Chapter 44
Everything hurt. Her back, her legs, her arms—and mostly her neck. Lila winced as the sun beamed on her, warming her skin through the black leather. Sweat coated her forehead, her upper lip, between her breasts, dripping down her back—pretty much all over.
But . . . she was alive. In pain everywhere, but alive. She felt like she had died. She knew everything went black as she flew from the window, and she hadn’t felt the impact of landing on the ground. But the gaping wound at her neck was slowly stitching closed.
There was just one problem. Lila wasn’t on the ground where she’d landed, and she wasn’t alone.
Lila was currently hauled over someone’s shoulder, swinging with her arms and legs dangling, as she was being carried up the side of the manor. She couldn’t move, couldn’t turn to see who was scaling the shaded side of the building, as everything felt so stiff. Not like the bite from a vampire of the Arachnid Estate, but close.
Being upside down was doing nothing good for her head. She felt the blood rushing, and as she swayed back and forth, hitting the powerful back with each move, her vision doubled and clouded.
The smell of burning flesh punctured her nose, and she knew this vampire was struggling. She knew not to protect them.
He grunted, adjusting her on his shoulder, and the sudden jerk made everything go black once more.
She was falling, hard and fast. But just as panic ensued, she landed on something soft and fluffy, bouncing a few times before settling in. Lila was in a bed—and as she opened her eyes slowly, she realized it was her bed.
“Fuck, Lila, you couldn’t help me out even a little?”
Cold dread ran through her, hair standing on end. Hektor’s voice was like claw marks grazing down her back, like a knife pressed against her throat.
With her eyes still lidded, Lila felt a weight press into the bed beside her thigh, just before a hand—burned permanently pink and white—pushed the hair from her forehead.
“Damn. Drusilla got you good, didn’t she?” He ran a finger over her neck, pressing it into the wound. Lila winced, and she saw sharp fangs as Hektor’s lips split into a wicked grin. “Lords, I love the sounds you make.”
Lila tried to move, but her limbs were still so stiff, as her body seemed to be focusing all its energy on healing the wound at her neck.
“I have a little present for you. I’ve been dying to give it to you ever since I last saw you.”
He hopped up, and disappeared from Lila’s sight. She heard him scuttling around the room, moving things, and took the moment to regroup. She focused on her neck, feeling her skin rejoin under the blood that had already gushed from her. It burned and itched and tickled, all at once, but soon her neck was mended, and Lila was able to spread her warmth through the rest of her body.
She needed to get out of here. She needed to get away from Hektor. Whatever he had up his sleeve, she knew she needed just a few more moments to be able to handle it. Moments she wasn’t sure she’d get.
Lila’s brain spun, working out a plan. Hektor had disappeared into the other half of her room, into the sitting area. The room was a complete and chaotic mess. Her clothes had been thrown everywhere, heaps lay on the bed. Her panties were on the pillow next to her, stiff and gross. She wanted to gag at the mere thought of Hektor in here, tainting her room in more ways than one. But she didn’t have time. Hektor was out of sight, for now.
And now would be her only chance.
The balcony. If she could get to the balcony, the sun would refuel her. Then, she could fully heal. Then, she could fight him.
Lila hauled herself up, her legs not obeying, so she dragged herself across the torn covers, pulling her body behind her. She crawled down the bed, her legs thumping onto the cold floor. The noise would alert him, she assumed, but she couldn’t risk looking back. Lila needed to keep moving.
Dragging herself across the room as fast as she could, her body slowly began responding to her once more. She crawled, and soon was able to push herself with her feet as well.
But Hektor was already walking up behind her, chuckling. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Lila didn’t deign him with a reply. She quickened her speed, gripping the wood with her nails, propelling herself like a frog climbing against a wall. She’d made it to the door, already thrown open, and her fingertips stretched into the sunlight.
And though she knew Hektor was allowing her to try, playing with his food as he’d always done, this small touch of light was all she needed.
Hektor grabbed Lila’s shoulder, and flipped her onto her back before he straddled her waist. “I haven’t even given you your present yet.”
Lila’s heart sank, fear gripping her throat like a hand.
“A pretty collar for a pretty pet,” he smirked, twirling a golden band around his hand. It was thinner than the one they’d put on her in the Viper Morada, far daintier. It came together in a chevron shape, and at the base of the neck was a small golden hoop. “I don’t think Drusilla or my brother knew this, but I had this one made for you right after the last one was made, using my thrall instead of theirs. It’s the exact same, only this one will make you mine, alone. I’m done sharing.”
He opened the collar and Lila bucked her hips, trying to get him off. She punched at his face, but he swiftly grabbed both her hands.
“Use that heat on me, pet. I would love for you to get all warmed up for me. Because the moment this is on you, I plan on commanding you to fuck me senseless.”
“You sick fuck,” Lila spat.
“You’ve made me this way. If you only let me fuck you, I wouldn’t have had to do all this to make you see. To show you how badly you want me too.”
Lila was so shocked, so disturbed, by Hektor’s words, she didn’t even know how to retort. She’d always wondered what made the Reinicks so different from the vampires she’d met since her time with Ambrose. For so long, she believed all to be like the siblings, like the evil Viper family. But Ambrose and Constance, and everyone else, had proved it wasn’t all vampires. And Rebekkah had proved the vileness didn’t run in their blood. There are beings, creatures, that do bad things out of instinct and survival—but Lila finally realized, then there are creatures who do bad things for evil’s sake. Creatures like Hektor, whose mind is so warped they believe their victims are perpetuating their own abuse. A relentless predator who doesn’t fucking understand the word, no. A true monster. An actual monster. Not like Ambrose, who claims to be one when all he is, is a fierce protector. Not like Marcus, who was forced into this. Not like Rebekkah, who was literally bred to be. And not like Nostro, who only looks the part.
They may claim themselves to be a monster, but the true evil is right before her. The true evil is for evil’s sake, and nothing more.
“What the hell is wrong with you? I don’t want you, you disgust me.” As she said this, Lila tucked her knees in as hard as she could, smashing them into Hektor’s lower back. The moment he jolted forward, she swung her legs between his, knocking his knee out from under him. He fell forward farther, his hand releasing her wrists and slamming into the floor next to her in the same moment Lila rolled from under him.
She quickly scurried to her feet, and dashed back for the door, but Hektor recovered far quicker than she expected. He grabbed her wrist, pulled her back to him, and as her body spun, he pushed the collar into her throat. Lila choked, wheezing at the sudden impact, just as her body smashed into his. It sent them both tumbling down, but once again, Hektor recovered quicker.
Lila gasped, trying to shuffle away, just as Hektor snapped the collar closed.