Nyx

The cell stank of mold, iron, and wet stone. I sat on the cot staring at the bowl of food I hadn't finished. Half because it tasted like damp cardboard, half because I trusted their kitchen about as much as I trusted a rabid bear with my jugular.

At least there was no draft like the attic. The air here didn't taste stale. And a real cot? Regular meals? Three days of blissful, quiet isolation?

Honestly, throwing me in jail might be the nicest thing they've ever done.

The best part: from where I sat, I could still see the moon through the slit in the wall.

The cell door creaked open, boots stomping toward me. Heavy. Arrogant.

I knew it was Dante before he showed up—his ego has its own unique stink.

"You look comfortable," he commented.

I smirked. "Are you lost? Wrong dungeon?"

He didn't laugh. Of course he didn't. Humor requires a brain.

"What about this is funny?" he snapped. "You making a fool out of me again?"

"Again? Be more specific, Dante. We've only met briefly four times, and one of those times you propositioned me to be your mistress." I tilted my head. "Aren't you humiliating yourself?"

"You really don't know when to shut up. I came here to help you."

"Oh great, I was hoping to hear all about how generous you are," I said, rolling my eyes so hard they nearly fell out.

"You've been living with a rogue in the beta's house! Don't bother denying it."

"Living with?" I barked a laugh. "I had no idea what was happening. I'm always locked in that attic by myself—how come suddenly there's a whole other person?"

"Don't lie to me! His scent is on you as well!"

"Are you sure your nose isn't broken from having your head so far up your own ass?"

His hands slammed into the bars—metal rattling like it feared for its life. "Why are you being so defiant?! I'm trying to save you!"

"Save me from what exactly?"

"From your own stupidity!" he snapped. "This execution could easily be avoided if you'd just stop being stubborn and accept my offer! Let me help you!"

I stepped toward the bars until he had no choice but to look at me.

"You already rejected me, didn't you?" I said quietly. "You called me a dirty rag of unknown origin and said you'd never touch me. Did that slip your mind? Or are you just bored and power-tripping because you're the alpha's son?"

"You don't understand! You infuriate me—but I can't stop thinking about you!"

"Sounds like a personal problem."

He leaned in, voice dropping. "Did you eat earlier? That stew?"

My stomach twisted. "What are you implying?"

"Wolfsbane," he said. "Enough to weaken you so you don't do anything stupid."

Ah. There it was.

I gave him my sweetest, fakest smile. "Wow. How thoughtful of you to poison me so if anything happens I'm too weak to do anything about it. You really know how to treat a girl."

"I'm trying to protect you! You can still get out of here. You can live comfortably if you'd just agree to—"

"—become your little mistress?" I arched a brow. "Why is it that you want to put me on a leash so badly?"

He flinched like I'd slapped him.

"Would... would you rather die?" he whispered.

"Glad you're catching up," I said. "I'd rather be executed than owned by anyone."

"Why do you keep rejecting me so harshly?" Dante demanded, actually looking hurt now. The poor delicate flower. Rejection must be a foreign concept for him.

"I'm only following what you wanted," I said. "Orders from the alpha's family are absolute, right? You told me to stay away. Now you're ordering me to be punished. Why exactly should I like you?"

His grip tightened around the bars until his knuckles paled. "I could stop this again. I could talk to my father."

"And then what?" I asked. "I spend the rest of my life as a dog on your leash? You visit me when you're bored or when you want to feel powerful? The way you act makes it obvious—you'd hold that over me forever."

"You don't know that! You don't even know me!"

"I'm going off what I've seen," I said, climbing back onto my cot. "And what I've seen is a pussy."

Silence.

His breathing grew heavy—ragged—an animal pushed too close to the fire. Then—

BANG!

He slammed both fists against the bars so hard the whole cell shuddered.

"FINE!" he roared. "YOU WANT TO DIE SO BADLY?! THEN DIE!! I'LL RUSH YOUR EXECUTION TO THE MORNING!!! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT?!"

I didn't even look up.

"Free at last."

***

The hallway outside the cells buzzed faintly—guards shifting, whispers bouncing off stone, the usual ambiance of people waiting for someone else's life to end. My life, apparently. Dawn execution. Cute.

Then the clack of heels.

Kori's particular brand of self-satisfied stomping.

And behind her—the matching harpy duo: her mother and my father.

Perfect. A family reunion. All the warmth of a freezer.

Kori stopped right in front of the bars, smiling at me like she was about to carve her initials into my skull.

"You're quite the celebrity around the pack now," she purred, venom wrapped in honey. "Your execution was just set for dawn, and everyone's talking about how this is the fastest punishment ever filed out. The alpha must really hate you. You've broken a record."

"Efficiency is such a blessing. The moon goddess is saving us from having to deal with such a shameful creature," her mom added, laughing like she'd rehearsed it in the mirror.

Father crossed his arms, all stern authority. Or trying to look like it. "Got anything to say for yourself?"

Oh, I had been waiting for this.

Instead of bowing my head like the obedient attic-goblin they wanted, I stood up and smiled big—too big. Sharp. Sweet. Murderous.

"Actually, I do," I chirped. "And you may want to sit for it. This is going to blow your fucking minds."

Father stiffened. "You—"

"No, you," I cut in. "You cheated on her."

Kori blinked, uncomprehending. Her mom's brows knit. Father's face went corpse-white.

I continued sweetly, "With a witch. A few witches actually—busy man. Where do you think I came from? Why do you think I resemble him so much? You can't honestly say with as clever as you are, you never had doubts."

Kori's mom's head snapped toward Father so fast her neck cracked. I almost applauded.

"Oh! Right. Memory lane!" I said brightly. "Nineteen years ago, big important beta diplomatic errand to the coven borders. Supposed to be a month or two. Father here stays an entire year. Comes back like nothing happened. Except... surprise! I was being made."

"You're lying!" Kori shrieked, hands balled into fists.

"Am I?" I tilted my head. "We've got the same eyes, sweetheart. You have your mom's nose, I'll give you that—but the rest? Father stamped his entire face on both of us. It's unavoidable. Biology is a bitch."

Kori's mom looked like she was about to combust. "Tell me this isn't true," she whispered to Father.

He said nothing.

Not a word.

Not even a grunt.

Coward.

"Don't worry," I said sweetly. "It's not like anyone else will find out. I'll be dead by morning. But then again..." I looked toward the shadowy corridor where the guards loitered, very much listening. "Some people just love to gossip."

Kori's mom snapped.

"YOU COWARD!!! I WILL NOT BE HUMILIATED IN FRONT OF THIS PACK BECAUSE OF HER!!!" she screamed, voice breaking on the last word before she stormed off. Kori shot me a murderous glare, eyes wide and wet with betrayal, before running after her.

And then it was just Father and me.

A lovely father–daughter bonding moment.

If you ignore the bars.

"Why would you do that?" he asked quietly, defeated for the first time in his life.

I laughed. Actually laughed. "Why not? Do you really think I'm just going to die quietly?"

His jaw clenched.

"Now," I continued, stepping closer to the bars, "you should get lost before I spill more secrets. You know—the easily proven ones. The ones with evidence." I lowered my voice. "I've got it hidden somewhere even the alpha wouldn't dare search unless I told him to."

He stared at me, the gears finally turning. Oh, he understood. I had teeth now.

And for once, he didn't try to intimidate me. He didn't yell. He didn't posture.

He just turned and walked away. Fast.

Tomorrow at dawn they could call it an execution.

A punishment. A cleansing of the pack.

But I smiled as the cold stone muffled his footsteps.

All I heard was freedom.