Chapter 68
SIXTY-EIGHT
LAUREL
I woke in the dark, eyes gritty and back aching.
Where was I?
It was dark and warm, and someone was breathing next to me. It slowly came back—getting caught stealing the rofetamine.
Madison’s torture.
As soon as I could slip away, I’d come up here because I needed my nest. Only, someone was already in it. Kaos had been here, staring at me with his dark, orb-like eyes, covered in my blankets.
I should have been furious, but instead, one breath of the way his absinthe and static had mixed with mine in the nest and I’d broken.
I’d practically thrown myself at him, and rather than pushing me away, he’d pulled me close. Held me. Purred. My cheeks heated as I thought of it.
I sat up and looked down at his gaunt face. He shifted, mumbling something in his sleep before settling again.
Whatever. Now we’re even, I thought, edging away from him and hissing in pain with every shift of my arm. I was all right, but I had no idea what had happened to Ocean after his fight. If he was okay.
Finch and Kaos were both quiet in the bond, but Ocean was not.
His bond was tense, spilling with a barely contained rage.
I slowly made my way down a side passage and dropped into the Duchess Suite.
I staggered to my dressing room and fumbled for my first-aid kit, downing some heavy painkillers.
I needed to go and see if my alpha was okay, even if it was the middle of the night.
I made my way down to the alpha cages, and a tired-looking Casey let me in.
Ocean was crouched in the corner of his cage, occasionally letting out a keening whine. There was no recognition, no intelligence in his eyes as his head snapped up at my approach. He was acting like the other wounded alphas in here, mind gone and nothing but animal remaining.
As I came closer, everything else seemed to recede.
My world was only him, and he was gone.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
He cocked his head at the sound of my voice, and my chest tightened as I saw his eyes fix on my face. He slowly moved forward in a low crouch, then stood as he approached the bars, never looking away.
He seemed…cautious.
“Ocean?” I asked, pausing for a moment before I stepped up to the bars. He came right up to me, his nostrils flaring as he took in my scent.
Tears welled up in my eyes as he still didn’t seem to recognize me.
He didn’t move, just breathed me in, his bare chest rising and falling as he stared at me. He blinked, and I saw a flicker of something cross his face.
“Ocean?” I tried again, and I slipped my hand through the bars, reaching toward him.
He stilled as my fingers brushed against his warm chest. He blinked again, and his brows furrowed in confusion before his eyes flicked up to meet mine, suddenly wide. “Laurel,” he breathed, and I let out a choked sob of relief.
He wasn’t too far gone.
Not yet.
His hand shot out and grabbed mine, holding it against his chest. “What happened? I was fighting, then… you were hurt,” he said, his voice cracking with pain. I could see tears forming in his eyes, too, and tried to give him a warm smile.
“I tried to swap out your rofetamine, but I got caught. They said they had to find another way to make you feral, so…” I trailed off, waving a hand at my back.
Ocean swore and reached for me. He wrapped his arms around as much of me as he could through the bars. “I’m sorry,” he whispered in my ear. “I’m so, so sorry they hurt you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, a tear escaping down my cheek. He was going feral, and he was worried about me?
“They found out that I’m trying to help you. Ocean… I’m scared. I think we should just get you out of here. As soon as we can. Forget about revenge.”
Ocean shook his head. “No. We need to take care of them, for good. They’re not just going to let you go. Even if I’m free, you won’t be. Not until they’re dead or behind bars for good.”