Roman nearly gagged instantly. That tasted bitter and wrong like swallowing burnt blood and poison mixed together.
The force released him seconds later, and he doubled over coughing violently, trying to spit the substance back out. But nothing came up.
"Oh goddess," Roman wheezed. "I’m fairly certain no living creature was meant to consume that."
"Put him on the table."
This time Roman fought properly. Or tried to. But the collar around his neck weakened him badly, leaving his movements sluggish and ineffective. The wolves overpowered him easily despite his kicking and struggling.
"On his back," Ziva instructed.
Roman’s eyes widened. "Absolutely not. Why on my back?" Alarm flooded him instantly. He really didn’t like where this was going, especially with the direction his thoughts were taking.
"Listen, I support personal freedom and all, but I’m very committed to my current preferences."
But they didn’t care, slamming him onto the cold stone table and strapped his wrists and legs down tightly. Roman pulled hard against the restraints, his muscles straining uselessly.
Damn it. Right now, he felt no stronger than an ordinary human.
No offense to humans, but how did they live like this?
Then Ziva stepped beside him holding a strange silver dagger coated in a weird black oil. And the look in her eyes? Pure terrifying excitement.
Fuck his life.
Roman immediately knew this was going to hurt.
One of the wolves ripped open the back of his shirt. At the same time, the witches nearby began chanting under their breath, their voices low and rhythmic.
Roman’s pulse spiked as Ziva leaned closer.
"I hope this hurts the bitch far more than it hurts you."
Then the blade touched his back and
Roman screamed.
The silver carved into his flesh, pain ripping not only through his body but violently across the matebond itself. It felt like fire spreading beneath his skin, like someone was tearing his nerves apart one by one.
"Motherfucker!" Roman choked out, tears springing instantly into his eyes as his body jerked violently against the restraints. "Fuck—fuck—!"
But no matter how much he screamed, it did nothing to lessen the pain. If anything, the silver only seemed to burn deeper with every movement.
Then horror truly settled in. This wasn’t random torture. The bitch was carving words into his back.
"What are you fucking doing?!" Roman practically bawled, his voice breaking from the sheer agony. It hurt so badly he couldn’t even describe it. Every stroke of the blade felt like fire being branded directly into his soul.
Ziva looked deeply pleased with herself.
"I’m sending a message to your mate," she replied. "This should be enough to get her ass moving from whatever realm she’s hiding in."
Roman’s face drained of color. No, no, no.
He would rather endure this pain a thousand times over than drag Violet into Angus’s mess. But strapped helplessly to the table, he had no choice in the matter.
Ziva continued writing on his skin.
Roman’s breathing turned ragged, his fingers straining so hard against the restraints his wrists burned raw. Thankfully, after what felt like an eternity, Ziva finally stepped back.
Roman collapsed against the table, panting heavily, his entire back feeling like it had been set on fire.
"I’m sorry," he muttered weakly.
Then again, almost delirious.
"I’m sorry."


VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Defy The Alpha(s)