When I came to, the first thing I was aware of was a terrible burning pain, as if someone had pulled irons directly from a forge and clamped them on my wrists. My head throbbed, and my mouth tasted like someone had tried to pour a concoction of vomit and bile down my throat.
What made me open my eyes, however, was the scent of two humans, one of whom I fully expected to be there; the other one, not so much.
I expected to find myself in some dingy basement with a light bulb hovering over my head. Instead, I was sitting in a circle of sofas and chairs in a well-appointed parlor room. Seated across from me, in two separate chairs, were Yantz and Deputy Talcon. The former sat upright, looking grave as if I were a naughty student, and the latter sprawled in his chair, the smug grin on his face resembling a class bully.
“Miss Baine,” Yantz said, leaning forward. He’d draped his suit jacket across the back of his chair, and his cufflinks glinted beneath the chandelier’s light as he rested his hands on his knees. “How nice of you to rejoin us. For a moment I thought I’d given you too much of the drug.”
I gritted my teeth. “What the fuck did you pump into my veins?”
Yantz sat back and waved his hand airily. “Oh, just a hefty dose of liquamine,” he said, referring to an anesthetic that human veterinarians used on their pets. “Nothing your system can’t handle.”
“Yeah, except that you laced it with kalois and silver, didn’t you?” I snarled, leaning forward so I could shove my face into his. But the manacles clamped around my wrists bit into my skin, nearly blinding me with burning pain. I drew back hastily, trying to relieve the agony.
“Ah, yes, those silver manacles do hurt, don’t they?” Yantz arched a dark brow, completely unsympathetic to my plight. “You know, if you didn’t know so much this wouldn’t be necessary. But that you’ve already figured out the compound we’re lacing the drugs with proves you’re far too dangerous to be allowed to run free. Tell me, how did you figure it out?”
“Fuck you.” With no other form of retaliation, I spat in his face.
Yantz recoiled, as I expected, but I didn’t have time to gloat because Talcon rose from his chair and punched me straight in the mouth. Pain exploded through my face as I rocked back, and I cried out as the silver manacles bit into my skin again. The smell of burning flesh laced the air, along with the coppery scent of the blood gushing out of my split lip and down my chin.
“Oh, I knew I was going to have fun when Yantz invited me to this party.” Talcon grinned down at me, and for the first time ever, the sight of his hulking form sent a tremor of fear through me. “I’d suggest you answer his questions, Baine. Or else things are gonna get real painful for you, real fast.”
“Oh yeah, like things are going swell right now.” I glared up at him. “I always knew you were scum, Talcon, but I never expected you to sink this low. You’re an Enforcer, for Magorah’s sake.”
Talcon shrugged. “Yeah, well our boss’s pockets are a lot deeper than the Guild’s,” he said. “The Benefactor pays us well to turn a blind eye.”
“The Benefactor?” I echoed, disbelief flooding through me. “Who the fuck is that?”
“Ah, so you haven’t gotten that far,” Yantz said. His dark eyes glittered coldly as he regarded me.
I bared my fangs at him, trying my best to ignore the pain and sickness ravaging my senses. “I would have, in time.”
Yantz nodded. “I’m well aware of that. Which is why you’re in chains. The Benefactor has big plans for the future of this country, and we can’t allow you to get in the way.”
This country? That sounded a lot bigger than just Solantha. “What kind of plan involves drugging and killing shifters?”
Yantz nodded to Talcon, who delivered another blow to my face. This one I expected, so only my head snapped back. Pain radiated from my cheekbone, and I hoped to Magorah the crack I’d heard was just my neck popping and not a broken bone.
“I ask the questions around here, not you,” Yantz said, his voice soft. “Now tell me, how did you find out about the compound?”
“I paid some Academy student to analyze it,” I half-lied, and spat out a mouthful of blood. Flecks of dark red spattered across Yantz’s shiny black shoes and the thick carpet. “Hope that doesn’t stain.”
Talcon reared back to hit me again, but Yantz held up a hand. “You’ll kill her if you keep hitting her in the head, Garius.”
Talcon’s eyes glittered maliciously down at me, his fist still poised to strike. “I’ve known this bitch for a long time, Petros. She’s pretty hard headed.”
“Nevertheless, stand down for now.” Yantz waited until Talcon reluctantly lowered his arm before turning his gaze back to me. “An Academy student, you say? Which one?”
I lifted my bloody chin. “I’ll answer your questions if you answer mine.”