Chapter 1

1

SIX YEARS AGO

J inx ignored the sounds around her. The grunts, groans, moans, and cries were as familiar to her as her own reflection.

She stared dully at the carpet beneath her knees. It was stained and rough, chaffing her already reddened flesh wherever it touched. Given she was completely naked, there was no respite to be found from the discomfort.

She raised her hand to adjust the collar around her neck. There was just enough space to fit two fingers between the metal and her tender skin. It was magicked and impossible to remove, even with the strength of a tigress. She sighed, tempted to call the beast she shared a soul with, if only for a moment. But that would be selfish.

Her tiger counterpart was currently sleeping—a deep, oblivious sleep that Jinx envied. But her relief overrode that most of the time. Commanding the animal to sleep had been challenging but also necessary. Being collared, being caged, would have been a slow death for her tiger. They both knew it. Still, her tigress was both stubborn and fierce and fought hard to stay aware. It was the only time they hadn’t been in sync in Jinx's life. Ultimately, she convinced the tiger to sleep to preserve the life—and the sanity—of her shifted form.

“Help you?”

Jinx startled, dropping her hand and glancing at the vampire holding her leash. Cronos had been tasked with watching her for the evening while her Master was otherwise occupied. He had yet to touch or sell her today, but she knew it was coming. Cronos was a filthy piece of blood-sucking shit, and she wanted to tear his throat out as much as she wanted her freedom.

“I asked if I could help you,” Cronos repeated, crossing his beefy arms and glaring at a patron.

Jinx looked up, finding a tall, lean woman with close-cropped hair and intriguing mauve eyes. Hairs rose immediately on the back of her arms, her instincts telling her to pay attention.

“I’m looking for Weka,” the woman finally said, her expression neutral as she eyed the room beyond.

Cronos leered, his eyes raking over the lean woman in leather. “Are you one of the new toys?”

The woman’s head snapped around to Cronos, her pretty eyes narrowing dangerously. “Do I look like a toy?”

Jinx ducked her head, hiding her smirk. She recognised the undercurrent in the tone: danger. She hoped the stranger would follow through, but chances were slim. Only horrible people entered the tent of the lust demon, Asmodeus.

“In all that skin-tight leather?” Cronos replied with a grin before licking his fangs. “Yes.”

Jinx held her breath, risking another look up. The air felt charged, not that her vampire captor noticed. He was too busy staring at the woman’s jugular.

“You got me,” the woman drawled. “But I’m not a new toy. I’m a new Dom.”

Cronos shook his head. “Impossible. Weka doesn’t play with Doms.”

The woman shrugged, looking unconcerned. “He’ll play with me.”

“Doubt it,” Cronos replied. He grabbed his crotch right next to Jinx’s face. “But I will.”

The woman ran her eyes over Cronos’s form from head to toe before snorting derisively. “Cupcake, I would snap you like a twig,” she stated. “Now, where is Weka?”

“Bitch! I ain’t telling you shit,” Cronos growled, his hand flexing and tugging on the leash.

Jinx gagged a little when her collar choked her, and she was forced to place a steadying hand on the filthy floor to stop from toppling over. Her fingers flexed over a particularly nasty stain, and she stared at it with unblinking eyes. This is my life , she thought to herself.

Feeling the woman’s regard, Jinx peeled her gaze from the floor. Their eyes met, her stomach lurched, and her breath stalled in her throat. She wanted to look away, to hide, but something in the woman’s intense stare made her feel brave.

Jinx licked her dry, cracked lips. “He’s over there,” she said, pointing a shaky finger toward the heavy, black curtains in the back.

The woman remained motionless. “Who are you?”

Jinx shook her head minutely. “I’m nobody.”

One dark eyebrow rose in response. “I’ve never met a nobody before.”

“Now you have,” Cronos grumbled. “She’s a nobody. And a nobody doesn’t talk ,” he added, snarling down at Jinx and tugging on her chain again.

Jinx ducked her head, hunched her shoulders, and prepared herself for a blow. But it never came. After a few tense heartbeats, she tentatively looked up. Cronos’s hand was caught in the woman’s grip. It didn’t look comfortable. In fact, if the tears in the vamp’s eyes were anything to go by, it looked downright painful.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the woman said dangerously. She leaned closer to Cronos, whispering, “I told you I’d snap you, Cupcake. You don’t want me to show you how. Trust me.”

The woman released his fist, turning to Jinx once again. “How old are you?”

“She’s a slave. Unless you’re paying for her, she doesn’t speak,” Cronos grumbled, clutching his hand to his chest.

“Shut the fuck up!” the woman roared abruptly, making Cronos jump and hiss. “I wasn’t talking to you.” Her fierce expression gentled a bit as she looked at Jinx. “How old are you?” she repeated.

Jinx didn’t need to look at Cronos to see the combination of fury and caution on his face. She could sense it. Instead, she cleared her throat before answering, “Fifteen.”

When mauve eyes flicked to the collar around Jinx’s throat, she ducked her head, doing her best to hide the offending piece of metal that declared to the world exactly what she was. Even if she wanted to pretend that she wasn’t a commodity, she couldn’t. The collar wouldn’t let her.

Above her, Cronos chuckled, leaning down and leering grotesquely at her exposed body. “We like ‘em young here,” he boasted. “Supple flesh, you know?”

Jinx didn’t see exactly what happened—the woman’s hand whipped out too fast—she only saw the result. And that was Cronos falling to the floor, eyes and mouth opened wide in shock. And in death.

Jinx blinked and then blinked again, her eyes trying to convince her brain what they were seeing. “He’s dead,” she said hollowly.

“Fucker was pissing me off,” the woman muttered, running her hands through her short hair. “I was more patient with him than he deserved. Now, what’s your name?”

Jinx shook her head, staring at the vampire's body. She felt delightfully numb. “I don’t have one here,” she murmured.

Leather creaked as the woman squatted down. A slender hand reached out, gently grasping her by the chin. Jinx trembled a little but didn’t pull away.

“Do me a favour; pretend you’re not here. What would your name be then?”

The dead body next to her and the warmth of the hand holding her chin in a gentle grip galvanised her to respond truthfully. “Jinx.”

“Jinx,” the woman repeated, a small smile gracing her lips. “I like it. I’m Sabre.”

Jinx remained silent. She had no idea what she was supposed to say. She wasn’t used to people asking her questions or introducing themselves. She also had no idea what was going on. Cronos was dead, she was stark naked, and a random woman in leather was talking to her like they were best friends.

“Now, you said Weka was behind those curtains. Is that the truth?” Sabre asked, dropping her hand but remaining on her haunches before Jinx.

Jinx was silent for a moment, looking around to find that no one had noticed a dead vampire lying on the floor of the brothel. But then, drugs and sex were good distractions. “Yes. It’s the truth.”

Sabre hummed. “Will he be alone?”

Jinx shook her head. “He’ll be with a handful of sex slaves and prostitutes. My Master is also back there. There are private rooms for scenes, but Asmodeus watches most of them.”

“Asmodeus. Lust demon. Looks like he just walked off the cover of a fashion magazine, but is as filthy as they come?” Sabre questioned quickly.

Jinx snorted. Sabre nailed Asmodeus with that description. “That’s him.”

“He’s your owner?” Sabre pressed.

Jinx’s jaw clenched, and she gave a brief nod, unable to say the words out loud.

“I see,” Sabre said.

Jinx had no idea what the woman ‘saw’, and she didn’t have time to wonder because Sabre was dragging her to her feet in the next instant. Jinx stumbled a little; her feet were all tingly from the blood rushing back to them after so long kneeling.

“You see what I did to Cupcake here?” Sabre asked, kicking Cronos’s body with her black boot. “I intend to do the same to Weka, only much slower. I can throw in Asmodeus, too. On the house.”

“What?” Jinx questioned in confusion.

“I’m an assassin, Jinx. I was paid to kill Weka. But I’m inclined to do you a solid. Pro bono,” Sabre explained.

Jinx sucked in a sharp breath. “You’re an assassin?”

“You bet,” Sabre replied. She bent over, tugging Cronos’s jacket off him. “Here …” She held out the black material to Jinx. “I know it has vampire cooties, but it’s better than nothing.”

Jinx took the jacket, gratefully slipping it over her bare shoulders. It was long, and she was short, so it covered her to mid-thigh. “You’re really going to kill Weka?”

“I really am,” Sabre confirmed merrily.

“And Asmodeus?” Jinx held her breath, not daring to believe it.

“If you want me to,” Sabre replied easily.

Jinx shook her head, not understanding. “Why does what I want matter? Why do you care?”

Sabre shrugged and glanced away. She looked uncomfortable as hell. “Beats me, kid. I have no fucking clue.” Then she met Jinx’s gaze squarely. “But I do care. So, you wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Before Jinx could say anything else, Sabre strode purposefully across the room, expertly dodging the fornicating bodies in her path. Wide-eyed, Jinx remained locked in place. Nothing happened for a couple of minutes. But then Jinx’s ears picked up a series of bangs, glass breaking, and heavy thuds.

A familiar roar met her ears, and she cringed. The sound of an angry Asmodeus was very much the same as a pleasure-filled Asmodeus. Jinx would recognise it anywhere. This meant Sabre was either fucking the lust demon, or she was pissing him off. She wanted to believe that it was the latter, but she was afraid to.

When a headless body was propelled through the black curtains a moment later, people started running. The dregs of society who frequented the brothel fled like the cowards they were the moment violence of the non-sexual variety broke out. Slaves like herself were not free to do so. The collars prevented it, and they huddled together in a corner. An electric shock would be administered the moment they crossed the threshold of the pleasure house. And it wasn’t a small shock. It was one designed to render the victim unconscious.

Weka’s head tumbled from the back rooms before Sabre emerged, dragging a banged-up Asmodeus with her. Jinx’s hand flew to her chest, where she could feel the rapid pounding of her heart. Was Sabre truly going to kill the lust demon?

“How dare you come into my establishment and kill my patrons!” Asmodeus roared, tugging against Sabre's sure grip. “I’m a friend of Carlisle’s. Wait until he hears about this!”

Sabre rolled her eyes. “Why am I not surprised that you’re chums with a piece of shit incubus?” She leaned in close to his face and smirked. “Oh, and spoiler alert, your patrons aren’t the only ones I intend to kill. Now, how do they get the collars off?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Asmodeus yelled. “Release me!”

“I’m not releasing you until you release them ,” Sabre informed the lust demon, gesturing to the eight collared slaves wrapped around each other, wide-eyed. “Tell me how to get the collars off.”

“They don’t come off,” Asmodeus snarled. He turned his head, spitting in Jinx’s direction. “They get buried in them when they’re dead.”

Sabre tsked, back-handing Asmodeus and sending him to the floor. “I’m going to show you all the ways how that is the wrong answer, fuck-face.”

It didn’t take long. Perhaps one minute in total and the removal of an ear for Asmodeus to explain the locking mechanism—a combination of magic and technology—to Sabre. Another two minutes and the woman successfully removed the collars of the eight sex slaves watching the show avidly. With Asmodeus crying in a puddle of his own urine, Jinx held her breath as Sabre walked towards her. She thought she might pass out until the other woman reminded her to breathe.

Jinx sucked in a startled breath and stumbled as the cursed collar clicked, opened, and fell away. Only Sabre's strength kept her upright, the other woman taking a firm grip on her forearms.

“Easy,” Sabre said quietly.

Jinx gave Sabre her weight for a heartbeat before she pulled herself upright, breathing free air. “Thank you,” she whispered. It was the best she had to offer in her shocked state.

“No problem,” Sabre replied blithely, as if she hadn’t just performed a miracle. She gestured to Asmodeus. “Do you want to do it?”

“Wha-what?” Jinx stuttered.

“Kill him,” Sabre explained, holding out a wicked-looking blade. “Do you want the honours?”

“I …” Jinx edged closer to the demon. He was responsible for selling her to the highest bidder daily. He was the demon who forced himself on her and stole her innocence when she was just thirteen years old. And here Sabre was, asking her if she wanted to kill him with her own hands. “I want to rip him to shreds,” she snarled.

And with that, her tiger woke up. She heard the satisfied rumble of her soul animal as it took in the scent of blood that filled the air and the dagger in Sabre’s hand. Vengeance was finally within their grasp.

Sabre chuckled darkly. “Excellent. Here you go.”

Jinx took the weapon from Sabre’s outstretched hand and tested its weight. It was surprisingly light. She stalked towards Asmodeus, a low growl falling from her lips. He opened his mouth, but she didn’t want to hear it. She never wanted to listen to him speak, call her names, or give her orders again. She kicked him in the chest, sending him to his back. The adrenaline pumping through her system and her newly awakened tiger gave her strength in her malnourished state.

She pounced on him, pinning him in place with the blade to his throat and her slight body weight. His green eyes were wide and sweat dripped down his forehead. Beneath the surface, her tiger hissed, opening its mouth to better scent Asmodeus’s terror. The dagger pierced his flesh, red blood bubbling quickly to the surface. Jinx watched it roll down his neck, and she pressed harder. More blood flowed, even as her hand began to shake.

At first, when her vision blurred, she didn’t understand why. It wasn’t until Sabre gently took the blade into her own hands, encouraging Jinx to move away, that she realised she was crying. Scrubbing furiously at her wet cheeks, Jinx knew why. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t kill him. And it made her feel like a failure. Asmodeus deserved to die. She had pictured doing it countless times. Yet here she was with a literal knife in her hand, and she couldn’t do it.

“Don’t worry, I got this,” Sabre promised as if Jinx’s emotional crisis was no big deal. She placed her boot on Asmodeus’s neck, pressing down hard enough to make him gag. “Give Luca my regards,” she said before ramming the blade into his eye.

The shriek from the lust demon quickly morphed into a gurgle as his eye popped, and the sharp blade continued its journey into his brain. Sabre twisted the dagger once, causing his body to jerk before she wrenched it free. Her mouth curled in disgust as she took in the blood dripping from the tip, and she bent to wipe it on her victim’s shirt.

Jinx watched it all in a detached way. She was jubilant. She was afraid. She was excited. She was appalled. She was all those things and more. And she really had no idea what the fuck she was supposed to do now. “What now?” she queried without thought.

Sabre gestured to the exit. “Now you’re coming with me.”

The words had Jinx’s focus sharpening once more. “With you? Why?”

Sabre stepped forward and reached out a hand. It had just brutally killed, but it was gentle as it cupped Jinx’s cheek. Jinx couldn’t help herself; she rubbed her face against the palm, discovering callouses and warmth. She and her tiger had the absurd urge to purr.

“To live,” Sabre finally replied. “You’re coming with me so you can live.”

Jinx pulled back with a frown, not understanding. “I’m living now.”

Sabre glanced around, a look of revulsion on her face. “You’re really not. But you can . I promise. You can live a life of your choosing.”

Hope sprang like a fragile, green shoot trying to push past soil caked in blood and pain. But before it could emerge from the darkness, Jinx stomped on it. Hope was useless. Hope was cruel.

She stepped back, moving away from the comfort of the deadly woman in front of her. “I don’t believe you.”

Instead of being pissed, Sabre looked impressed. She grinned crookedly. “I don’t blame you, kid. Not one bit. But what do you have to lose? Come on, take a chance," she cajoled.

“On you?” Jinx fired back.

Sabre shook her head. “Not on me. On yourself .”

It sounded like a shitty idea, taking a chance on herself, but the allure of freedom was too strong. That was why, two minutes later, when the assassin walked out of the brothel after setting it on fire, Jinx followed.

And she didn’t look back.