Bite of Vengeance (Shadows of War #3)

5. Zan

Chapter 5

Zan

G ia knew . I wasn’t sure how, but she was aware I’d gotten Kali off the property when she was a baby. I paced the rotunda again, my eyes darting to the door. I could hear Amaros’s heavy footsteps approaching, and I blew out a long breath, trying to steady my nerves. I fucking wished my brothers were here. It was taking everything to stay quiet. I wanted to talk to Gia about the past. More than anything, I wanted to go to Kali. But with my father in earshot, there was no way I could take the chance. Not when she might blurt out questions I couldn’t answer.

“Zan,” Amaros greeted me as he strode inside with Jasper and two other vampires walking behind him. “Where’s Kali?”

I wasn’t sure why he was asking since he knew exactly where Kali was. “In my bedroom.”

He nodded as he sat at the head of the giant table. I took the seat to his left, knowing he expected it.

“Don’t be angry at me for what I did,” he said, annoyance in his voice. “It was necessary.”

I ground my teeth, staying silent. We both knew he was talking about his entrancement forbidding me from sleeping with Kali.

“I’m still not sure I believe Shadows can bond,” he continued, resting his forearms on the table. “But it’s something we can’t risk. For vampires, the bond solidifies once they are both turned and engage in sex. If the same is true for Shadows, I can’t allow that to happen.”

“I know,” I clipped out.

He sighed. “I’ve never had to question you or your brothers. Your loyalty has been to me since you transitioned.”

His words had my skin prickling, and I shifted in the chair, trying to figure out why I was suspicious there was some underlying message I was missing.

“Let Kali sleep until sundown,” he ordered. “Then I want you to take her to the Pen.”

“Why?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. “I’m the one who’s been working with the Shadows for years. They listen best to me.”

“True,” he agreed. “But they don’t obey you. Consider this an experiment based on what I knew about Kali’s mother.”

“Care to elaborate?”

His stare went cold, his tone menacing. “Not right now. Do not question me, Zan. You know what we’ve been working toward for decades. This is part of it. You will stay here and work with Kali while your brothers get into Project Hope to get her sister.”

“You never told us about any of this,” I muttered. “Kali and a twin. Their mother. It all seems important.”

“It is.” He leaned forward. “And I plan to tell you soon. It’s all falling into place. But we aren’t talking about it without your brothers present. Now go get some rest. You have a big night ahead.”

“Right,” I mumbled, getting to my feet. “I’ll be in Viggo’s room if you need me.”

“No,” he drawled. “Stay in your room. Watch her.”

My eyes snapped to his. “Fine.”

I didn’t argue. He wanted me near Kali for a few different reasons. He wanted eyes on her constantly and still trusted me to do it. The other was to see what she’d say in my presence. Amaros would be able to hear anything said in my bedroom if he was close enough. He might be suspicious of a possible bond, but I was still his son, and in his eyes, I would never betray him.

I didn’t share that confidence anymore. If I had a chance to get Kali out of here, I would do it in a fucking heartbeat. The fact was, I couldn’t. This property was a fortress, and I wouldn’t get near the exit before I was stopped.

Without another word, I left the rotunda, my steps slowing when I heard Warner yelling. He was in another room, and Gia was in there with him. He was pissed and wanted to see Kali. Gia’s attempt at calming him down wasn’t working, but I didn’t make a move to intervene. I was positive if Warner saw me, he’d only get more upset. I had already saved his damn life, there wasn’t more I could do for him right now.

My attention moved toward my bedroom, and I listened closely. As I approached the door the sound of Kali’s heartbeat sped up. She was awake. I quietly opened the door, looking through the darkness. She was lying on top of the blankets, her arms behind her head. After shutting the door behind me, I moved toward the bed.

“It’s just me,” I announced myself, waiting for her to start screaming. We still hadn’t been able to talk about everything, and I wasn’t sure how she’d react. This was the first time we’d been alone since coming back to the property. Though, I guess alone wasn’t the right word since there were vampire ears on us.

“What do you want?” she asked bitterly, not moving a muscle.

“Nothing, Kali,” I said, exhaustion clinging to me. “We both need sleep.”

“I can’t sleep.”

Guilt stabbed me in the heart, and I slowly climbed into bed, feeling her tense as I lay next to her. Her heartbeat slowed slightly, but she was still on edge.

“You should try,” I murmured. “Once night hits, we’re going to the Pen.”

She didn’t say a word, and I glanced at her, noticing her eyes were wide open as she stared at the ceiling. I stayed quiet, knowing anything I said wouldn’t make her feel better. Minutes went by, and her heartbeat evened out, making me believe she fell asleep. Until she breathed out my name.

“Zan?”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you and your brothers different?” she asked slowly. “You told me Shadows don’t listen or fall in line. They’re a wild card, and that’s why they’re in the Pen. Why are you and the twins different?”

“I’m not completely sure,” I answered. “We just are.”

“Do you think I’m different?”

My heart squeezed. “I don’t know.”

Amaros believed she was different. And after hearing about her mother, I had a feeling she was too. I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.

“I could hear them,” she whispered.

I turned on my side to face her. “Hear who?”

“Gia and Warner. It was faint, but I recognized their voices.”

“When?”

“A little while ago.”

My pulse thudded as shock hit me. Warner was four rooms away—human ears shouldn’t be able to hear him at all. Her hearing was already changing? When I transitioned, it was three months before my senses began getting sharper.

“It’s happening faster for me, isn’t it?” she asked when I didn’t respond.

“Yes,” I answered honestly. “You might need blood soon.”

I went still when she moved, turning to face me. She stared in my direction, and I met her eyes even if she couldn’t see me through the darkness.

“I don’t want to change,” she breathed out.

“You already are, Kali.”

“I know.”

She raised her arm, and her fingers gently brushed my cheek for a second before she pulled back. Unable to stop myself, I reached to grab her wrist, but she swatted my hand away. It took me a moment to realize what she did, and when I understood, I muttered a curse. Seeing in the dark was something I was used to. But it was pitch black. She shouldn’t have been able to see me reaching for her.

“Can you see me?” I asked in disbelief, forgetting for a second that Amaros could hear me.

“A little.”

Fuck. It wasn’t just her hearing that was getting better. It was all of her senses. I reached for her again, moving slowly this time so she could track my moves. This time, she didn’t push me away. I brushed her hair out of her face before stroking her cheek.

“You are different,” I murmured softly. “I was wrong earlier.”

“Wrong about what?”

“When you threatened to kill me before we left Deadwood.” I chuckled quietly. “And I told you you’d never match my strength. I was wrong. I have a feeling you’ll be deadly once you finish your transition.”

My fingers were still on her face, and she didn’t move. Her eyes were still searching for mine, but she knew exactly where I was lying.

“You think I’d be strong enough to kill you?” she asked, a small note of teasing mixed in with curiosity.

Without warning, I rolled on top of her, holding myself up on my palms as I looked down at her. Her face was guarded, and she stayed utterly still while I leaned down to whisper in her ear. Amaros might still be able to hear, but at the moment, I didn’t care. I was sure he had already guessed it anyway.

“I think you’ll be able to wreak havoc on anything you want to destroy,” I breathed in her ear. “Maybe Kane blood isn’t the largest predator in this world.”

Her lips parted in shock, but she didn’t get a chance to answer before I rolled off her. Then I resituated us until her back was against my chest with my arm locked around her waist. This time she struggled, but I didn’t release her.

“Sleep,” I ordered gruffly. “No one will touch you in here.”

“You’re touching me,” she snarked.

“I won’t hurt you.”

“You would if your father ordered it.”

I scowled in the darkness. “He doesn’t want to hurt you.”

“He will if I refuse to obey him.”

I sighed, not arguing. She was worried Amaros could entrance me. Or maybe she thought I’d choose my blood over her. I couldn’t blame her. But I didn’t want to fight about it right now.

“Go to sleep,” I repeated.

“I don’t trust you,” she snapped.

“I know this, Kali.”

“I’m still angry at you.”

“I expected nothing different.”

“I hate what you did to Warner.” Her voice trembled slightly.

“I knew you would.”

“But I can’t hate you,” she breathed out, sounding tortured. “And I don’t know why.”

My grip on her tightened as we lay there in silence. Her body remained tense for a while until she finally lost the fight to pure exhaustion. She relaxed in my hold, her breaths even and slow as she slept. I buried my face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. It was different than it used to be when she was human. Her scent was still sweet but had a sharp edge. Yet, it was still just as addictive.

My father might be right to be worried. I’d never questioned him until Kali came along. My feelings for her were rivaling my loyalty to my own blood. Something I never thought would be possible.

And I didn’t know what to do about it.