Sign of the Devil's Footprint [THE DEVILS CULT BOOK 1]

Chapter Twenty-Three

Melione turned her head to look at Grym. His face was blank as he stared into the small crack of the door. She searched his face for any emotion but saw nothing. She wanted to know what was going on in his mind, what he was thinking. She started to reach out to him when a tendril of shadows wrapped around her outstretched wrist. Melione's eyes widened as she followed the shadows, searching for its owner.

A pair of bright eyes is shown in the dark before them. A dark chuckle reverberated around them. Melione growled as she watched a man emerge from the shadows dressed in a long, dark cloak with a metal mask and horns protruding from the forehead.

"Trying to escape?" the voice was dark as his head cocked to one side.

The shadows crushed whatever light was still inside of her as they bound her wrists together. She looked at Grym and saw the shadows do the same with his wrists. Grym was staring daggers at the man, his eyes hateful slits.

The man waved his hand, pulling them toward him.

"You're a fucking traitor," Melione growled at him. "You're a traitor to the Eclipse Sanctum."

The man laughed manically. "The Eclipse Sanctum never did anything for me. I'm respected here." He tugged on her shadows. "I was an outcast for my shadows. Here, I'm useful." He pulled her closer to him, causing Grym to growl dangerously. "How interesting that you would be mated to a golden boy." He pushed both of them forward and into the room. "Sir, I found these two trying to escape."

Ryfon, unmasked, picked his head up and watched as they were pushed to the other side of the table. Four other men were in the room, all masked and covered in long, black robes. "Thank you," Ryfon nodded to the man, never taking his eyes off Grym. He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. "You've caused quite the problem."

Melione stands straight as Ryfon's eyes snap over to her. She didn't want to show weakness, but her body slowly weakened with the touch of shadows. Her light was completely dim, and she could not conjure anything to help them. Grym stepped gently before her, shielding her from his father's gaze. "Why torture us?" Grym asked, gaining his father's attention. "Why didn't you kill us?"

Ryfon pinched the bridge of his nose. "I guess now is a good time than ever. You will be a part of this cult, Grym."

Grym shook his head. "No."

Ryfon motioned for Grym to step closer to him. Grym refused to move an inch. Ryfon motioned for the man holding them with his shadows to push Grym forward. Melione watched Grym be made closer to his father.

"You hate me," Ryfon looked up at his son. Melione hadn't noticed it before, but Grym was at least a head taller than his father. Ryfon's eyes held amusement in them as Grym's only held hatred. "Don't you, son?"

"Don't call me that," Grym growled dangerously. Melione started to move toward him when she felt herself be pulled back, her back flushed with one of the men's chests. Grym's head snapped over to her. "Get your hands off of her!"

Ryfon held a dagger against Grym's chest, making him stay where he was. "No one will hurt her, Grym. Not without my permission." He brought Grym's attention back to him. "I understand more than anyone else what it is like to be protective of your mate." Ryfon cocked his head to one side, studying Grym's face. "You would do anything for her safety, correct?"

Grym's eyes narrowed as he nodded slowly. "I would."

Ryfon nodded, a smirk dancing across his lips. "You understand that I can keep you right here and give my men permission to have their way with her on this table?" Grym's jaw ticked. "I suggest you do everything I tell you to do from now on. I don't want to kill my son, especially if he has a mate." Ryfon looked over at Melione. "Especially when I know that she would go crazy."

"Get on with it," Grym growled.

Ryfon turned his attention back to his son. "Join my cult, Grym. I can give you all sorts of power. We can avenge your mother's death."

Grym shook his head. "Father, you know that Mother would not have wanted this."

Ryfon dug the tip of the dagger into Grym's chest, and a small drop of blood appeared on the end. "You know that the gods did fucking nothing! Nothing! Nothing to save her! They have everything coming for them after they took everything from me!"

Grym shook his head again. "You still had me, father. They didn't take everything away from you."

Ryfon pointed his dagger at Melione. "She is your everything. I know that is how you feel, Grym. If I took her life and made you watch her die, wouldn't you want revenge against me?"

Melione could see Grym wrestling with himself before finally nodding. "I would."

Ryfon gave a quick nod. "Then join me, son. Help me take revenge on the gods for your mother. They could have helped her, Grym. You know that."

Grym shook his head. "I cannot join you, father. You know that I can't."

"Interesting," Ryfon sighed as he snapped his fingers.

Melione gasped as she was slammed face down onto the table. One of the men pushed himself against her backside. Her eyes were wide as she looked over at Grym.

"Let her go!" Grym moved to her but was stopped by the shadows. Grym's eyes never left hers. "Let her go, Ryfon."

"Join me, Grym." Ryfon's hand was held up. "I will not hesitate to let them touch her however they please, have you watch, and then kill her. Once again, join me."

"Grym-" Melione started but was instantly quieted with a dagger pressed against her throat. The man behind her pressed harder against her. Her body tried to get away from the man, but she knew there was nowhere that she could go. She was entirely at their mercy. Melione felt tears threaten to fall and worked hard to control them.

Grym took a shaky breath before nodding. "Fine," he growled. "Fine. I'll join you. Please, let her go."

"That's a good boy," Ryfon chuckled. He waved his hand, and Melione was let up.

Melione moved quickly over to Grym; this time, nothing stood between them to stop them from touching one another. Grym wrapped his arms tightly around her as she buried her face in his chest.

"Show them to their room. We'll discuss everything I need you to do once you are settled."