fallen logs behind Ian as we hiked up the mountain even further.
“Can you tell me exactly what we’re doing?” I asked , out of breath more from the exertion from using so much magic than from the hike.
He turned with Tony still on his shoulders and walked backward. He gave me a playful grin. “Getting answers.”
Ugh, sometimes I really hated his vague replies. “Okay, well, how are we gonna do that?”
He stopped walking and dropped Tony on the ground. “How do you kill breeds , Es?”
I raised a brow at him. What was he getting at? “Um, I’m not sure killing him will get us any closer to knowing any more about Nicolas.”
He chuckled. “No, I mean, how do you kill them?”
I released a breath and placed my hands on my hips, shifting my weight to one leg. “Stab them, and then behead them.” Images of when I first met Ian and how I had to kill Ree filled my mind. I shivered knowing Meadow was still out there. I closed my mind to clear my thoughts. I couldn’t think of her right now.
“Alright, but do you know how long it takes to weaken them to a death state if you don’t stab them in the heart?”
Tony’s eyes widened.
I shook my head. “No.”
“You’re about to find out.” Ian spun around and pulled out a stake from his back pocket. I mused over how prepared he always was. “Let up on your spell a bit so he can talk.”
I released my hold on him just enough, as Ian instructed. It felt good and I immediately let myself enjoy the fact that I didn’t feel as weighed down.
Tony spit at Ian’s feet. “You’ll never get anything out of me.”
Ian shrugged. “We’ll see.” He squatted down and grabbed Tony’s wrist and slammed the stake into the pale skin.
I felt my stomach twist even though it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Tony cried out, but then clenched his jaw shut.
Ian bobbed his head a little , like he had a tune in his head. After a couple more nods, he pulled out the stake and moved down to Tony’s thigh and plunged it in deep. This time, Tony’s cries were much louder.
Ian left the stake there and stood up. “So where’s Nicolas?”
“I don’t know,” Tony whimpered as he fought off the pain.
“That’s a lie,” Ian said as he kicked the leg with the stake. Tony hollered out.
I moved closer, understanding Ian’s motives a little more. “You want to be tortured? Just tell us where Nicolas is, or tell us anything for that matter and it can all end.”
Tony seethed through his clenched teeth. Ian kicked his leg again. “ Oww… What the hell, man.”
“S he’s talking to you.”
Tony glared at Ian as he spoke . “So? Why should I care who talks?”
Ian tipped his head my direction. “This is gonna get old real fast.”
I wanted to laugh. Ian had about as much patience as a five-year-old. “Well, we can’t have that.”
He gave me a wink then turned back around. “ You heard the lady.”
Tony’s face went white and his sneer dropped from his face as Ian squatted down next to him.
“Oh my gosh. Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to tease? If you’re gonna kill him, then just do it already.”
I popped my head up. A woman with short blonde hair came o ut from behind the tree line. A small wolf with a mixture of white, black, and brown fur covering the tiny body and a black patch of color surrounding her right eye, walked closely beside her. The woman carried a large, dark purple duffel bag that she had slung over her shoulder.
Ian's shoulders slumped as he stood back up. He hesitated before taking a step back to stand with me.
She stopped and looked down at Tony then up at me. “I’m Lauren.” She dropped her bag and reached down to scratch the top of the wolf’s head. “This is Kara.”
I cast a side glance at Ian. His lips were drawn tightly together and he had a raised brow. I couldn’t help but feel that he knew her, but he never said a word. Fine. I guess I needed to introduce myself. “I’m Esmerelda.”
Lauren