Kieran steps in front of me, and with one swift push, the two doors go flying open to reveal an enormous marble room full of vampires and werewolves, each with their eyes locked on me. I ball my hands into fists and dig my nails in, trying to focus on the pain rather than all of the eyes staring back at me.
“There she is.” Thane stands from a throne-like chair at the other end of the room and motions for me to join him.
The room full of monsters seems to part down the middle, creating an aisle.
“What the hell?” I nearly lose my balance when I’m tugged forward by the neck.
A chain that wasn’t there a second ago is now attached to my collar like a damn leash. Kieran tugs for me to walk forward, but I wrap my hands around the chain and pull back as hard as I can.
“Fuck you!”
Though the words are aimed at the vampire pulling me, they’re meant for the beast down the aisle, who seems to be enjoying the show.
The crowd laughs at my poor attempt to fight back, fueling my endless contempt for the two species who have taken over.
“Now, now.” Thane steps off his perch and begins strolling toward me. “Why don’t you be a good little human and do as you’re told?”
“Go to hell!”
I tug on the chain again, and a violent shock sends me crashing to my knees. My body convulses against the marble floor as an electric current shoots through me. It feels like I’m beingburned from the inside out, and the pain of it is so excruciating it takes my breath away. Eventually, faint sounds of “oohs” and “ahhs” fill my head as I fall still. The tips of my fingers cling to the cold marble while I fight to catch my breath. Every cell in my body feels like it’s been fried.
I’m still trying to recover when my head is yanked up by my hair. Thane’s moonlight eyes bore into mine while his fangs emerge like a silent threat. He releases his hold on my hair, letting my head fall, and it takes almost all of my strength to push myself up into a sitting position. Snickers and laughter come from the leaders as they point at the human girl who was just electrocuted by a shock collar. I can feel them looking at me with amusement, but all I can focus on is Thane as he slithers back to his throne.
I expect Kieran to pull on the leash, but it seems he’s waiting for Thane’s order.
“Crawl.”
Everyone’s head whirls around to look at Thane, who is now seated with his hands folded underneath his chin. When I don’t move, he leans forward, and I know it’s his last warning before I’m hit with another shock.
I reluctantly get to my hands and knees, still feeling weak. For a second, I think I might collapse, but my will is too strong. I’d sooner claw my own eyes out than give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.
The leaders eye me like I’m an animal in a zoo, but the building rage feeds me strength as I begin to crawl. It’s not even the humiliation I despise. These people are demons, and their opinions don’t concern me.
Buthedoes.
He’s quickly taking away the freedom that I’ve worked my whole life to get. I’ve faced my fair share of monsters, bothhuman and other, but no one has ever gotten under my skin like he does. Even now, the boastful smirk he wears as I crawl across the room like a dog with its tail tucked, sends a surge of hatred coursing through my entire body.
I stop in front of the three stairs that lead up to him, and he motions to Kieran, who is still holding onto the chain latched to my collar. I watch as the vampire wraps it around one of the front legs of the chair Thane is sitting in.
“Leave us.” Kieran takes off, and I start to stand, but Thane orders me to stop. “Lie down.”
“Was crawling to you not enough?” I bite back.
“Are you refusing?” he asks with a look that tells me he’d gladly shock me again if that’s what it took.
I reluctantly give in to his demand and turn my back on him. I’d much rather look at the crowd of leaders than the man who insists on making my life a living nightmare. I stretch out on my side and prop myself up on my elbow, resting my chin in the palm of my hand.
“I’d think twice about spitting in my face next time.”
Thane
I figured dressing her up like my own personal doll would get under her skin, but somehow it seems to be torturing me more than her. Too many times I’ve had to remind myself that she’s human, and everything about that should disgust me. But it doesn’t. In fact, the image of her crawling to me is one that will surely replay in my mind later tonight when I’m alone.
Even now, looking at her laid out before me has me imagining doing unspeakable things to her. Things no werewolf or vampire, and certainly no hybrid, should be thinking about doing with a human… and yet, I can’t stop myself. Damnit, even my cock is getting hard now that I have a perfect view of her ass. An ass that would look even better with my handprint on it.
Fuck, what am I saying? She’s a human. A weak, repulsive human, who I loathe with every fiber of my being. The only way I want her body is bruised and beaten.
Chapter 6
