Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Your military has already been crippled from the inside. We have people everywhere. It was pathetically easy. Truly, humanity should be ashamed.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be that way.” Memories fade in and out. Blood samples. A lab. We tried to find a way to fight the plague. We were working together. “You were going to help us. You were supposed to—”
“I was.” He gives me a ruthless half smile. “I was going to help you find the cure. Those were my orders. Then I would take it from you, kill you and your friends, and raze your lab to the ground.”
“My friends? Where are they?”
He sighs with irritation. “A smoldering hole in the highway. They didn’t make it far.”
He knows people I can’t even remember, and he knows it would hurt me to learn their fates, yet he tells me with that same bored tone. Horrible, wretched creature. I glare at him, my eyes watering. “You never intended to save us from the disease. You were just using us. Using me.”
“Ah, the chimpanzee finally sees the bars of its cage.” He smirks as we reach the landing.
“Fuck you!” I seethe with all the hatred in my heart. Hatred—it’s all I have left, a mountain of it smoldering and burning me slowly from the inside out.
“Such language, Doctor,” he chides. “I expected better from the would-be savior of humanity.”
“Let go.” I put one hand on the wall to steady myself. “I don’t need your help. I don’t want your help.”
He does, stepping back and watching as I try not to fall, my knees threatening to buckle. Watching, he crosses his arms over his broad chest, the crisp line of his collared shirt mirroring his jawline. He was always beautiful—haughty and derisive—but beautiful. Somehow, I remember that. It makes me hate him even more.
I need to focus on the now. On how to get away. Instead, I ask the wrong question. “Where’s Juno?”
“You don’t remember?” he taunts.
I take a halting step away from him. He follows me in one easy, almost imperceptible movement.
“Tell me what happened to her. Is she alive?” Maybe the vicious man I met when I woke up was lying to me, maybe Juno is alive somewhere. Maybe she’s safe.
“Alive after the high lord found her?” He gives me a flat stare. “What do you think?”
“I think I hate you.”
“Revelatory.” He smirks. “I’m surprised you’d bother to ask about Juno’s fate. You still care for her?” He cocks his head to the side like a cat that’s curious about whatever creature it’s about to impale with its claws.
“She’s my sister.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
I clamp my mouth shut. Whatever he wants from me, I won’t give it.
“Is the chat over?” He feigns disappointment and walks slowly at my side as I retrace my steps.
“Why am I here?”
“You’re my war spoils, apparently.” He grimaces and looks me up and down. “I suppose I’m not doing a good enough job.”
If I could find some way to kill him right here, right now, I’d do it without a thought. The devious half smile that turns his lips tells me he guesses what I’m thinking.
“Your room is to your liking, I take it?” He stops in front of the bedroom door.
I force myself to push off the wall and face him. “I’m not giving you my blood.”
“I think you’re aware that I’m not asking for it.” He steps to me, our bodies almost touching. Looking down at me like this, his eyes have a catlike glow. “It’s mine to take.”
“I’ll fight you.” I scowl up at him. “You’ll never get anything from me. Not freely.”
“As I said, that isn’t an issue.” His hand is on my throat so quickly that I gasp. Then his mouth. His lips lingering at my jugular as he pins me to the bedroom door. “You are mine, Doctor. Every bit of you. I will drain your memories for High Lord Dragonis, and once I have the knowledge I seek, I’ll keep you here to serve me as I desire. That is your purpose. When you’ve fulfilled that purpose, then and only then will I let you die.”
“I’ll kill you.” I try to push him away. He takes my wrist and twists it behind my back, pressing me against him.
“Oh, I do certainly hope you’ll try.” His silky tone is laced with malice.
I shudder as he runs his fangs along my bare throat.
“What a pleasure it will be to watch your efforts, little rabbit.” He releases me so suddenly I almost fall.
I slump against the door, my heart hammering, head spinning.
The door at my back swings open, and I fall. Before I hit the floor, Valen has his grip on my arm again and drags me to the bed, depositing me there before whirling on the rude man from before. He’s scrambled up, his eyes wide as he stares at Valen.