Page 89 of The Devils They Are
"Duchess."
Hunter stands casually in the walkway, hands deep in his pockets with a shit-eating smirk on his face.
"What are you doing here?" I grumble, pausing.
He steps forward, scanning my body. "Rough night, I see. That must hurt."
I want nothing more than to wipe that smug look off his face, but even I know I don't have the strength to fight him. I could get a second wind and all he would have to do is poke my arm or face and I'd topple over like a house of cards in a breeze.
"I'm not in the mood, Lannister," I say instead. "If you're hanging back, lock up."
Hunter cuts into my path as I step toward the side door, eyes dancing in amusement. "Before you go, Rylan would like a word."
Frowning, my eyes instinctively dart toward the rooms. "Why doesn't he just come out here then?"
"He's recovering from his fight."
My gaze flickers between Hunter and the rooms, desperate to see Rylan, but also not wanting to be ambushed by the three of them. But surely, Rylan wouldn't let that happen?
"Fine," I agree warily.
He steps aside, gesturing with his hand for me to walk past. It takes everything in my power to stay upright, acting as if every step isn't pure agony.
The first room is empty, and the second, so imagine my surprise when I reach the third one and find it equally vacant. Before I can ask where Rylan is, someone shoves me hard in the back.
I fall into the room, feet catching on the old carpet before landing stomach first on the ground. The cry of pain wheezes out as I brace my hands, ready to push myself up when Hunter's shoes appear in my peripheral vision.
There's a flash of something shiny and metallic, but before I can register what it is, I'm cuffed with them.
"What the fuck, Hunter?" I sneer, staring horrified at the metal handcuffs binding me to the leg of the abandoned desk.
Tugging them, I wince as they tighten around my wrist. Hunter squats down next to me, proudly exclaiming, "Not bad for a cheap pair. I guess you have that in common."
That second wind I was waiting on finally emerges as I use my entire body weight to yank on the chain. They don't budge, and neither does the desk I realize with horrifying disbelief. The metal legs are deadbolted into the ground through the murky green carpet. Without a key, I'm stuck.
"Very funny," I snap. "Unlock them."
Hunter reaches out, softly brushing a piece of fallen hair off my forehead. "I don't think so. It's about time you learned your place, Duchess."
"Don't touch me!"
He laughs as I jerk my head away, standing up. "Hopefully it doesn't get too cold for you."
I squirm frantically as he quickly grabs my cell and keys from my pocket, holding them out of reach when I try to snatch them back.
"You're pathetic," I shout, pulling the chain again. "This is low, even for an asshole like you."
Hunter shrugs. "Maybe you shouldn't have fucked with us—and certainly not with Rylan."
I freeze. He dumps my keys and cell in the corner of the room, out of reach.
"Give them back!"
"I don't think I will. I'm going to find out all your secrets soon, Duchess. When I do, you're going to regret the day you stepped foot in my academy."
This can't be happening. I know he hates me more than anything, but of all times, leaving me half naked, bound in an abandoned warehouse, the day before my mother's funeral… that's cruel, even for him.
"Don't do this," I murmur low, shaking my head. "Not today."
