Chapter Three

Maureen

E very cell in my body wants to get away from Holden Graves. On the surface, he looks like an older version of Riot. But his energy is black and toxic. It oozes out like tendrils of smoke, threatening to suffocate us all.

The guys are on edge, wound tight. As if this man could deprive us of oxygen with just a flick of his fingers. There's a pit of dread stewing in my belly that tells me maybe he could. It's already getting harder to breathe from the tension.

Holden Graves narrows his eyes at me, his gaze traveling up and down the length of my body. I fight the urge to hide behind Riot. I'm not a shrinking violet, but this man's energy is dark and sinister. His power looms over us like a black cloud. After everything I've been through, there's not much left that scares me. Until now.

He strolls over, taking a drink off Romulus's tray on his way to us. "You have your grandmother's eyes… like burnt honey or copper on fire. That's how she got her nickname, you know? Penny . How is Penelope doing these days?"

I don't like the gravel in his voice. It's laced with quiet threats and vibes of the stab you in the back variety. "I've never met her," I murmur.

Riot hisses. "I already told you she's never been to Ever Graves."

Holden throws him a dismissive look, but I can't help but notice his pupils dilate. "I'm just testing our new friend." He cups my elbow in his hand, and a slight ping of electricity shoots up my arm. "I'm well aware of the scandal your mother caused when she betrayed Val's uncle all those years ago. Getting knocked up by a groundskeeper . Such a shame you had to grow up in squalor because your mother couldn't keep her legs closed."

I feel my cheeks burn. What is he talking about? My father never said anything about working for the Blackwells.

Valentin growls next to me, but Riot cuts him off before he, too, incurs the wrath of Holden Graves. "Don't be a dick, Father. Maureen doesn't deserve your disrespect."

"Well, she hasn't earned my respect either." He pinches my elbow as he notices the sigil on my neck. "And I didn't approve any of this."

My heart races as he flexes his power, and a sharp pain travels up my arm. I hitch my breath, trying not to show a reaction. But the guys are connected to me, and they can feel it too.

Atlas smiles and slaps him on the back. "You promised me a tour of your new lab last time you came to Tenebrose. I have some new batches of oleander I'd love to have you try."

Holden forces a smile. "No one crafts poison quite like you, Atlas. How could I say no?"

Behind that Adonis smile and those sparkling, ocean-colored eyes, Atlas, too, is a predator. A psycho who's not just immune to poison, he drinks it for fun. And right now, with Holden's fingers digging into my arm, I can feel Atlas's crazy going up a few notches in my bones.

When Holden finally lets go, I cradle my arm to my chest. I rub the tender spot he pinched and feel a knot already forming. Fucker. I wonder if he's the reason why his wife walks with a cane.

Riot rests a hand on my lower back in warning. As if my thoughts are too loud.

Atlas reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out a vial. "This one is fucking fire. It will keep your cock hard for hours."

Holden smirks. "I'm sure Maureen appreciates that."

My face flushes again. "Not sure that's any of your business," I snap.

"Oh, you're fiery. Have to be to keep these boys' interest. They get bored rather fast."

"So do I. Kind of like now with this conversation."

Holden steps toward me, and the guys close in around us. "You're right. I'm faking pleasantries when what I really mean to do is get down to business."

"Father," Riot warns. "Leave her out of this."

He shoves a finger in his face while keeping his gaze locked on mine. "Shut your fucking mouth."

Chills race up my back.

"You have pledged yourself to Nocturnus, have you?" Holden asks me.

I nod. "I made an oath to Riot, Val, and Atlas."

He snickers. "They belong to Nocturnus. So now you do as well. As the eldest living Graves heir, I am Nocturnus."

Riot snorts. "Yes, we know, Father. You're the fucking king of the castle."

"What do you want from me?" I whisper. There is no way this man is going to let me walk out of here unscathed.

Holden snaps his fingers and Romulus scurries over like a lap dog. He places a dagger in his hand. The hilt is the same as Riot's. "A ceremony. It's Nocturnus law for female initiates to submit. In order to be fully accepted into our coven, you will need to take part in this most sacred rite."

"No," Valentin barks. "No fucking way."

Atlas sighs. "We've already done it, Mr. Graves. She's been initiated by us."

Riot stays quiet, but the look in his eyes toward his father is murderous.

"She has not been initiated properly," Holden snaps back. "All your former members are either dead or locked away. It must be done again. I must bear witness. Or I will strip her of her sigils right now."

I clasp my sigil as a warning shot fires up my neck. My skin crackles, and I know that he's holding back. I can feel it. This is just a teaser of what's to come if I don't comply.

"Fine. I'll do it."

"Maur, you have no idea what you're agreeing to." Valentin grabs me and pulls me into his chest.

"I don't think I have much of a choice. Don't forget who I am." I wink at him even though my insides are curdling with fear.

Holden nods. "Good. We'll do it tonight. I don't want you in our house any longer until you've been cleansed. Romulus will get you ready for the ceremony. And your punishment for Zeke will follow after."

Wait. What?

"Punish me ," Riot roars. "It's my fault he's dead."

What in the fuck is going on? Punishment? I can't breathe.

Holden grabs Riot by the back of his head and pulls him. "If that's the case, then I'll have to enforce the rule of Hekate."

Riot's face pales. He gathers his composure. "No. That won't be necessary."

"What is the rule of Hekate?" I whisper to Atlas.

"You don't wanna know, Firecracker."

My stomach flips.

He shakes him. "Say it out loud then. I want to hear it from your lips."

Riot's jaw clenches. "She's just a toy for us to play with. I accept whatever punishment you see fit."

I wince. How did he go from begging for my mercy to making me sound like I'm nothing but a whore? He's just lying. But why? What has him so scared that punishing me is the least fucked up thing Holden Graves could do?

Valentin bows his head. " Bastard ," he curses under his breath.

Atlas hands me the vial of poison instead. "You're going to need this."

Holden claps his hands together in delight. "You'll get your toy back soon enough. I'll deliver her to you myself when it's done."

"Wait." My heart hammers. "They're not coming with me?" Having them there was the only way I knew I'd get through this.

"They don't have clearance. This rite of passage is to be witnessed by elder members only." His lips curl up into a smirk.

Fuck. Me.

"Sex is magic. Power. The initiates must bear witness before whatever this is can be taken seriously. Those are the rules of old. One of our most sacred rites." Holden Graves hands me a black hooded robe.

I want to be numb. To feel nothing like he does. A part of me wants to run back to Wickford Hollow and hide in Bailey's basement for the rest of eternity. But I'm in too deep now to turn back. There's too much blood on my hands.

And I can't imagine a life without Riot, Atlas, or Valentin in it. As psychotic as some might think that is, I'll do whatever is asked of me to keep the four of us together.

"You don't have to do this, Maur." Valentin is a towering beacon of rage and sorrow. The darkness takes over his eyes, pitch black and murderous.

Riot stares straight ahead, solemn, refusing to look at me. While Atlas has numbed himself into a stupor, his eyes aglow with poison swirling around his pupils.

I nod. "Yes, I do."

Holden whispers in my ear, " Your cunt has broken them. Now it's your turn to be humiliated. "

His nostrils flare in my direction when I peel off my dress and panties as I was instructed by Romulus earlier. When I put on the robe and pull up the hood, Holden knows he's won. But he's sadly mistaken if he thinks that he owns me. I'm not doing this for him or his initiates. I'm doing this for us. For my devils.

I follow them down the stairs, leaving my guys behind. I shudder when the heavy metal door closes, cutting me off from them completely. We travel so many levels down I think we might be entering hell itself. The air is thicker the farther we get. The scent of oleander is cloyingly sweet, tickling the hairs on my nose as I try not to inhale too much of it.

My heart beats faster with each step I take, the silence of my sins permeating the spaces between us. Holden leads the way through an intricate maze of tunnels and caverns, a whole other world that exists beneath his estate. Terror begins to creep into my bones as we pass group after group of masked figures.

The initiates at Tenebrose were fledglings. Amateurs. These are not the same. They stand tall and powerful, unafraid. As if they could squash me with just a flick of their fingers. They have all pledged oaths long ago. And in their callous glares, I detect the disgust for a girl who's broken all their rules. Who took one of their own from them and sent the rest scattering.

We reach another cavern, and my jaw drops open. There must be at least thirty masked initiates standing watch. They hold torches to light the room, casting an eerie glow on their bronzed masks, their eyes demonic.

I shiver and instantly regret agreeing to this. Fuck.

Holden walks around before stopping in front of me. "It's time to learn our true ways now, Miss Blackwell. I'm going to show you how we deal with murderous little whores."

I clench my fists and fight the urge to deck him in the face. He doesn't know shit about me or what the four of us have together. But I bite my tongue. I just want to get this over with.

He snickers, thinking he's won yet again. "As soon as you take off your robe, the ritual will begin. I will give you another sigil. But you will only receive its power when the ceremony is complete in its entirety."

I swallow down the lump in my throat. "What kind of sigil?"

He smirks. "Virility. You like to wield your cunt so badly; I will give you a sigil that lets you do just that, my little temptress."

I have to choke back the bile that's rising in my throat. This man is a fucking monster.

"What do I have to do to complete the ritual?"

His eyes darken. "Sexual surrender is the lifeblood of this ritual. The carnal release of one's essence and nectar is demanded to fulfill the transfer of power. It lives in that fleeting moment of euphoria. That moment of weakness. When you open up your body and soul to receive it."

I look around the room at the initiates. They stand stoically and without expression. This has been done before. That I'm certain of. It's too late to turn back now…

"I'm not fucking any of you."

He laughs. "No, you're not. We don't want your filth on us. As I said, when you take off your robe, we will begin." He points to the center altar as an initiate lays a black cloth over it.

With shaky fingers, I untie the robe and let it fall to the ground. I resist the urge to look down. I need to appear strong. He thinks I'm weak, but I'm far from it. So I raise my chin and make eye contact with every single initiate.

Their silence begins to break as they ogle my naked body. They step forward, forming a tighter circle around us. Tiny little breaths escape their tightly controlled lips, floating to me like demonic whispers.

"Lie down on the cloth and spread out. Legs open and hands above your head."

My nerves are shattered, but I lie down and do as he says.

"Very good." With a blade twice the size as Riot's, Holden Graves moves down between my thighs. His eyes narrow when he spots the sigil and snake bite. "Blasphemous," he curses and glares back up at me.

I can't stop shaking now. He looks like he wants to tear me to shreds.

He nods to two initiates. "Hold her down."

One grabs my wrists and pins them while another does the same to my ankles. I take deep breaths and will my heart to slow down so I don't have a fucking heart attack.

"I guess virility will have to go here instead." He grabs a hold of my unmarked thigh and pins it back. He rests one hand against my pussy, shifting his body weight onto it. "For leverage."

My blood is fucking boiling.

Without warning, he digs the knife into my thigh. "You will bleed for me."

I scream as he carves into me with zero care or concern for my flesh. It feels like he's fucking butchering me. This isn't sacred or special like the way it was with my guys.

Saliva drips from his mouth as he swirls the knife around for what seems like an eternity. "Such a beautiful sight, little temptress. Red is a good color on you."

I arch my back as the burn spreads through my belly and then shoots up my spine. This feels different than Riot's marks. There's an underlying current of evil that runs through Holden's blade. It scratches and claws at my bones like a pack of angry wolves. I grunt through it, refusing to let him see me cry.

He steps back and nods to the initiates once more. They release their hold on my wrists and ankles, but I stay still. I don't trust this monster, and I don't want to give him a single reason to torture me some more.

He holds up the knife, showing it off to his initiates. "The gate is open. It's begun."

"What now?" I breathe.

He snarls down at me. "Now, you will bring yourself to release."

My stomach flips. Oh, fuck. No, this can't be happening.

"In… in front of all of you?" I knew he was going to mark me, but this level of depravity is on another level.

He smiles when he sees the horror on my face. "Yes. A woman's juices are like sweet nectar from the gods. You will release them in this sacred room." He beckons to his initiates. "Come closer."

They inch in, making room for each other to get a better view.

Fuck.

When I hesitate, he leans down and whispers in my ear, " Do it, or I'll do it for you ."

Fuck. Why is this happening?

I gently slide my index finger down the slit of my pussy.

Holden sighs. "Don't be shy now, little temptress." He digs his thumb into my freshly carved sigil, and I scream. "Act like you mean it, or this will burn you from the inside out."

And I believe him.

I pull my pussy lips back, rolling my hips as I stroke myself. Despite my rage, it sends spasms deep inside me. I can't stop the moan from leaving my lips as I feel the pleasure take hold of me.

"Bear witness to the mark of virility," Holden shouts. Then he leans down and whispers again in my ear. "You need to touch that spot deep inside you, little temptress."

The sound of his voice in my ear makes me want to puke, but the pressure building in my core overpowers it. It's the fucking sigil making me crave release. Fuck.

I try to ignore him and continue to fondle myself. I go back and forth between rubbing my clit and my lips. I hate how fucking wet I am.

Holden grabs a fistful of my hair. "We are entitled to watch you fuck yourself. Now, get those fingers in nice and deep before I flay the skin off your back."

The heat from my thigh surges, and it really does feel like he's lit a match underneath me. I grunt in frustration, not wanting to give him what he wants but knowing that I have to.

I push my finger all the way inside my pussy and let out a deep moan. I arch my back, rolling my hips up as I press against my G-spot. Fuck. It feels so fucking good. I try to pretend they're not there as I add a second finger, flicking wildly against my core.

I pump in and out as the initiates watch me, breathless and silent. It's fucking creepy as hell, but I don't even care anymore. My orgasm is starting to build, and all I want to do is surrender to it.

He laughs in my face. "You're not just their little slut anymore, are you? No, you belong to Nocturnus. To all of us. To me ." He motions to an initiate. "Show her. Mark her with your virility."

My heart races, but I can't stop chasing my high. The initiate pulls his robe open, revealing his hard cock. He doesn't utter a sound as he strokes himself. The vein in his shaft pulses right before a stream of cum bursts out. He shoots it onto my belly.

I scream and try to roll away from it, but Holden pins my shoulders down. "You will take a mark of virility from each one of us. And if you stop fucking yourself one more time, I will let one of them cum in your fucking mouth."

Fuck. Panic mixed with pleasure sends me into a tailspin. I need to cum and get this over with. I need to show him that the ritual is done.

I work my fingers in and out as my orgasm starts to climb again. I try to ignore the sticky cum on my belly. I try not to touch it too.

"Oh, fuck," I cry out as I clench around my fingers. A deep spasm reverberates through my core, sending tingles to every inch of my body.

"That's it. Surrender. Give your power over to Nocturnus." He sends another initiate up as I ride it out, who does the same as the last. This time I feel the thick cum dripping down my calf.

All I can do is moan as my orgasm climbs into another one. The sigil on my thigh sends what feels like little electric shocks straight to my core. Riot's sigil flares in response and mimics it. I can't stop bucking like a wild animal now as, one by one, all the initiates jerk themselves off on me.

I'm covered in their cum.

A gurgling cry escapes from my throat as I come down from the rush.

Fuck. It's fucking over.

Holden raises his hands above his head. "The first two who step forward will get the honor of bathing our little temptress."

I roll over and try to cover myself with the black altar cloth. "Just let me go back to my room. I can clean myself up."

"You think it's over?" He lets out the wickedest laugh I've ever heard. "We are far from done here, Miss Blackwell. We will get you cleaned up and ready for the next part."

Oh, fuck, no. "What's the next part? How many parts are there?"

"You'll see," Holden sneers right before two initiates step forward and clasp onto my wrists.

There is a bucket full of water at my feet. The two masked initiates take turns dipping their sponges into it. I am beyond fighting now. There's nothing I can do but surrender.

"Cleansing is a powerful part of any ritual. You must wash away your sins and start anew." Holden spews his bullshit like he thinks he's a god.

The sponges are rough and scratchy, but it's better than being covered in initiate cum.

They take turns scrubbing me. I flinch every time one of them rubs their sponge over my breasts or down my ass crack. But I grit my teeth and continue to bear it.

And Holden enjoys every second of my displeasure and humiliation. "Make sure you clean all of that disgusting cum from her pussy," he commands to one of the initiates.

My stomach turns. Fuck. "No."

He arches an eyebrow at me. "How dare you tell me no, temptress. You agreed to this punishment. I know you're a traitor, but are you a liar too?"

My cheeks flame, but I shake my head. "No, I'm not." I let out a deep breath as he nods for them to continue.

One of the initiates separates the folds of my pussy back while the other slowly swirls the sponge inside me, forcefully raking my tender flesh with it in a circular motion. I have to lean back against the other one so I don't lose my footing. I feel his hard cock poke against my ass through his altar robe, and my stomach knots.

Holden laughs. "Yeah, that's it. Clean that filthy cunt."

The one standing behind me lifts my leg, opening me up wider. I hear the other one's breath hitch as he drags the sponge up and down the length of me, his gloved fingers grazing my folds.

Holden shakes his head. "Lie her down."

I have to fight back the bile because fuck knows what he'd do to me if I puked all over them.

They urge me down, and I lie back without protest. The one from behind grabs a sponge and starts on my breasts again, working it in slow circles.

Holden claps in delight. "That's it. Wash away all that filth."

The other one gawks at me through the mask, his eyes glazing with lust and depravity. He's enjoying every minute of my humiliation. All of them are. Especially Holden.

Holden snaps his fingers, and another initiate stalks over. He pushes my thighs apart while the new one pours water from a pitcher down my slit.

Holden snickers. "This is Nocturnus holy water, little temptress. It's going to sanctify that blasphemous cunt of yours."

This is all for Zeke. I get that now. This isn't about recognizing me as a Nocturnus member. No. It's about punishment and revenge. It's about control.

As if he can read my mind, the nightmare begins again.

Holden motions for them to stop wiping me. He paces in circles around me, appearing as if he's deep in thought. "You took something from us, Miss Blackwell. Rather, someone, I should say. If you weren't under Riot's protection, you'd already be dead."

Fuck.

"It was self-defense—"

"Quiet!" Holden slaps me across the face so hard I lose my breath. "I don't want to hear traitorous things about my son. I can't kill you, but I will dole out a punishment."

I fight back the tears, but it's getting harder not to fall apart. "What are you going to do to me?"

He chuckles. "It's what all of us are going to do to you. For my son, for their fallen brother… One lashing from each of us. They get to choose your ass or your cunt. You think you can handle thirty-five lashings, Miss Blackwell?"

The tears stream down my cheeks. "Please…"

He swipes his thumb across my wet cheek. "The best part is that I get to watch you cum again."

"What? Are you crazy? You think I'm going to get off on this?"

He sucks my tear off his thumb. "Oh, that sigil I gave you will make sure of it. You're going to beg for each and every lashing."

My face burns with humiliation. I want this to be over so fucking bad. But he just keeps making up new rules as we go along. I'm at the mercy of a madman.

"Get on your knees, temptress." As I turn over and shift to my knees, he pushes me down hard. I catch myself with my palms just before my face smashes against the cement.

I'm on all fours, shivering as I wait for whatever happens next. I cringe as I hear him slide his belt out of his pants. He drags the end of it down the length of my back before letting it rest on my ass.

"Widen your stance." He watches my every move as I spread my legs farther apart. "Yes, like that. Angle your ass up and get down on your forearms. Press your face against the ground."

The cold cement touches my cheek first and then grazes my nipples as I lower myself down to the position he demands of me. I take deep breaths, readying myself for the world of pain this maniac is about to bestow upon me.

"I will inflict the first lashing and the last. For my son ," he growls. And I'm not entirely sure which son he's referring to at this point. For killing Zeke or claiming Riot.

Without warning, I feel the woosh of air before the belt snaps down on my ass.

"Fuck," I cry out. It stings and prickles.

He ignores my cry. "Next."

The first initiate steps out of the circle and stalks toward me. Holden hands him the belt, and he cracks it down just as hard, wielding it with the same undercurrent of anger. My knees are already starting to throb as I try to hold myself up.

After three more initiates inflict their lashes, I am almost positive that I'm swollen. I'm shaking all over. Only thirty more to go.

"I think she could use a few on the other side, don't you think?" It's a rhetorical question posed to a group of psychos who will always agree with him. "Get on your back, temptress."

I whimper in pain as I lie back on the cold ground. While I'm grateful to give my knees a break, it hurts to put weight on my ass. "Please… show mercy."

He snarls down at me. "I'm getting really tired of having to tell you to open your fucking legs."

This man fucking hates me .

I spread my thighs apart as far as they'll go.

He smirks and hands the belt to another initiate. "Now, this is where we'll get to see her unravel."

The initiate towers over me, readying himself. I can almost feel the sick pleasure twisting in his gut. He drags the tip of the belt down my slit. I don't look away.

"That's it. Do it for Zeke," Holden coos.

The initiate grunts right before he jerks his wrist up and smacks my pussy with the end of the belt. I cry out and buck my hips. The sting of the leather sends a spasm to my clit. The fresh sigil on my thigh burns and weeps as if it's thirsty for more.

Fuck.

One by one, they continue. I am rabid, feral, and depraved. With each sting, the tingling in my core builds. I can't stifle the moans. Each break in between edges me closer to release. I hate that I need it.

I'm on my back again as Holden stands over me. "Time flies when you're having fun. I have to say, I'm impressed. Thirty-four lashings and you're still conscious. I'm gonna give you your final one. But I want your cum leaking out when I do."

I want to cum so badly, just not in front of him. But I have no choice.

He nods to two of his initiates, and within seconds, they're attaching cold metal clamps to my nipples. "For the final blow… a final mark." They bring him a mortar and pestle. I can smell the cloyingly sweet mixture as he mashes it up.

He kneels over me and begins drawing markings on my flesh with the thick paste. "Nightshade, the crushed bones of a raven, and my precious Zeke's blood."

I jerk my face away as he paints my cheeks. " No . I don't want his blood on me!" I scream.

"Hold her down!" One of the initiates who bathed me charges forward and pins my arms above my head. Holden pinches my chin hard and roars back, "His blood is already on you! It's all over your traitorous hands."

The tears I've been holding finally spill out. The shame he's marked me with threatens to eat me alive.

Holden laughs as he stands up and readies the belt. He drags it up and down my slit, stimulating all the nerves in my pussy. My clit begins to spasm. "That's it, little temptress. We're almost done. Relax and surrender to the power of Nocturnus."

I blink back more tears, and as I gaze up at him, I swear he has two horns on his head and a raven's beak. Or am I hallucinating from the poison that's seeping into my skin?

I can feel my orgasm building, and it makes me sick. But I can't control it. The sigil sends spasms to my core in waves, faster, harder, over and over until I can barely hold back any longer.

Holden raises the belt. "I spilled your blood. Now, I will spill your nectar." He lashes down, slapping the belt hard against my throbbing pussy. I buck at the contact and gasp as a deep orgasm takes hold. Like a feral animal, I break free from the initiate and snatch the belt away from Holden. I squeeze my thighs around it and feel instant gratification. I need this release . I rub the belt back and forth between my folds as I ride out each wave of pleasure.

He steps back and watches, satisfied that he's turned me into this crazed wild thing. "Don't ever forget who you belong to, temptress. I can take away your freedom anytime I fucking want. No one will stop me. Not Valentin. Not Atlas. And especially not Riot. They bow to me. Now you do too. Welcome to Nocturnus."

The room empties out, and I'm left alone on the cold hard cement. I lie there for what seems like hours, teetering on the edge of consciousness until someone picks me up and carries me out. Before we reach the top of the stairs, I black out.