Read Online Kenyon, Sherrilyn - One Silent Night.html by Unknown - Free Book Online Page A

lived to make him beg her for mercy.

    Jared met Zephyra's hostile glare and knew instantly why they were there. "It never fails to amaze me what people will do to have their way. I won't kill him for you. You know better than to ask that of me."

    Zephyra tsked as she pulled a dagger out of her boot. "Why do we have to play this game, Jared? You know my thoughts. I know you're already in my head reading them. Now be a good boy and do what I say."

    He was so tired of following orders. Of having no will of his own. It was time he stopped serving and took control of his miserable life. "I don't care what you do to me."

    She ran a deceptively tender hand down his grizzled cheek, making him ache for a real caress. One that wouldn't turn vicious on him. "I know you don't. But we both know you don't feel that way about your little friend. Him you would die to protect."

    He tensed at the mention of his demon companion. "Nim's not here. He left."

    "Of course he did." Her tone was mocking.

    "Nim?" Stryker asked.

    Zephyra glanced at him over her shoulder. "An inutile slug demon Jared adopted."

    "I did no such thing." Nim had adopted him, and he'd been trying ever since to get rid of him. The demon was a liability he didn't want or need to carry. Honestly, he was sick of Nim hanging around and complicating his worthlesslife even more. All the demon did was get him into trouble. And worse, Nim got him tortured.

    She dragged the dagger's tip down the divine markings on his left arm. At one time he'd worn them with pride. Now they only reminded him of his humiliation. They marked him as a slave. The last of his kind.

    "Is he here?" she asked.

    He hissed as she laid open the length of the tattoo. His blood beaded under the line, trickling down his flesh. Stryker turned away as if the sight sickened him.

    Zephyra wasn't so kind. "Looks like I guessed wrongly."

    Jared met her gaze without flinching as his anger snapped. "I told you he left."

    "Really?" She trailed the dagger over his collar bone. "I'll bet he's hiding on your back."

    Jared gasped as she plunged the dagger deep into his shoulder, through the tattoo that was there. Pain seared him.

    "Zephyra, stop!" Stryker snapped. "There's no need for this."

    "Trust me, it's the only way to get his compliance. But don't feel bad for him, Stryker. He slit the throats of his own people, didn'tyou, Jared? Those he didn't kill, he led to the slaughter."

    Pain and fury mixed inside him. "Shut up!"

    "Why? It's the truth. You've never cared about anyone but yourself. So give us the demon and let me end your suffering where he's concerned."

    Against his will, he jerked as she trailed the knife over the tattoo that wasn't branded into his skin. It merged with the others, but it wasn't his . . .

    "Aha, found the little bugger, did I?" She clenched the dagger tight, pressing it into his skin where Nim was resting.

    Jared ground his teeth. If she stabbed Nim while he slept on his body, it would kill the demon.

    "Shall I liberate you from your annoyance?" She pressed the tip in, drawing blood.

    Jared tried to pull away, but he couldn't. The chains held him tight and gave him no choice. "Stop!" he growled. "Don't hurt him."

    "Kill Gautier and I'll let your demon live."

    "And if I can't kill him?"

    She jerked his hair hard, slamming his head back into the wall. "You don't want to find out.Trust me." Snapping her fingers, she used her powers to open his shackles.

    Jared fell back against the wall and slid to the floor, his entire body aching. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been freed. From the sensation of his stiff muscles, it felt like centuries and it probably was.

    Zephyra stood over him, looking down. "Clean yourself, dog. Bring me the head of the Malachai and I'll give you two days to wench and drink before I call you back. Betray me and you will think these past centuries were paradise."

    Jared laughed bitterly. "Your mercy is beyond reproach, my lady."

    "Sarcasm