“You’re right,mon petit,” Colin replied. “As I said, I met Daren when I first came to America. He was the first vampire to meet me and was so charming. I fell for his dark features and soft smile. And like that, we were tied at the hip. He introduced me to the wonders of America, parties, and all the hot spots of Los Angeles. He brought me into his coven, of which he was one of the founding members, and I inevitably joined. He was perfect. It was like a fairy tale.” Colin paused and took a deep breath. He opened his mouth to continue, but no words came out. I grabbed his hand, and Zander moved to his side and grabbed the other.
“Yes, Daren would have his bad days, where he was cold, but nothing that I couldn’t handle and nothing that would overshadow the good days. But slowly, the bad days became more frequent, and the days became years. He’d make comments on how I’d dress and how I acted. He looked down on my cooking and dreams, calling me stupid for thinking I could make it as a chef and that I’d never make it. After years of hearing the same thing—I believed him.”
A tear rolled down Colin’s cheek, and he squeezed his eyes shut as if he was reliving the events. We needed to pull him from them. I wanted to stop this.
“What happened next?” Zander asked softly.
My gaze shot to Zander’s, and I prayed my eyes conveyed my disapproval. He mouthed back,he needs this. I scowled, but I heard a chuckle. I looked at Colin.
“You look so fierce when you’re protecting me,mon chou. It’s hot as fuck,” Colin said, and I felt my face burn.
“It is,” Zander agreed. “We can stop if you want, Colin. I know it’s hard, but I think it’d be good for you to finish. I don’t think you’ve told anyone before, and you need to get all these bad memories out, like poison.”
Colin exhaled a deep breath. “You’re right. I haven’t said anything to anyone. I…. I need to finish my story, but please don’t… don’t think less of me,” Colin said, glancing between Zander and me.
I reached over and clasped Colin’s hand. “We won’t.” I said, and Zander nodded before grabbing his other hand.
Colin took another breath and continued. “Daren had me wrapped around his finger. I believed everything he said. I dressed how he wanted me to dress and did what he wanted me to do. I was his to command. He was my master, and I was his pet.”
“His pet?”
I couldn’t stop myself from asking. What the hell kind of man was this? What had Colin been through? My heart broke. He’d been through so much. How could we help him? Hell, how could I help him? I was only human, after all.
I glanced at Zander, and a look of terror was etched on his face. His whispered words shook me. “Oh no.”
Chapter Twelve
Colin
“Ohno.”Zander’spain-filledwords echoed in the room.
Guilt filled me as I realized he understood what I meant when I said ‘pet.’ I slid to the floor and knelt before him. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve…” I couldn’t finish the words. How did I convey my remorse? Zander had been attacked and almost killed. I could’ve prevented it if I had just spoken up. I was just too embarrassed.
Zander shook his head. “Please continue. I think I know what he did to you.”
I bowed my head and wiped the tears from my eyes. “Daren had broken me down. He made me feel like I was worthless. I admit he even shared me with his ‘friends’.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I shook my head, trying not to relive the pain of that day, but I couldn’t stop the images. The silver shackles he bound me in, or the sound of fabric ripping, but worst of all, the look of pure joy when Daren saw others penetrate me. I swallowed. I needed to continue.
“After that initial violation, when he... shared me with them, I turned to my coven master for help. But Daren's reach was insidious. To my horror, even the master was one of...” My voice faltered, “one of the men who raped me.” I’d never uttered that word aloud before, always skirting around its painful truth. Even in my mind, I didn’t want to use it, but that’s what it was—rape.
Tears streamed down my face, unbidden. I felt gentle arms encircle me, Reggie and Zander, their warmth a balm to the old wounds that had been torn open.
“We’re here,” Reggie murmured.
“We have you. You don’t have to continue,” Zander said, his words thick with emotion.
Pulling back slightly, I met their eyes. “I must continue. Please, let me continue.”
They nodded as tears streaked down their cheeks. “It was like that for five years. I was utterly destroyed. I don’t know why or how I lived. There were so many times I wanted to end it all. It wasn’t until I met Basil. He was so nice, even to me. He loved my cooking and saw I wasn’t happy at my coven. He suggested I come to his coven. I denied I wasn’t happy, scared of what would happen if Daren found out or even had an idea of my unhappiness. I rejected Basil’s invitation until… until I almost died.”
I took a shaky breath, “Daren had brought some new “friends.” One, in particular, was vicious. He whipped me and bled me. All while Daren laughed. After that, I knew I had to leave or I’d really die. I left in the middle of the night and came to Colorado. I met up with Basil, and he introduced me to Master Stephen. I’ve been a part of the Walden Coven since.”
“How did Daren come here?” Zander asked.
“As the years passed, I rebuilt my life. I became stronger and found purpose as an enforcer. I was content, surrounded by friends and a new family. Master Stephen was and is the best Coven Master I’ve ever met. But a decade ago, Daren reappeared. The sheer terror was paralyzing. Basil informed me of changes in the LA coven's leadership, and Daren had sought membership here.”
“And they let that fucker join after what he did to you?” Reggie said, his face contorting in rage.
