CHAPTER 1
Rue
Three things are apparent when I wake up.
One: I probably have a concussion.
Two: I was kidnapped by the vampire enforcer who was supposed to be protecting me.
And three: the fanged fucker tossed me into a van to take me to a secondary location. Which never works out well for the kidnapee in movies, and I doubt it will translate any better for me in real life.
Hex it all. I’m sooo cursed.
The throbbing pain rattling my skull intensifies to a pounding ache, causing me to wince and reach up with trembling fingers to assess my injuries. As soon as my fingertips graze the spot where my head slammed against the metal door, a pained hiss escapes me.
I should probably be worried the fanged fucker now knows I’m awake, all I can focus on is the tender, swollen area on the back of my head. Thankfully, it’s not slick with blood, so I’ll take that as a good sign.
I glance at the driver’s seat through bleary eyes. The vampire has to know I’m awake, but he doesn’t turn around or acknowledge me whatsoever. There aren’t any windows in the back of the van and from my position on the floor, I can’t make anything out of the windshield, either. Although, there is sunlight filtering through, which means it’s still daylight outside.
As I assess the rest of my body, I find a few more bruises on my arms, but nothing major. I’ll never understand why witches are spared from some of the common illnesses humans get, like the cold or flu, but we weren’t given accelerated healing or immortality like the shifters and vampires. I’d even settle for not getting headaches.
As I reach up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear, the charcoal staining my fingertips from the art store earlier has me pausing. The memory of the guys being so patient with me as I walked through every inch of the store causes tears to pool in my eyes.
I wish I could go back to that moment and bask in the happiness a little longer. Before everything went to hell in a handbasket.
The utter betrayal in Kathan’s green eyes as he saw Lance spewing lies has crisp agony shooting through me. I suck in a sharp gasp, the pain in my chest like a constrictor around my heart. Kathan storming off blasts through my mind on repeat along with the anger he felt before he severed the budding connection between us, but the worst part of all was feeling the deep well of his sadness.
But the fact Kathan couldn’t be bothered to listen to my side of the story is soul crushing. Devastating. There’s a gaping hole inside my chest the size of Texas and with a wince, I rub at it, knowing it’ll do nothing to ease the ache, but hoping all the same.
A sniffle escapes, despite me attempting to hold back, and the vampire snorts. He glances over his shoulder, a smug expression on his lips as though seeing me like this amuses him. “Ah, you’re finally awake. Good. We’re almost there.”
I eye him warily through the metal bars separating us. I’m certain he could bend them to get to me if he wanted and I could do nothing to stop him. My lack of power has always been a sore subject, but it stings even more in these situations I somehow keep finding myself in.
It’s a stark reminder that, once again, I’m not strong enough to save myself. And this time, I’m not certain my wolves in shining armor will be coming to rescue me. Hex, they probably don’t even realize what’s happened. I’m so hexin’ tired of feeling so helpless.
I clear my throat and rise up on my knees. “Where are you taking me?” I try, not expecting an answer, but something inside hopes I’ll get one anyway.
Sure enough, no response.
“How long have I been unconscious?”
Again, no answer.
The gravity of my situation hits me like a freight train. Hot tears prick at my eyes and I can’t hold them back this time. I know I should be strong and keep it together, but everything that has happened in the past few hours has left me jagged.
The vampire doesn’t even spare a glance as I cry, lost in my own turmoil. I take a deep breath, trying to compose myself. C’mon, pull yourself together, Rue. You need to figure out what the hex is happening.
“What do you want from me?” I croak, my throat tight from crying.
Finally, he glances at me through the rearview mirror. His cold, piercing gaze meets mine and I feel a shiver run down my spine. His eyes are like ice, calculating and unfeeling. There’s not a hint of warmth in his expression, just cold detachment. His stare pierces through me, making me feel small and insignificant.
That’s a common theme among vampires. With their ageless beauty and flawless physiques, they believe themselves superior. Actually, most of the ones I’ve met have made me feel that way, albeit a little less hostile than this one. It makes me realize that, while Slade is completely full of himself, he’s never made me feel less than.
The atmosphere in the car changes, growing tense and uncomfortable under his unwavering glare. “It’s more what you can do for me.“ There’s a slight lilt to his tone that reminds me of Slade’s accent.
The vampire opens his mouth to continue, but I interject. “And what is it that I can do for you?”
He snarls and his sharp fangs descend. I jump despite myself. “Don’t interrupt me again.”
Feeling a surge of terror coursing through my veins, I meekly nod in agreement. The air around us is thick with tension and my heart beats wildly in my chest.
The vampire smirks. “You know, the funny thing is, I was given strict instructions from Lord Slade to ensure not a single hair on your head was harmed.” He pauses and I tilt my head in confusion. Well, he certainly failed. The spike of throbbing pain in my skull is a testament to that. The onslaught has me groaning and dropping my head into my hands. “...that is until another bidder put a higher price on your head.”
His statement has me tilting my head in confusion. “There’s a price on my head? How—why?” The first part of his statement catches up to me and I gasp. “Wait. Slade originally ordered you to kidnap me?”
That thought should not send a thrill through me. Neither should the fact that he was willing to go to such drastic measures to see me, but somehow, it does. He wanted to spend time with me so badly, he was willing to have me kidnapped. Aww.
No, bad, Rue. Focus. The whole there’s a price on your head part is much more pressing at the moment.
“A higher bidder than Slade? Somehow, I doubt that.”
“Aren’t you so smart.” Disdain drips from every syllable. “What Slade doesn’t know won’t kill him, and it certainly helps fatten my wallet. Besides, once you’re out of the picture, maybe his focus will return to his head instead of his cock. If I have to hear about you, the witch that’s bewitched him one more time, I think I’d stake myself.”
There’s a lot of information to unpack in that statement, but for some reason, I’m hung up on the fact this immortal creature is actually worried about money. “Aren’t vampires, you know, supposed to be super rich? I mean, you live forever. Haven’t you gathered any wealth in that time? Maybe you should stake yourself.”
Apparently, that’s the wrong thing to say because he slams on the brakes, sending me sailing into the metal barrier separating us. It makes an awful clack, and the impact has me seeing flying brooms.
“I can’t believe Lord Slade and those flea bags are so infatuated with you,” he spits through his bared fangs. He pauses and then his expression curls into a smile. “Ah, well. You’ll be dead soon enough. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, yes? Except in this case I imagine it’ll be distance that makes them forget.”
Well, he certainly knows where to jab the barb to hit me the deepest. The thought of my wolves forgetting me has me choking back a sob. There’s no ignoring the hollowness that accompanies the absence of their presence inside my chest.
I didn’t realize the difference until I couldn’t feel anything.
Will they come looking for me?
Have they even discovered I’m missing yet?
And the biggest question of all, after Kathan tells them what he saw, will they even care?
That’s the biggest blow. Lance used me to get to Kathan, and I unknowingly allowed it to happen. I quite literally played into that man’s worst fears. The way I could practically see his heart break in two…
Satisfied at whatever expression he sees on my face, the vampire turns up the radio, knowing he hit the nail right on the head. The blasting music is so loud it rattles my eardrums. I pull my knees into my chest and wrap my arms around them, attempting to make myself as small as I feel.
Resigned to my own demise, I close my eyes and wish for sleep to overtake me. Even knowing I shouldn’t with having such a bad concussion.
I can’t bring myself to care.
Thankfully, sweet, sweet darkness answers my call.
“Wake up, witch.” The scratchy voice jostles me awake right as he slams on the brakes. The momentum has me shooting forward, and I throw my arms out to catch myself. Then it’s all quiet.
Too quiet.
The throbbing ache rattling my skull reminds me of exactly where I am and what I’ve been through, telling me with a vengeance it won’t be ignored. I wince. Curses, this isn’t good. I shouldn’t have gone to sleep, but I couldn’t take it anymore.
As I assess myself for any further injuries, it dawns on me I have no clue how long I was out for. While it didn’t feel like very long, we could be absolutely anywhere by now.
Suddenly, the vampire yanks open the sliding door, causing the metal to grind from the force. He’s on me before a scream can even rise out of my throat, practically throwing me out of the van.
I have to get out of here. I have to run. I have to—
Frantically, I swivel in each direction, searching for any sort of exit. My heart sinks to my toes and tears well in my eyes when I realize there aren’t any.
No, this can’t be happening. I drag a ragged breath into my lungs, covering my mouth to hold back the sob threatening to escape.
The blinking fluorescent above me doesn’t provide much light, but it’s enough to see we’re in some sort of abandoned concrete structure, like a parking garage with no exits, and thick, impenetrable walls surrounding us on either side.
All my hope of an escape is dashed in an instant. Not that there was much anyway considering the vampire’s strength, but I still wanted to try. Still wanted to get myself out of this mess on my own.
That’s when the true panic sets in.
For one brief moment, everything around me fades, and I mentally see the connection to the shifters in my chest come to life. A dangerous spark of hope lights inside me as I latch onto it, doing my damndest to coax it to life. If they could only feel what I’m feeling, they’d know it was real. That I wasn’t lying, and I’m in danger.
Come on…
Three strands flare a brilliant shade of gold, almost the color of their eyes, and a grin splits my lips as I wrangle them. Another bright flare appears, this one as red as blood. I don’t have time to determine what it means. I can’t shift my focus or I’ll lose them.
Right as I almost have them in place, the connection snaps. Poof. Gone. Like it never existed in the first place.
No!
Desperation and despair war within me as I slowly come back to myself, everything I felt previously gone in an instant, leaving me feeling hollow and empty.
My only hope now is that Caylix, Rhys, or Kathan felt my terror in that small instance and it alerts them that something is wrong. Although, I doubt they’ll do anything about it. By now, I imagine Kathan has told them about seeing me with Lance and what he said. They’ll think I’m a traitor and the spy he feared all along.
Will they care enough to set that aside?
A tear escapes, running down my cheek. “Please,” I plead, despite knowing it’ll fall on deaf ears.
As suspected, the vampire merely grunts.
Wiping my eyes, I take a moment to study him. That’s when I notice that in the short time I’ve been unconscious, his eyes have turned bloodshot. His color is paler than before. His cheeks are almost sunken in.
That’s strange. I’ve never heard of a vampire getting sick…
He notices me studying him and pulls a length of rope out of his pocket, advancing toward me as he motions for my hands. No, no, no. I can’t be tied up.
My panic cascades into a burst of action as I drag my nails down his face as hard as witchly possible. Unfortunately for me, the scratch heals almost instantaneously, and it only serves to enrage him further. Oh, hex.
That’s when it truly hits me. I’m nothing but an annoyance to him. A gnat avoiding the clutches of a fly trap, and I’m slowly running out of stamina to stay away.
He grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger, his grip punishing. I’ll be bruised there later. “Stop it, witch. You’re too weak to escape, and no one’s coming to rescue you. Lance made sure of it.” His grin is all too sharp, his eyes alight with the promise of bloodshed.
My stomach lurches, my heart beating painfully against my ribcage. What the hex did he mean by that? Did Lance do something to Kathan?
The thought of him hurting the grumpy shifter has me fighting even harder. My hands swing out wildly as I attempt to evade being bound by the vampire. I don’t care if Kathan stormed off without giving me a chance to explain. I don’t want him dead because of me. I have to get to him. I have to—
Pain explodes behind my eyes as his cruel grip yanks my arm behind my back. Something in my shoulder pulls, causing me to let out a pitiful scream.
After looping my hands together behind my back, he tugs on the rope until it’s biting into my wrists, cutting off my circulation. The vampire then turns me to face him, his fangs bared in some semblance of a grin. “I admire that fighting spirit of yours, witch. But it’s no use.” He’s so close, his rank breath hits me in the face and I recoil away from it, but it’s no use.
That’s when the puzzle pieces connect. He’s turning feral.
Does he even realize it?
He angles his fangs toward my neck and my heart hammers like it’s trying to break free. He sneers, probably hearing the frantic rhythm. “Finally catching on, aren’t you? You’ll probably be dead before sunrise.” Except that’s not why I’m terrified. I can’t survive another feral attack. I can’t.
The outer ring of his iris is already red. It’s only a matter of time.
“I can’t do this again.” I don’t realize I’ve said it out loud until he quirks his brow in confusion, his grip returning to my chin.
“You’ve been kidnapped before?” he asks, except it comes out more like, “Yoo’ve ben kidnathed before?” because his teeth are too big for his mouth.
My terror of ferals is still so visceral, it makes every muscle in my body seize. If it weren’t for his punishing grip on my chin, I’d hit the ground. My knees are too weak to support me.
“You’re turning feral,” I blubber. “Please let me go.”
Shock crosses his features, and he actually loosens his grip on me. I’m not expecting it, so my knees give out, greeting the concrete painfully because I can’t use my hands to break my fall. Another bruise for later. Although, maybe not if I can’t figure out a way out of this.
“What the thuck did yoo zust thay?” he snarls, hand clamping around my throat as he yanks me to my feet. My back slams into the van so hard I see stars.
“You heard me,” I choke out as best I can. He loosens the pressure infinitesimally. “Check a mirror and see for yourself.”
Once again he drops me, and I land on my knees like a hexin’ ragdoll. I slowly gather the strength to get to my feet, knowing I need to be prepared for his next assault. Sure enough, after checking his reflection in the side mirror, he comes at me again. “Did yoo do zis to me?”
“Nope. But if you want my honesty, I’d say karma certainly did.”
If I’m a dead witch walking, I might as well go out with a bang, right?
The distinct sound of heels clacking against the pavement reaches us seconds before I’m shoved to the ground. Again.
“Thinally,” he mutters.
Oh, hex.