Severn’s pale eyebrows lifted, his lips curling into a sneer. “And has it been effective?”

Thad kicked me in the side. I fell forward, which only made me pull on my own wings as he held onto them. I couldn’t stop the sound of pain that left my mouth. I scuttled backwards to him, desperate to relieve the pressure on my wings. One of his fingers trailed a delicate, soft trail down my wing joint, and the most delicious, sinful sensation overtook my body. I went boneless in his grip, arousal gripping me tightly as his finger continued its deadly path. By the odd look on his face, I doubted he’d meant to do it. His finger quickly retracted back to his fist and gripped harder. The pleasure faded away, tinged with pain.

I dully looked up, realizing Thad was speaking. “ . . . how long I have to break her. Something permanent to keep her chained would help.”

I fumed silently, not wanting to hurt the delicate skin Thad continued to hold hostage between his fists.

“Something permanent can be arranged,” Severn said in response, his eyes taking in my bowed, subservient posture. “For now, show me what you can do without them.”

Thad raised an eyebrow and ran that finger down my wing joint again. I gasped at the feeling.

“Come sit on my lap,” Thad ordered.

My fists tightened at my side, and I gritted my teeth. “No.”

Thad tightened his hold on my wings as the shadow demons came forward. “If you don’t, they’ll cut your wings from your body.”

I trembled, even as Severn’s laugh punctuated the air. Thad gave my wings a warning tug, and I bit back tears. Severn watched the terror in my body and smiled. I froze as two knives were brought forward, one held at each of my wing joints by a shadow demon. I didn’t even breathe. Thad released me and sat down on the short, stone slab I’d been tied to, leaning back on his elbows.

The asshole smirked at me. “Come.”

I stood shakily, afraid to move too fast with the knives so close to my delicate, fragile wings.

“You should know if you try to shift away, they’ll likely still get a wing before you manage. Think you could fly with one wing?”

I hated him. Fucking hated him. Severn jerked, his face tightening into a snarl.

“I had forgotten about that little bloodline trait. Mates share affinities.” He glanced back at Thad, as if seeing him for the first time. “Oh, and Wren? You need to convince me.”

It was tempting to shift away; to end all of this one wing or not, but it wasn’t reasonable. I wouldn’t leave the witches, and he fucking knew it. I swallowed my pride and took a step forward. With a pang, I realized I understood Benedict much more intimately than I ever had before. Sometimes, you destroyed yourself for others. I stepped up to the slab of stone and straddled Thad’s lap, aware of all the eyes on us.