Chapter 54
I ’d never known such excruciating hunger. I bit my own tongue just to taste blood, the scent of it driving me into a frenzy. I snarled at shadows that weren’t there, voices of the past emerging from the depths of my own mind. The blood of my last feed had long since left my body, her scent and voice only a memory.
Engulfed by thirst for blood, I caught the whiff of people moving around me. Two. Not human. They’d fed recently, warmth rising from them like an inferno while I seeped in cold. Deep rumbles vibrated from inside me in warning. I held still, my head moving as they approached, my fangs bared .
‘ Matteo,’ the silent voice called out, and I jerked my head around, trying to find its source.
Matteo. I knew that name.
“He’s gone truly feral,” another voice then, a whisper. “Is there any pulling him back? He was always halfway there, anyway.” The words were familiar, yet meaningless.
I snapped my teeth at the owner of the blue eyes in front of me. Strong fingers gripped my jaw. “He’s still there, I can feel him under the hunger. Matteo, it’s me, I brought you something.”
I bring you a gift. The Queen had said earlier. Days? Months? And she’d presented me with a human woman. The woman’s face flashed before me. The scent of blood tore all control from me. Chains rattled as I pulled on them, launching myself at the man who dared touch me.
‘ Matteo, stop. Drink .’ The silent voice commanded me, speaking deep within, and I had no choice but to obey. The command of a maker.
Something was held to my lips, liquid flowing into my mouth. I groaned, immediately wanting more, pressing forward and I choked, spilling it. Laughter boomed in my ears, and again, blood poured down my throat. I tried to reach for the vessel, my chained arms held immobile.
“Take the chains off him,” the person feeding me said.
“Will they come off?” came the response as I guzzled more blood.
As I swallowed, my hunger only heightened, strength returning to me. My mind started to clear, the voices and words more familiar.
“Luna didn’t take much convincing. He still can’t leave the cage without Gabriela’s say-so, but you’ll be able to remove the chains.” The owner of the voice had a tight grip on my arm. The chains pulled free, and he held me up. ‘ Keep drinking, get your strength back .’
The blood wasn’t as fresh as I would have liked, but somehow, it was still warm.
“Josef. It’s almost empty; get another one,” the one feeding me said.
The room came into focus, with more blood forced into me. Carlos, Josef. My clan. I stopped drinking and turned my focus to the door. I’d been locked in here to starve. One shaky step was all I got before Carlos stopped me. “Matteo, no.”
Matteo. Me?
The thermos was pushed at me again, and I took it from him, my starvation far from sated. Blood enticed me and I gulped it back, my hunger waning.
“Do you know me yet?” the one in front of me asked
I ignored him. My fangs ached to bite into flesh, I wanted fresh blood, accompanied by screams.
Laughter echoed around me. “There he is. He’s slowly coming back. I’m sorry, amic o, I could not bring you a human. A pity, for your last meal to be from a thermos.”
I groaned again, taking the last of the blood. “More.”
Movement to my left had me hissing.
“Josef, stop. He’s slipping in and out; he doesn’t quite recognise us yet.” Blue eyes met mine. “I have one more. It won’t be enough to satisfy you, though; she starved you for too long, but at least you’ll have your mind back.”
He gave me another thermos, and I held it to my lips, wishing again I could have a human feeding me their blood, fresh from a soft throat .
“He still looks feral,” the other one said. “Maybe you should have left him buried under his bloodlust. The less he feels, the less you’ll feel. Maybe.”
The words settled into me, and I stopped drinking to look at Josef. Their heartbeats were slow, steady. But my teeth ached. I moved, and Carlos stopped me.
“His blood, or mine, won’t help you, Matteo.” He pulled me to face him. “Do you know me yet?”
Matteo. Me. “Carlos,” I said, shifting my attention away from Josef. “You’re Carlos.” Our bond pulled me back, everything in focus. “What are you doing?”
“I brought you blood,” he said. “You were hungry.”
I swayed on my feet, feeling a little intoxicated. How much had I drunk? “Why?”
Carlos smiled “Welcome back! Feeling better, I see. Why don’t you finish your drink?”
I finished off the blood he’d given me. “You didn’t answer my question,” I said.
He reached for me. “Because you’ll need it for what you’re about to face.” Fingers traced over my cheek, and I caught sadness deep in his eyes. Pain.
“What are you talking about?” My voice felt raw.
He had never looked so serious as he did then. As torn. “Gabriela’s giving you to the hunters.”
Dread crushed me, and I almost fell to my knees. “Why?” Fear spread through my chest, suffocating.
“They sought her out to offer her a deal. They’d leave her, and us alone. But they wanted you.” He gripped my shoulder as if to steady me.
My madness threatened to bury me again, but I held on to the bond with Carlos .
‘ I can’t protect you, ’ his voice in my mind was filled with pain. ‘ I’m sorry. ’
This time I did fall to my knees.
‘ We can leave, start a new clan, ’ I urged, staring up at him. ‘ I would recognise your power .’
‘ Matteo, stop. ’ The raw emotion in his voice hurt my own heart. ‘ It’s bad enough I will feel your death. Don’t do this.’
“She’ll be here soon.” Josef said.
‘ Quinn freed us from Gabriela’s sway.’ I wanted him to accept my pledge . ‘I know you feel it. I am no longer part of her clan. I feel a connection to Quinn, instead, and I know you do too. She has a powerful voice .’
He frowned, meeting my eyes. ‘ Those who heard her voice would agree. It does not change anything. She is human. She’s not one of us. ’
His eyes were red, a deep emotion glinting within.
“She doesn’t have to be,” I pleaded with him. “I’ll not leave without her.” I bowed my head. “I swear myself and my loyalty to you.”
“I reject your pledge. I cannot fight for you, Matteo. That would put the whole clan at risk . Gabriela has already given you up.” Carlos crouched and pressed his hand to my chest. “You cannot ask this of me.”
His rejection hurt. But I pushed it aside. “They will torture me. You’ll feel it. You’ll feel my death.”
Josef knelt beside Carlos, eyes on me. “They tortured Rowan before they killed him. If you can find a way to escape, take that chance.”
Carlos glanced at him and then back to me. “If you do, you cannot come back to us.” My thoughts turned to Quinn. Carlos chuckled. “Your singer is okay. She had nightmares, but I calmed her mind. If you escape, do what you must with her, but leave Melbourne immediately.”
We both knew there would be no escape. Gabriela would hunt me down. I couldn’t put Quinn in danger like that. I wished I knew what to do.
“When I die, protect her,” I said. “Promise me, Carlos. Let no other vampire claim her.” The idea of anyone trying to lay claim to her hurt, and the feral within threatened to emerge again.
Gabriela entered the cell. I hadn’t even heard her approach.
“Again with that damn human,” Gabriela’s impatience had turned to anger. “Carlos, enough. On your feet. Now.”
Any other day, he would have had no choice. Her order would have had him on his feet immediately. But she could no longer command Carlos.
Instead, he touched his forehead to mine. ‘ Be brave in your death, Matteo. I will be with you. I will talk to you until I can no longer . I will do everything in my power to keep your beloved safe. ’
His words were enough, and I climbed to my feet, standing face to face with Gabriela.
‘I would have followed you. ’ I hoped my final words to Carlos would have a lasting impact. ‘ It has been an honour to be bonded with you. ’
‘ The honour is mine,’ he said, and rose to his feet, standing next to me.
Chains rattled as she held up shackles.
“You’re going for a walk,” she said.