“One more time,” Lula says as she holds up her hand.
After proving we could move her necklace more than once, we knew we had to move on to something that would require more power.
Holding restraint in not hurting her was one thing, but looking at her and trying to grasp onto my hatred for Ryker was hard. How could I when she stared back at me with those big doe eyes? She’s not the enemy.
“Just think I’m Ryker,” she says.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
Her head shakes adamantly. “You won’t. But you will hurt him when the time comes. Remember that.”
I inhale a low breath and focus on her hand. Every memory of Evan comes flooding back. All the words Ryker has taunted me with—the desire to get out of here and wrap my arms around my mate.
I push through the barrier that’s screaming at me to stop, but slowly, one by one, Lula’s fingers start to fold into themselves to create a fist. Her expression lights up as she watches her hand. She attempts to tug against the hold I have her in, but she can’t move her fist an inch.
“You’re doing it,” she exhales. “Caleb, you’re doing it!”
Once I release her, I slump back, done for today.
“You’re getting better,” Lula says encouragingly. “And I know your emotions will come through.”
I swallow around my dry mouth. “He’s had years to perfect his,” I croak.
“Yes,” she sighs. “But that doesn’t mean anything.”
Fi shuffles forward to sit beside us. “It’s all good and well you’re practicing, but how are you going to defeat him when you’re in here? You won’t be able to take all of them and Ryker.”
I glance out of the cells for a moment. “I’m thinking through a plan,” I state. “To figure out when they’re most vulnerable.”
“The sacrifices,” Fi murmurs. “All the attention is on the person getting sacrificed. That’s when they’re most distracted.”
I open my mouth to speak, then pause when I spot Dominic entering, and everyone turns silent. He’s the only guard in here. I watch him before pushing myself up onto wobbly legs. He patrols the long hall before stopping directly in front of our cell.
“Dominic.”
He glares at me. “What do you want?”
“I want to know why you’d stand beside that monster with pride.”
Dominic’s expression wavers for a moment. “You think I’m doing this with pride?” he hisses before straightening himself back out, face blank. “You are not allowed to talk to me, Caleb.”
“This isn’t like you,” I carry on. “I know he’s brainwashed you.”
He steps closer to my cell. “You knownothing.”
“Would you die for that man?”
Dominic’s jaw ticks, but he doesn’t respond.
“No?”
“It’s not as easy as you think.”
“Wes seems like he’s having a blast,” I spit. “Like he was born for this.”
His nostrils flare. “I’m warning you.”
“What…are you going to beat me up? They’ve already done that.”
