Page 57 of Bite of Vengeance

Viggo’s chuckle pulled me from my thoughts. “Good thing you two have different scents.” Teasing was laced in his voice. “Or Zan might accidently kiss the wrong twin.”

“I would not,” Zan snapped in annoyance. “I can tell them apart.”

His confidence almost made me want to test that. Keeva shifted slightly on her feet as she crossed her arms.

“You’re Kali,” she murmured, her disbelief of this situation matching my own. “No one ever told me I had a twin.”

“Have you been with PARA your whole life?” I asked quietly.

Her eyes lit up with pain, causing my stomach to roll with nerves. Zan and the twins were hovering near the door, listening to our conversation, but not interjecting.

“Yes,” she spat out. “I’m guessing you were lucky enough to have a different life.”

“I had no idea about you until recently,” I said stiffly. “If I’d known, I would have tried to get to you.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she muttered, misery in her voice. “You can’t change the past. But I won’t fucking go back.”

“We’re taking down PARA,” I told her. “Their reign is over.”

She frowned. “You want the vampires to rule?”

“No.” I paused. “I want humans to live free. And vampires not to be hunted.”

Viggo snorted. “You’re describing the perfect utopia. An impossible dream.”

“Really?” I glared at him. “From what I read, it worked before the war broke out.”

“Because vampires lived in secret,” Pax cut in gently. “They can’t do that anymore.”

“Zan.” My eyes cut to him. “What do you think?”

A muscle in his jaw flexed. “I don’t know. I got you away from my father. That’s all I’d been thinking about. As for the future? We’re going to have to figure it out.”

Keeva let out a humorless laugh. “You’re saying that you got me away from PARA, but you don’t have a plan? What happens if they find us?”

“They won’t.” Zan glanced at the door when it opened. “No one knows about this place.”

My heart swelled when Warner came into sight. He flashed me a tired smile before coming closer and wrapping me in a hug. I heard Gia’s voice, alerting me that she was here too.

“You okay?” Warner whispered as if every soul in this room didn’t have vampire hearing. “I’m glad you got away from Amaros.”

“I thought you were in love withhim.” Keeva’s voice had me looking at her as she pointed at Zan. “Who is this?”

“He’s my friend,” I bit out, getting defensive for some reason.

“Friend,” she repeated with no emotion whatsoever. “Must be nice to have people who care for you.”

“Oh, you’re damaged,” Viggo drawled out before letting out a low whistle, studying Keeva. “You’re gonna have to learn to work through that hate or it’s going to eat you alive as a Shadow.”

“Viggo,” I chastised sharply. “You have no idea what she’s been through. Be nice.”

“I am,” he defended himself. “I’m telling her what she needs to do. Because emotions are different as Shadows. They can swallow you whole if you don’t have control. She is brimming with loathing.”

“You would be too if you’d been held captive by PARA your entire life.” Gia gave Viggo a stern look. “Give her time to adjust.”

Pax didn’t say anything as he stared at Keeva with a thoughtful look. Zan swiped a hand over his face before meetingmy gaze. He didn’t seem bothered that Warner was so close to me that his arm was brushing mine. The jealousy I’d seen in the past was absent.

“Can we get back to the important topic?” Keeva asked quietly. “How to destroy PARA.”

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