Sucker Punch by Painter Kristen

Author:Painter, Kristen [Painter, Kristen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-11-06T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

If they had to fight on the stairs, they were in trouble. That was Donna’s first thought as they descended the narrow passage that led to the bowels of the stronghold. It was dark and dank and smelled of death. The tinny, sweet odor of decaying blood permeated the air. Even for a vampire, it was an awful stench.

Her stomach roiled at first, finally settling a few moments later. She checked her crew. Except for Cammie, they all looked a little queasy. How used to this sort of thing was Cammie?

The raspy sound of fae voices reached them as they hit a landing.

Ishalan put his hand out, stopping the party in their tracks. Then he held a finger up for them to be quiet. He flattened his palm. He wanted them to stay.

They all nodded. He slipped a hand under his coat and withdrew a short dagger. “You must trust me, Governor.”

They’d come this far. And if he tried anything, the crew behind her would end him. She nodded. “Fine.”

He held his free hand out to her. She took it, wondering what was about to happen. She didn’t have to wait long to find out. He pulled her close, wrapped his arm around her neck, and held the dagger to her throat. “Play along,” he whispered.

Behind her, she could hear the hiss of blades being pulled from their sheaths and soft, muttered curses.

“It’s all right,” she whispered to her team. All while hoping she wasn’t telling them a lie.

“Ready?” Ishalan asked.

“Yes.”

“Good. You take one, I’ll handle the rest.” He started down.

They hit another landing and went down two more steps. Three fae guards were shooting dice in front of a barred door. Rows of cells were visible through the bars.

She inhaled. And smelled wolf more strongly than she had since LV and Toni had joined them.

Ishalan tugged her along. “Brought a present for the king.”

The guards looked up from their game. The one nearest the door started to rise. Ishalan released her, then threw his dagger into the man’s throat.

Donna pulled her sword free and caught the middle one cleanly, lobbing off his head before he had a chance to speak.

At her back, Ishalan had the third up against the wall, his hands gripping either side of the man’s head. A sharp wrench left, the cracking of bones, and the last fae slumped to the ground. Ishalan bent and retrieved the keys from the man’s belt. He dangled them on his finger. “Let’s go get your wolf.”

The rest of the team flowed down the stairs, but she stood there, a little numbed by the sight of the purple blood staining her sword. It wasn’t the first time she’d killed someone. But it was the first time she’d done it with intent.

Her stomach twisted again.

Cammie caught her by the elbow. “Tuck it away for later. Those feelings aren’t going to help you now.”

She nodded. Compartmentalize. Temo had said she was good at it. Didn’t feel that way right now, but she did her best.

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