Iglared. “Is that why silver stakes also kill vampires?”
Shegrabbed my arm hard, letting her nails cut into my skin and secured abloodletting cuff over my upper arm. “Enough chit chat.” She pulled the top ofthe cage over me, folding me inside like an iron sandwich.
Gracefullywalking over to the medical table she tapped the monitor that showed Tara. “Iheard you already know what this is, so no funny business.” Her voice held theheavy sound of a threat.
Thevampires crossed the room and opened the door as she followed them out, leavingthe room and closing the door behind her.
Trapped
AHHH!I was so screwed. Pulling against the buckles, I looked down to assess thesituation. My left hand was free but my right arm was strapped down and insidethis blood cuff. Both of my legs were strapped down as well, and the space inthe cage was so tight, it brushed the tip of my nose. I felt like Hannibal Lecterstuck in this thing!
Okay,breathe. Think. Any witch spells involving opening a cage? Before I couldfinish that thought, the big metal door opened again and Layla and a male andfemale vampire couple strode in. They were all dressed like they were going tothe opera.
Whatthe hell did she want?
“Thisis her. Our little money maker.”
Laylaintroduced me with a delighted tone in her voice. I wanted to strangle thathappy sound right out of her throat and I couldn’t stop the growl escaping mychest.
Themale vampire was freakishly tall as he walked closer and appraised me. “AfterSarah drinks the blood, do I have to?” he asked Layla.
Laylagave a sly grin. “No need. You just take a little drink from Sarah, like you wouldduring your love making. That’s enough to do the trick.”
Gross!I gagged and Layla cut me a look that gave me chills. Crossing the room, shewent to the monitor and pushed a button. NO! Tara’s bloody murder scream filledthe room. Shit. This was going to kill her if they didn’t switch her out soon.Too much silver. I needed to be on my best behavior so they didn’t hurt heranymore.
“No,stop! I’m sorry,” I told Layla. It killed me to be begging her but I would doanything for Tara or any of my other wolves.
Sarahdidn’t seem fazed by Tara’s screams. She looked at me. “How many incubators doyou have?”
Laylastrode across to the cage I was held in and began to open a small six-inch, cut-outaccess panel in the door. I hadn’t noticed it before. Reaching in, she grabbedthe blood bag that hung from the cuff in my arm, detaching it and pinching myIV shut with a clip. Then she clicked on a new bag and opened the IV tubing.How much blood could I afford to lose? I needed to distract her so she wouldleave the small door open. Sorry, Tara. One more time.
“Wehave about ten, with more on the way,” Layla told them.
Beforeshe could close the access panel and turn away from me, I used the closeproximity to spit in her face, making her mouth drop open in shock. Anger litup her features and she looked like a demon, eyes red, hell-bent on murder. Herfist snaked out and she punched the cage hard, denting it near my face. Then shereached up and wiped her face clean of my spit and walked over to the monitor.The vampire couple looked at me with alarm.
“Makeher hurt,” Layla said into the monitor. Oh God. I wished I could plug my ears.
Tara’swails cut right into my heart but it had worked, she left the small access doorto the cage open. After a minute or so of Tara screaming, she passed out, goinglimp on the screen. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I keptsaying to myself, to Tara.
“Beforewe arrange payment, can we see the successful result?” Sarah asked Layla.
Laylaflicked her eyes to me, still blazing with anger then she pulled out a walkietalkie. “Bring in my doggy,” she said, shooting me a death glare.
Isuppressed a growl at the use of her worddoggy.
‘Sadie,they are coming for Chelsea. I am strapped inside an iron cage but I distractedLayla and she left a small access panel open.’
‘Howdid you distract her?’Sadie askedme.
‘Ispit in her face,’I admitted.
‘Ilike you more and more each day. They’re here,’Sadie commented.
Isearched for Chelsea’s pack bond, flowing strong within me and focused oncommunicating with her. As an Alpha, I could communicate with anyone in thepack, even in human form. It was a new sensation.‘Let them take you. Don’tfight. Tara can’t take any more silver,’I told her. God, I wished Tara waspack and I could talk to her and tell her she wasn’t alone. She had Kai, he wasstill her Alpha, at least one of us had Kai. I tried not to dwell on the badshit.
Footstepsin the hallway outside got closer, and I watched Layla across the room as she pulledout the sonogram machine. Oh my God. I was going to see it. The … thing. Icouldn’t call it a baby. I couldn’t.
Thedoor opened and the doctor brought Chelsea in. Her hair hung limply around herpale face. She looked up at me and her eyes widened in fear when she saw me inthe cage.
