i.t, that was close," Brice said.

My vision began to blacken.

"Let's get him home," Dante ordered.*

75.

Chapter Ten.

Of Recoil and Grace "Get your a.s.s out of bed!"

I jumped at the crack of Aurora's whip in front of my nose.

On wobbly feet, I shivered in the cold air with only my jeans around my waist. What had happened?

Dante must have carried me to bed last night. The last thing I could remember was his gentle voice. "Shh. Sleep." He'd brushed the side of my face. "You'll need it, love."

d.a.m.n. Was I being punished?

I scanned the room for my shirt, finding it on the edge of the bed, then struggled to pull it over my head. Another crack fired in the air. The pain caught me right on the a.s.s. I winced and covered my backside quickly, dropping the shirt to the floor. "The f.u.c.k?"

Aurora forced me face first against the hard wall. "How dare you disgrace us with the council?" Her icy voice stung my nerves.

"What did I do?"

"Lucia informed me of your behaviour last night. I should have never taken you in."

She breathed hot and furious breaths into my hair.

Aurora pressed my head into the stone. I put my hands out in attempt to keep from getting scratched. The whip snapped again, and I flinched at the pain that would never come.

Would she get that d.a.m.n thing away from me?

"I've babied you up to this point, Malachi. I've listened to Dante's every plea and whisper. 'Don't hurt him. I'll take the punishment'." She mocked his voice. "But no more!"

She gripped my shirt and turned me to face her. Terrell stood next to her.

When the h.e.l.l did he get here?

"Get his right side, Terrell," Aurora ordered.

He grabbed me by the back of my neck, his claws stabbing into my skin. They both walked me downstairs, through the usual route to the dining room that was now silent and empty, and through the secret pa.s.sageway of etched oak wood.*

76.

She pa.s.sed by the torches, keeping it dark until we reached the lab. I held my head low and stared at the ground in defeat as we walked.

No one was around. I couldn't understand what the h.e.l.l was going on, other than the fact that I had f.u.c.ked up...again.

"You wanted to see the dungeon? You got it." She pushed me forward until I was facing a dark metal door.

c.r.a.p! She does have a dungeon.

Terrell opened the heavy door to reveal one cell. The walls were the same grungy stone that made up the rest of the house. There was a single candelabrum lit in the corner, its pure amber light flickering in an apparent draught. A small crank apparatus seemed out of place in the corner of the room, with chains trailing along the ceiling and to the wall.

My heart sank when I saw Dante, crouched close to the candle. The normally pale skin of his naked chest and arms had taken on a blue hue from the cold air. Heavy steel chains jetting down the wall were wrapped around his wrists. He raised his head, solemn teal eyes tearing into my soul.

"Malachi," he whispered.

"Dante. What's going on?" I leant down to touch him, but Aurora grabbed me, tearing me away.

Another pair of cuffs hung down at about chest height. They clanked together as Aurora pushed me face first against the cold stone next to them.

No. Anything but this.

"No one makes a mockery of me and gets away with it," Aurora growled, backing away as Terrell grabbed my arms and forced them above my head.

"No. I swear I didn't-" I struggled, my breath hot against the wall.

Terrell held firm, gathering the cuffs and hooking them around my wrists. I continued to writhe, the chains rattling as I propelled my body away from the wall. Then, they moved up, tightening as Terrell ran the crank, and I was brought closer to the hard stone. I put my foot up and braced myself. But it wouldn't stop the tension. My nose hit the wall, face scratching against grungy stone. The chains went taut. Pain crept into my shoulders. I forced back a cry for help.

"Stop this," Dante hollered.

"Shut the f.u.c.k up." The sound of skin hitting skin made my nerves shatter.*

77.

I tried to turn my head, catching a glimpse of Dante with his head turned, a red, swollen mark on his cheek, and Aurora withdrawing her hand.

My body trembled in absolute fear. I choked. "I couldn't help myself, ma'am."

"But you've had plenty of time to learn how to control yourself, Malachi," Aurora said.

The leather whip snapped in the air, agony searing through my back. I closed my eyes tightly, desperate to stop my body from tightening with the sting. A single tear welled up in my eye. My knees shook and would have given way if it weren't for the chains holding me upright.

I don't deserve this.

"Stop. Please," my voice cracked with the plea.

Another crack of the whip, this time much more painful, hit my lower back. The tear dripped and slid down my cheek with the strain.

I opened my eyes. Dante watched silently, concern and grief in his eyes. "Dante?" I could barely whisper, but he shook his head and dropped his gaze.

Why couldn't she have given me another warning? A whipping for not being able to control my spirit was too much, wasn't it?

"I've given you plenty of chances," Aurora said before giving out another blow. "d.a.m.n that Raphael. He knew about this. Didn't he?"

What was I to say? Raphael had acknowledged my spirit. So why hadn't Aurora been informed? Desperately, I tried to shake my head, hoping it would stop her fury, but another whack hit my skin.

"Of course I knew," a familiar voice thundered from behind.

I knew that voice and that aura as footsteps entered the room.

The blows stopped. "My liege." Aurora's heels clacked as she shifted. "What brings you here on such a fine evening?"

"I heard his suffering all the way across the city," he thundered. "Stop this senseless punishment."

"But he disgraces us all in the face of our elders," Aurora begged.

"He does no such thing."

The cuffs around my wrists were unsnapped. My knees gave way, and I slid down the wall to the floor, grabbing my temples. Everything was too loud. My body ached, skin crawling.*

78.

"Good G.o.d, you have no idea what you have done," Raphael said.

Silence followed. When I flicked my eyes towards Dante, he was frozen, staring at his master in both awe and nervousness.

"Are you aware that he had our convoy stopped by police last night, Raphael?" Aurora stomped her high-heeled boot on the floor. The sound buried itself in my pounding head making my head ache worse.

"And I warned you, if you laid one hand on him, I would see your death is not a pleasant one."

Aurora fell to her knees, grovelling at Raphael's side. He kicked her away and bent to take my hand in his. I clutched it tightly, wary and nervous as to what was going to happen next. With a swift yank, I was in his soothing arms with my head buried into his shoulder.

Dante lowered his head as I glanced in his direction.

What the f.u.c.k am I doing?

"I'll train you to control your needs, Malachi," Raphael spoke calmly. "Dante, you are to stay here."

His voice broke something in me that must have hidden itself deep within. Tears streamed down my cheeks and soaked into his blue, silky shirt. I pressed closer to him, revelling in his warm and comforting arms around my sore muscles.

"Yes, sir," Dante's voice cracked in anguish.

Raphael turned towards the door. "Come, young one. The limo is waiting."

I hesitated. My feet froze and I trembled from head to toe. "Please. Let Dante free," I whispered. As I imagined him being beaten because of what I'd done, more tears welled in my eyes. Even though I was so desperate now to learn control, I'd have rather stayed and endured my punishment with him.

Raphael's grip tightened. "I cannot. He's in Aurora's hands now." He took a step ahead of me. Uncertain, I slowly followed his motion, looking back at Dante.

"I'll come back for you. I promise." The words stilled on my tongue, but I let the thought slip from my conscious mind.

"Malachi?" Dante whispered.

Raphael twitched and stopped, looking down at me. I couldn't return his gaze. Another tear tickled down my nose, but I regained a step and walked alongside him, out of the cell.

"Give me a week. I'll finally learn control."*

79.