Bite of Vengeance (Shadows of War #3)

23. Kali

Chapter 23

Kali

“ Y ou can sit on the bed with me,” Keeva said, raising an eyebrow. “He told me that they changed out the mattresses when they found this place.”

“He?”

“The twin. The quiet one.”

“Oh, that’s Pax.” I paced in front of the fireplace for probably the hundredth time. We’d been in here for at least two hours, and she hadn’t told me anything about herself. She’d asked everything about my childhood, and how I ended up with Zan, but she didn’t want to divulge anything about herself. Though, I couldn’t really blame her. Just talking about PARA had terror splashing across her face.

“It’s odd, isn’t it?” The amusement in her voice took me by surprise, and for the first time, I saw a tiny smile on her lips.

“What’s odd?”

“Their father is one of the most dangerous vampires, isn’t he?” She leaned back on her palms as I nodded. “That’s why he wants us. Those three are his sons. Pretty important in this world.”

“Yes,” I answered, still not understanding what she was getting at.

She shrugged. “You and me—twins who are supposedly very powerful. They’re twins who are clearly from a powerful family. And now they’re on our side. Don’t you think it would make the most sense that we’d be with them?”

“With who?”

“The twins. One for each of us.”

My lips parted in shock. “No.” My answer was instant, and I frowned, feeling annoyance creep up. “Pax and Viggo are Zan’s brothers. I don’t look at either of them like that.”

“Maybe you fell in love with the wrong brother.”

This was the most she’d spoken since we entered this room, and this was what she wanted to talk about? Her face flushed pink, and she scowled before jumping off the mattress.

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” she muttered so quietly that I barely heard her. “I just—this is the first time I’ve been around people who are…nice. Who aren’t looking at me like a science experiment. And maybe they don’t care about me, but they don’t want to torture me. What happens when this whole thing is over? Everyone goes on with their lives, and I’m by myself?”

My heart panged as I stared at her. She wanted a family . People she could count on so that she wouldn’t be alone. Falling in love with one of the twins would be a way for her to make sure she’s never by herself again.

“You won’t be by yourself. Ever,” I said firmly. “I’m your blood. If you like one of the twins, that’s great too. But Zan is mine.”

“Would you do anything for him?” she whispered curiously. “Is he someone you can’t live without?”

“Yes.” Every day that went by, it became clearer that Zan was it for me. Even though he’d known it much sooner than I had. My past, and the way I’d grown up, was the reason I’d fought against it so much. But even as a human, there was a pull to him that I could never describe. Now, as a Shadow, there was no denying it anymore.

“I hope I find that kind of love someday.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “A week ago, I never would have thought being free would ever be possible.”

“This is the beginning,” I said gently. “We’re Shadows. Immortal. You’ll have years to enjoy the things you never were able to.”

“I’ll fight with you,” she promised. “Whatever you need, I’ll do it to take down PARA.”

“We’re going to need a lot,” I muttered. “But we need to wait to plan. For now, we stay here.”

She bit her lip. “Is there a place I can find…” She trailed off, looking uncomfortable. “I’m thirsty.”

“Have you had blood?” I asked.

“Once. When Zan got me from PARA.”

Since my cravings mirrored hers as a new Shadow, I knew exactly how she felt. “We brought blood bags. I can take you?—”

“No,” she cut me off before clearing her throat. “Thanks, but I can find it myself. This is all overwhelming. I think I just need some time alone.”

“Don’t leave the compound,” I said, even though she wouldn’t be able to. There were so many Shadows here, and we had them watching all the entrances to make sure no one found us.

“I don’t want to leave.” She smiled, and it was eerie seeing my facial expressions on someone else. “I’ll see you later.”

She left the room, leaving me alone in silence. No noises came through the closed door, and I stood still for a moment before falling onto the old mattress. It was the first time I’d been by myself since leaving Amaros’s property, and exhaustion suddenly hit me. I wanted to find Zan but couldn’t bring myself to move. There were no pillows or blankets, but comfort wasn’t a priority when I was this tired.

I blinked, my eyelids suddenly heavy. There was so much to plan. What if we did all this, and it wasn’t enough? My gut churned with nerves when Amaros’s face flashed in my mind. He couldn’t find us. He’d kill Zan. The twins. They’d betrayed him. Whatever we chose to do, we needed to succeed.

A familiar scent drifted over me, and I let out a small groan as I forced my eyes open. I was lying on my stomach on the mattress, and I had no idea how long I’d been sleeping. I jerked in surprise when I realized someone was next to me. Usually, I was a light sleeper, so I wasn’t sure how I didn’t wake up when someone entered the room.

“Go back to sleep.” Zan’s voice was soft. “Your transition takes a lot out of you. You have to remember to rest.”

Turning on my side, I looked at him as he rested against the metal headboard. His hair was slightly damp, meaning he used the showers that I’d found before he arrived here. The water pressure was nearly nonexistent, but it was better than nothing.

“I’m not tired anymore,” I said, my voice still hoarse from sleep. “How long have I been out?”

“A few hours.” He leaned over, grabbing something from the floor. “Viggo told me you fed for the first time.”

My eyes darted to the blood bag in his hand. I licked my lips, the cravings intensifying the second the smell hit my nostrils. Swallowing thickly, I shook my head.

“I had some yesterday,” I muttered. “Let someone else have it who hasn’t fed.”

“Kali, drink.”

I raised my eyebrows at his stern voice. “I’m fine.”

“No one is going to starve,” he said, pushing the bag into my hand. “We have Shadows going to hunt. And if we have to, we can drink animal blood.”

“Animal blood? Is it the same?”

“I’ve heard the taste isn’t desirable, but it will sustain us.”

“You’ve never had it?”

“I haven’t been in a situation where I needed it.”

“Right.” I giggled. “Can’t have Kanes drinking anything other than the best.”

His eyes gleamed in amusement. “That’s not the case now, is it?”

My self-control lasted five more seconds before I tore the top off the little straw and began sucking. The metallic taste was magical, and I swallowed hungrily until the bag was empty. When I finished, I glanced up to see Zan staring at me.

“What?” I asked, feeling my cheeks heat.

He took the empty bag from me, tossing it to the floor before turning on his side to face me. Bringing up his hand, his fingers grazed my forehead lightly when he brushed my hair back. His slight touch had goosebumps erupting everywhere on my skin.

“I wanted to be with you when you had to feed for the first time,” he murmured. “I don’t want to miss anything. I wanted you when you were human, Kali, and that has only intensified since you’ve transitioned.”

Blood wasn’t even on my mind anymore. I remembered his words on how my senses were heightened. And right now, I wanted him touching me. Something he must have guessed because his fingers trailed down my cheek before he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me closer.

“Everyone is sleeping right now,” he said roughly. “And I locked the door, so this time we’re not getting interrupted.”

“Having dirty thoughts, Zan?” I teased when his lips brushed against mine.

“Only about you.” He kissed me, and I leaned into him.

I kissed him back, my body strumming with desire. He rolled on top of me, his lips never leaving mine. Sliding my hands under his shirt, I grazed my nails down his back, making him groan in my mouth.

A second later, he flew off me, and I let out a protest as I sat up to see him on the other side of the room.

“Son of a bitch,” he growled, his eyes darkening in anger. “I can’t even touch you, thanks to my father’s fucking entrancement. I physically can’t go near you because I can’t not think about what I want—which is to bury myself inside you.”

“You did it in the shower,” I said, trying not to sound disappointed. My stomach was pulsing with need.

“Because you were in pain. I wasn’t thinking about sex. I wanted to help you.”

I bit my tongue, an idea coming to me. He must have noticed the difference because he watched me curiously as I scooted to the end of the bed.

“Do you trust me, Zan?” I asked, throwing him a seductive smile.

“You know I do.”

I patted the mattress. “Then come lay down.”

“Kali—”

“Don’t think about sex. Think about how you trust me.”

He studied me as he slowly crossed the room. When he was within arm’s reach, I grabbed his wrist and pulled him onto the bed. His spine hit the mattress, and he chuckled.

“You’re stronger,” he commented, not moving a muscle when I climbed on top of him.

Straddling his stomach, I grinned, catching his wrists when he tried grasping my hips. I tsked, making his eyes snap to mine.

“No touching.” I leaned over him. “Only think about how you trust me.”

“Kali,” he warned, challenge flooding his voice. “Giving me orders?”

“Yes.” I pushed his arms above his head and choked out a breath when my breasts barely brushed against his face.

“Fucking hell,” he muttered gruffly. “Keep doing this, and fucking you is all I’m going to be able to think about.”

“Close your eyes.”

Silence hung in the air for a couple moments until he sucked in a deep breath, his body relaxing at last. “Whatever you’re doing, you better hurry up. Because there is no way I’m going to last long with you on top of me like this. Why is your heart racing, Kali?”

I laughed nervously as I grabbed one of the shackles that was attached to the wall. Sliding it between the bars of the headboard, I snapped the thick cuff around Zan’s right arm. He jerked in surprise when the lock clicked, and I realized that I didn’t have the keys to free him. That was a problem for later.

Zan cursed under his breath, but there wasn’t a hint of anger in his voice. “You have a thing for chaining me up?”

“I didn’t chain you up last time,” I answered, trying to keep his mind occupied as I reached for the other shackle. “The Clovers did.”

Once both his wrists were shackled, I scooted back, resting on his stomach. His eyes were open, and I witnessed the internal struggle he was having to keep his thoughts away from anything that would trigger the entrancement.

“Now what?” he forced out, his voice tight.

I grinned wickedly, forcing my nerves away. “Now I have my way with you. You can’t fly off the bed.”

He groaned, desire flooding into his gaze. “Forcing me to disobey my father’s entrancement?”

That was the plan, but now I was second guessing it. I had no idea what would happen. What if there were disastrous effects from doing this? The power of entrancement was still a mystery to me. But Zan wasn’t demanding to be set free even after realizing my idea.

“You think these shackles are enough to hold me?”

“They were strong enough for vampires.”

“I’m not a vampire,” he reminded me. “I’m far stronger.”

“I guess we’ll find out.”