I wake up in the middle of the night to find Kieran unlocking my cage.
“Looks like you’re moving in,” Night mutters from his enclosure.
Kieran takes me by the arm, but his grip is less forceful this time. I expect him to take me to the dining room, but instead,he takes me back to the bedroom. For the first time since I met him, he doesn’t push me through the double doors.
“Clean clothes are in the drawers,” he says, motioning to the large white-and-gold dresser. “This will be your room. Doors will be locked at all times unless Thane decides otherwise. If you need something, Sienna will be around to assist you.”
He turns to walk out, but I stop him. “That’s it?”
“Don’t be fooled by the arrangements, sweetheart. You’re no more a guest in this house than I am.” With that, he closes the doors behind him, the sound reverberating off the walls.
This time, when I shower, I’m in no rush. I stand under the falling water, soaking in the warmth of it until my fingertips begin to shrivel up. The only pajamas left for me to sleep in are silk gowns, so I make a mental note to ask Sienna for something a bit more practical.
Even though I slept in this bed last night, I was already passed out, so I didn’t get the chance to really appreciate the quality of it. The mattress molds to my body, and my head sinks into the feathered pillow as if it were quicksand. It’s unbelievably perfect, and yet, for some reason, my body can’t seem to fully relax. Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since I’ve slept in a bed. Or maybe it’s because I’ve never had a room to myself. Either way, the luxury of it all is uncomfortable.
Hours pass as I toss and turn, trying to adjust. Eventually, I give up and make a spot on the floor with the duvet and pillows. From down here, I can see the moon bright in the sky. Something about it reminds me that although the world around me continues to shift and change, I’m still me. I’m still clever and headstrong. I’m a fighter through and through, and even an Alpha hybrid can’t stop my unrelenting will to survive all the horrors life continues to throw at me. If he thinks I’mjust going to roll over like a good little girl, he’s got another thing coming.
Kole
I can see now why Thane is so enamored with the human girl. Just from the little bit of time I spent with her, I can tell she’s going to be a handful. Anyone who has enough balls to challenge my brother certainly has my attention. The fact that she’s a petite human girl only intrigues me more. Surely she knows she’ll never be able to win against him, and yet she continues to disobey him every chance she gets, consequences be damned. Not even the strongest vampire and werewolf leaders would do that.
Shit, I don’t even do that.
But then again, maybe she’s just not understanding how dangerous Thane really is. My brother has never been one to stand for disobedience, and over the years he’s only grown more ruthless. Thane may not be able to kill her now that he’s marked her, but that won’t stop him from hurting her in other ways. Pain and torture are his default. It’s what he’s known, and some girl isn’t going to change that. Burning her will just be the start. If she doesn’t fall in line, he’ll make sure she does.
Chapter 8
“Look at it this way, you’ve already been marked and burned, so really, how much worse could it get?” Sienna’s face scrunches like she just registered how absurd that sentiment sounds. “I just mean—”
I laugh and step into the gown she’s holding open. “I know what you mean, but I’m not holding my breath. Something tells me Thane has an endless list of ways he intends to punish me.”
“Please don’t hate me for saying this, but is this really the worst thing? I mean, a nice room, good food, clean clothes. Sounds a lot better than the life you had been living out in the woods.”
I turn around and lift up my hair so she can zip the strapless dress. “Are you saying that you’d be okay with giving up your freedom and dignity for a hot meal and warm bed?”
She lets out a long sigh and turns me back around. “No, I suppose not.”
“Good. You had me worried there for a sec,” I tease, slipping into the heels she has set out.
“So, what are you going to do?” she asks, bending down to fluff out the dress.
“I’m going to pee on him.”
When Kieran brings me to the room we were in the other night, Thane is nowhere to be found. A few pairs of eyes fixate on me as we make our way through the room full of vampire and werewolf leaders, but most don’t even acknowledge my presence this time, and I’m thankful for it.
Once again, Kieran ties the chain leash to Thane’s chair, and I take my position on the steps next to it. Sienna dressed me in a wine-colored, strapless gown that billows at the waist with thick fabric, giving me a little extra cushion against the hard floor.
“Was someone a bad girl?” The blonde woman from before creeps up beside me, her white eyes locked on the bandage still wrapped around my forearm. I don’t respond, and it looks like she’s about to say something else, but the double doors at the far end of the room burst open, drawing both of our attention.
Thane’s Alpha demeanor is all-consuming as he strides down the aisle the leaders have subconsciously made for him. It’s as if all of the air has evaporated from the room, and I’m left to hold my breath, waiting for it to come back. After what he did to me the last time I saw him, I can’t help that there’s a weight of fear crushing my chest as he draws near. If he’s willing to hold my arm over a fire and burn me just for not speaking, then what else is he capable of? After the plans I have for this evening, I’m sure I’ll find out.
“There’s been quite a bit of tension brewing,” Thane begins, eyeing the crowd of leaders from his position in front of his chair. “So I thought it best we handle that order of business tonight.”
The vampires and werewolves seem to perk up at that idea, glancing around with their lips pulled back and fangs extended. Low growls and threatening hisses ripple throughout the room as if they’re already taunting one another, and judging by the way they had interacted with each other the other night, this should get interesting.
“Each species will choose six leaders to fight. There will be no killing. I want clean fights. This is about getting out your pent-up aggression so that we can continue these meetings without any more brawls breaking out. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Alpha,” they all seem to say in unison.
