A cup was pressed to my lips.
Familiar callused fingers wrapped around my jaw andtipped my head back, then they traced along my cheekbones. Icy water soothed my ravaged throat.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
“Don’t thank me yet,” said the raspy voice. “I have a gut feeling we’re not going to get along. An innocent like you should beveryafraid of a monster like me.”
Opening my mouth, I tried to ask what he meant, but nothing came out.
The nightmares smothered me.
Blood was everywhere. Fists and cigarettes against my skin. My chest hurt as she died. Was I hurting her? Crimson eyes glowed as a hand touched my leg, and a foreign curiosity burned inside my chest.
The urge to devour filled me—it felt like someone else’s emotion. A dagger was pressed into my sternum, and I waved bloody hands. A man screamed.
Sitting up, I clutched my frantic heart.
Wide awake, I heaved as I rubbed the throbbing scar on my chest.
Bright sunlight burned.
The crusted sheet from the doctors was still draped over me, and the high-ceilinged room was warm. A breeze filtered through open French doors that led to a patio. I hadn’t noticed them before.
Morning rays streamed in with blinding brilliance.
Water lapped.
I squinted—my right eye adjusted to the light.
Holy crap.Past the deck, turquoise-blue waters filled the horizon. Lush green leaves framed the windows.
The never-ending sea was close enough I could walk out and fall into it.
It was breathtaking.
Divine.
I’d seen pictures of large bodies of water, but nothing could have prepared me for real life. The scents of salt water, the sounds of lapping, the way it stretched across the horizon to eternity.
The door squeaked, and I clutched the bloody sheet to my chest.
Patro stood in the doorway with a glass of water and washcloth. His dark skin practically shimmered in the sunlight, and his high cheekbones were sharp enough to cut glass.
It was shocking how closely he resembled the statue of David.
Green eyes narrowed. “You’re awake.” He turned and left the room.
I blinked.
His voice was soft, chilly in its cadence—nothing like the deep rasp that had insulted me in my dreams.
I must have been hallucinating.
Nice, I’m already losing my mind. Nineteen is not my year.
A few minutes later, there was a loud explosion in the hall, and the same doctors from before hurried into the room. Achilles and Patro followed with their terrifying beasts at their heels.
At least they haven’t killed the doctors... yet.
