Page 50 of The Devil of Hollywood

I laid my head back on his chest, staring ahead as I felt myself disappear. I should be asking questions. I should make sure I was truly being taken from here. I could do nothing but feel myself slip away as the wall in the distance blurred and faded. Weak. Weak. Mouse.

“Here. Drink it slowly.”

I blinked, turning to take the water from Elec. Despite his order, I drank it down in one swallow. And I wanted more. Needed more. My hands were trembling as I held the glass greedily, keeping it at my chest.

“You can place me down. I can sit.”

“Can you stand?”

At Drayton’s question, I paused in nodding.

The moment he eased down my legs, the familiar pain swept through my stomach and limbs like lightning. I cried out, feeling the blood race down my inner thighs and begin dripping on the floor. Damage from the spreader? Period? No… it had to be both. I’d been bleeding since after the first time. Not heavily, but that was coming. Especially with the damage from the device, the men… Horror froze Drayton’s face as his gaze cut up to The Unavowed. The murderous look was enough to have me holding to his suit’s jacket in a death-grip.

“I need—I—the blood.” A cry left me as I doubled over from the pain. “I need something.”

At The Unavowed heading over, I held tighter. I caught his concern for the briefest moment, but it faded just as fast.

“What is happening?”

“She needs a doctor.” Elec’s voice was threatening. “A doctor. Now. Or you’ll never get your heir. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Heir?”

The men wouldn’t look at me as The Unavowed’s jaw tightened and he nodded.

“I’m going to lift you again, Marian. I know it’s going to hurt. Just hold onto me.”

But I already was. Drayton brought me back into his arms, and I couldn’t stop the lightheadedness that had me swaying against him.

“I don’t feel so good.”

“When was the last time you ate? How much water have you had?”

The room got blurry through the tears.

“I had an apple… maybe yesterday? I… ah… I ate something at the hotel. I⁠—”

“Hotel? Are you fucking telling me you haven’t eaten anything since you’ve been taken?”

My lip trembled.

“I… I couldn’t. I… It was smashed on the floor under the boots. I-I⁠—”

“Shh. Lay your head down. We’ll get you more water. Elec?”

He reached for the cup, and it took me seconds to process that I needed to give it to him. My arm went out, but my fingers couldn’t let it go. He had to physically pry the cup from my hand.

“I want to go home. Drayton, please take me home.”

“Soon. We have to work out some stuff here first.”

“What are you doing here?”

Silence. It lasted as Elec came back with the water. I took big drinks, clinging back to the cup again once I finished.

“This isn’t real,” I mumbled. “I’m not here. I… don’t want to wake up.”

“Follow me.”