Killean stepped away from Simone when Joseph glided into the hall. He didn’t look at all surprised to see Killean standing there as a smirk curved his cruel mouth. “Killean,” he greeted.
“Joseph,” he replied.
Simone’s eyes darted between the two powerful creatures. In here, misery was her ever-constant companion, but the undercurrent of tension between them caused fear to coil in her belly. However, this time, her fear was for Killean and not herself.
“What brings you here?” Joseph inquired.
“I was curious about the hunters; how they react to the change, what they’re like, and how far gone these prisoners are in their hunger,” Killean replied.
“Why?”
“Because it’s a fascinating process, and there is nothing like watching those who believe they are untouchable fall. And the hunters have believed themselves above us for far too many years.” He waved a hand at Simone. “I want her.”
Joseph glanced at Simone. “Ah, yes, she is a beauty, more so before the chains, of course. She’s a bit too dirty now for my liking, but nothing a shower and some blood won’t fix. I changed her myself.”
Killean had been striving to remain impassive, but this revelation caused his jaw to clench. If Joseph changed her, then he made sure the experience was horrific for her. She never should have known the agony that came from having her blood drained against her will and the change forced on her, but more than that, she was supposed to have been his to change.
Or not change, he reminded himself.
They would never complete the bond, but no other’s blood should have entered her, especially not this bastard’s. Joseph would have made it degrading for her, and Killean knew how it felt to be helpless against the abuse of another. He’d wanted to comfort her before, but now the impulse was almost impossible to withstand, but he did. She deserved better than this, and she would have it once he got her free and returned her to her brethren.
Joseph’s abuse of Simone was yet another reason Killean would make his death excruciating.
“What do you want with her?” Joseph asked him.
The truth of that could never be revealed, so Killean gave Joseph the only answer he knew the asshole would understand. “I want to fuck her.”
Simone recoiled at Killean’s coarse words. She didn’t know why she was shocked; he was a vampire after all. They were all ruled by their desires, and none of them cared who they trampled to get what they wanted.
Had she been idiotic enough to believe there might be something more to this beast than bloodlust and carnal pleasure? Yes, she had, and now she had to fend off the disappointment threatening to strangle her. She’d briefly hoped he might be an ally in this place, but he’d just become a bigger threat than anyone else here.
“Why, Killean,” Joseph purred, “I don’t recall ever seeing you with a woman.”
Killean shrugged. “Things have changed.”
“Ah, yes.” Joseph’s gaze raked him from head to toe. “It’s amazing what else awakens in us when the bloodlust is sated. However, these specimens are off limits until they complete their change into something of true beauty.”
Beauty? Simone wondered. Did this monster actually see himself and his followers as things of beauty?
“Beauty?” Killean inquired, astonished to hear anyone refer to a Savage in such a way.
“Don’t you find it a thing of beauty to be yourself finally?” Joseph asked. “Don’t you think it’s wonderful not to have to fight your instincts and true nature anymore? Freedom is beauty, Killean, and we are free.”
He must be further gone than he’d realized as some of what Joseph said rang true with him. There was beauty in freedom, and for those minutes when he’d given into his darker nature and killed, he’d been free.
So far, he hadn’t truly given into his Savage nature, but he’d experienced those minutes, and they were wonderful. If he ever gave in completely, it would be the most freeing experience of his life, and he couldn’t deny it sounded amazing. There was also some beauty in death, the eternal slumber, the peaceful oblivion of never suffering again, and he was delivering it to the humans who deserved it.
If he continued only to kill those who hurt others, then wouldn’t he be doing something good for this world? And if Simone became a Savage too…
The image of her coated in the blood of those they killed together filled his mind. But instead of tempting him further, the visualization made something within him recoil.
No, not Simone. She could never return to what she’d been before, but she was too pure to ever become such a monster. The idea of him being the one who led her down such a warped path was unthinkable.
He could forgive himself for the choices that brought him to this place, but he would never forgive himself if he trapped her here with him. And Killean would never forgive himself if he turned against Ronan and became what Joseph was, but if he kept killing, he probably wouldn’t care about that anymore, and he could be free.
No! He would not cave; he would not become one of these things. He’d come here for Simone, and he would get her out of this.
“Freedom is beauty,” Killean murmured because it was what Joseph wanted to hear and because the words were right.
“Yes,” Joseph said and slapped him on the shoulder. “Come, I’ve plenty of other women I can offer you.”
Killean didn’t move as the idea of touching anyone other than Simone caused his stomach to turn. “I want this one.”
Joseph’s eyes narrowed. “Why her in particular?”
Killean considered how to respond as he may have just given away too much. “I knew her when she was a hunter, and the little bitch thought she was better than vampires. I think it’s time she learns what it’s like to have one between her thighs.”
Joseph smirked when Simone whimpered. She’d known Killean was revolting, but his words proved he was worse than she believed.
“It would be a good lesson to learn,” Joseph agreed, “but not yet. When her transformation is complete, you can have at her, but until then, she remains chained and is only allowed short bathroom breaks. Those are the rules.”
“Rules are meant to be broken,” Killean said. He wanted to get Simone alone, give her at least a little blood to strengthen her, and assure her he would find a way to free her. He also wanted to learn if Joseph, or any of the other Savages in this place, had violated her. What he would do to them if they had would make what Vlad the Impaler did to his victims look like fun.
“Not this one,” Joseph stated.
The glint in Joseph’s eyes told Killean not to push it anymore; he was lucky Joseph had bought the shit he was shoveling. Killean suspected this rule was not one of Joseph’s making. Joseph would happily take the chance of a hunter getting free if it meant he could abuse them further; they were no fun to play with when chained like this. Someone else was pulling the strings here, but who?
“Come,” Joseph said. “Let’s find you a woman.”
The appearance of two Savages spared Killean from having to think of an excuse to get out of that hideous possibility.
“We have company coming,” one of them said.
Joseph’s shoulders went back as he gave a brisk nod. “Escort Killean to his chamber.”