Ariana let out a chuckle.
Dealing with Bennett as a person was always a challenge, but as a dog, he seemed surprisingly more tolerable.
Bennett, visibly humiliated, gave Ariana a glare. My left foots broken; I cant move. If you want us to get out of these woods, youd better be nice to me, or Im fine with both of us dying here.
And why would I want that? Ariana snapped back. To die with you and risk being dragged down to hell, too? No, thank you.
Ariana looked down at Bennett, her expression cold and commanding.
Dont think for a second that you can blackmail me with a way out. Im not buying it. If we cant locate Holden and Adrian, Id rather die here. So, unless you want to meet your end here, you better assist me in finding them. Help me, and I might just let you Live. This is your only chance.
I dont need you to give me a chance! Bennett retorted. He had been a dominant figure in the underworld for more than ten years, unaccustomed to such dismissal. Arianas defiance infuriated him.
Helpless to strike back, he pulled against his bonds. Ive already told you, Holden and Adrian are gone, completely obliterated. Youre pursuing phantoms; youll never find them
His words were cut short as the rope around his neck tightened abruptly, nearly choking him.
I dont want to hear your nonsense, Ariana declared, seeing him struggle but showing no sympathy. She tightened the rope even more, determined to move him along.
However, Bennett resisted. Looking down, Ariana saw that he had wrapped his arms around the rope, fighting back with all his strength, his wounds reopening and bleeding.
Undeterred, Ariana increased her effort, pulling harder.
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.
The standoff intensified, the two locked in a fierce contest of wills.
Despite his injury, Bennetts strength unexpectedly outmatched Arianas. Even when she exerted all her power, she failed to overpower him.
Finding his footing, Bennett adjusted his grip on the rope, slowly gaining the upper hand.
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As Ariana appeared on the brink of relenting, Bennett prepared to taunt her, but she abruptly released her hold.
Thrown off balance, Bennett could not retract his force in time and fell heavily, his broken bone stabbing deeper into his flesh, the pain almost coaxing a scream from him.
Caught off guard by Arianas ruthless tactic, he struggled to a sitting position. He then saw Ariana crouch down, her face buried in her knees, a portrait of defeat.
Whats wrong? Bennett felt uneasy, sensing that something was amiss.
Ariana remained silent, her stillness stretching the silence. Feeling the tension, Bennett asked, Youre not crying, are you?
There was no response. Bennett awkwardly edged closer to Ariana, straining his ears for any sign of sobbing, yet he heard nothing.
But it was evident that Ariana was deeply disturbed.
Bennett knew that extreme sorrow could be so overwhelming that tears would refuse to come. Could it be that Ariana was engulfed in such grief?
For the first time, Bennett found himself struggling to react before a woman, racking his brain for comforting words, but his mind was blank. He knew that simple platitudes would not suffice for someone like Ariana.