“Do you really think I believe any of this?” Poppy demanded. “That the Atlantians are innocent, and everything I’ve been taught is a lie?”
“Not particularly, but it was worth a shot,” I said, also knowing it wasn’t something she’d believe immediately. She had to sit with it. I just hoped we had enough time. “We are not innocent of all crimes—”
“Like murder and kidnapping?” Poppy tossed out.
“That among other things,” I admitted. “You don’t want to believe what I’m saying. Not because it sounds too foolish to believe, but because there are things you’re now questioning. Because it means your precious brother is feeding on innocents—”
“No,” she cut in.
“And turning them into Craven.”
“Shut up,” she growled, launching to her feet.
I followed her, coming to stand before her. “You don’t want to accept what I’m saying, even as logical as it sounds because it means your brother is one of them, and the Queen who cared for you has slaughtered thousands—”
Poppy swung at me, dragging the chain across the floor.
I caught her hand an inch from my jaw. I twisted her, forcing her to turn away from me. Hauling her back against my chest, I trapped one arm with mine and caught her other hand. A sound of pure frustration tore from her as she lifted a leg.
“Don’t,” I warned, my mouth against her ear.
Poppy, of course, did not listen.
I grunted as her foot connected with my shin, likely bruising it as she had Kieran’s. A huge part of me was more than impressed by her tenacity. Hell, it was a turn-on—her willingness to fight her way out. Her strength. But we didn’t have all day for this.
Moving too fast for her to react to, I spun her and took several steps. Trapping her between the wall and me, I was…somewhat confident she couldn’t kick me.
“I said, don’t,” I repeated, my mouth now against her temple. “I mean it, Princess. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You don’t? You already hur—” Poppy cut herself off.
“What?” I lifted her arm away from her stomach and the wound I’d just covered, placing her palm against the wall. She didn’t answer me, and I knew she was thinking of ways to take me out. Again, that was admirable and arousing, but also pointless.
I shifted my head, resting my cheek against hers. “You know you can’t seriously hurt me,” I said.
Every muscle of her body tensed. “Then why am I chained?”
“Because getting kicked, punched, or clawed still doesn’t feel good,” I drawled. “And while the others have been ordered to not touch you, it doesn’t mean they’ll be as tolerant as I am.”
“Tolerant?” She tried to push away from the wall—tried being the keyword there. “You call this tolerant?”
“Considering that I just spent time cleaning out and covering your wound, I would say so.” I paused. “And a thank you would be nice.”
“I didn’t ask you to help me,” she snapped.
“No. Because you’re either too proud or too foolish to do so. You would’ve allowed yourself to rot instead of asking for help,” I said. “So, I’m not going to get a thank you, am I?”
Her head thrust back, but I saw it coming. I pushed against her until there was no space between her and the wall, which she didn’t like. She started to squirm, pressing back—wiggling soft, shapely parts of her, and my body reacted immediately.
Fucking gods.
“You are exceptionally skilled at being disobedient,” I growled. “Only second to your talent of driving me crazy.”
“You forgot one last skill.”
“I did?” I frowned.
“Yes,” she hissed. “I’m skilled at killing Craven. I imagine killing Atlantians is no different.”
I laughed, enjoying her threats. “We’re not consumed by hunger, so we’re not as easily distracted as a Craven.”
“You can still be killed.”
“Is that a threat?” I asked, grinning.
“You take it however you want.”
It likely was a threat. My smile faded. “I know you’ve been through a lot. I know that what I’ve told you is a lot, but it is all the truth. Every part, Poppy.”
“Stop calling me that!” She wiggled, shifting slightly. Her ass rubbed against my cock.
“And you should stop doing that,” I bit out, unsure if I really wanted her to stop. “Then again. Please continue. It’s the perfect kind of torture.”
Poppy inhaled sharply as a tight, sweet shiver hit her. “You’re sick.”
“And twisted. Perverse, and dark.” I drew my chin across her cheek, smiling as her back arched in response. Her body knew what it wanted. Against the wall, I spread my fingers over hers. “I’m a lot of things—”
“Murderer?” she whispered. “You killed Vikter. You killed all the others.”
The breath I took was a heavy one. “I’ve killed. So have Delano and Kieran. I and the one you call the Dark One had a hand in Hannes’ and Rylan’s deaths, but not that poor girl,” I said, speaking of Malessa Axton. “It was one of the Ascended, most likely caught in bloodlust. And I am willing to bet it was either the Duke or the Lord.”
Poppy seemed to exhale the same heavy breath.
“And none of us had anything to do with the attack on the Rite,” I told her, which was true. They were never supposed to be near the Rite. “And what happened to Vikter.”
I could feel each breath she took as she asked, “Then who did?”
“It was those you call Descenters. Our supporters,” I told her. “There was no order given to attack the Rite, however.”
“You really expect me to believe the thing the Descenters follow didn’t order them to attack the Rite?”
“Just because they follow the Dark One, doesn’t mean they are led by him. Many of the Descenters act on their own. They know the truth. They no longer want to live in fear of their children being made into monsters or stolen to feed another. I had nothing to do with Vikter’s death,” I said, even though I felt responsible because I was responsible.
Poppy shivered. “But the others you claim. You killed them. Owning it doesn’t change it.”
“It had to happen.” I moved my chin without thought, much like a cat seeking touch. “Just like you need to understand that there is no way out of this. You belong to me.”
You belong to me.
My eyes opened, fixing on our joined hands against the cold stone wall. The back of my neck prickled.
“Don’t you mean I belong to the Dark One?” she countered.
I swallowed. “I meant what I said, Princess.”
“I don’t belong to anyone.”
“If you believe that, then you are a fool.” I moved my head, preventing her from retaliating. “Or you’re lying to yourself. You belonged to the Ascended. You know that. It’s one of the things you hated. They kept you in a cage.”
“At least that cage was more comfortable than this one.”
“True,” I admitted, and fuck if that wasn’t a kick in the nuts. “But you’ve never been free.”