Page 74 of Bite of Vengeance

They were hurting Zan. Keeping me as if I wasnothing.

They’d regret every single fucking thing they’d done to both of us.

I opened my eyes.

Chapter 29

Kali

The lights were blinding, my eyes blurry from being closed for so long. I blinked rapidly, waiting for everything to come into focus. My heart leaped into my throat when my eyes landed on Zan, who was on his knees in front of me.

His gaze locked on mine, the wild rage dimming slightly as the ghost of a relieved smile crossed his lips. I took in his predicament, my anger climbing with every second. His arms were bound behind him, and he had a collar on his neck that was chained to the floor. Black blood was puddled around him, some of it dried and more looked wet as if it had just happened. There were open cuts all over his chest. Why wasn’t he healing?

I twisted my arms, glancing down to realize I was restrained to a chair. The cuffs bit into my wrists, causing pain I wasn’t expecting. There was a small stinging that tingled my skin beneath the cuffs for a second, and I wondered if there was somehow hawthorn in the cuffs. Even if there was, it wasn’t affecting me.

My eyes snapped to my arm, dread holding me hostage when I realized it was my black blood that was draining through the small tube. What the hell were they doing?

“She’s awake.”

The voice was so identical to mine that it threw me off for a moment. I raised my head, seeing Keeva standing behind Zan. My chest heaved as I glared at her. She was the reason I was here. Why Zan was chained to the floor. A swell of emotions tore me apart. She was my blood. Someone I thought I could grow close to.

A man with glasses falling down his nose, scurried in front of me, his eyes widening when he realized I was awake.

“I can give her more,” he said nervously, glancing away from me.

“No, it would be a waste. We’ll save it for when we need it.” Rowan stepped in front of me, blocking Zan from my sight. “Hello, Kali.”

I pressed my lips together, not saying a word. He tilted his head, studying me carefully. His eyes dropped to my restrained arms before slowly traveling back up to my face.

“Thirsty?” he asked.

I was. I had no idea how much blood they’d given me, but the cravings were strong. It wasn’t terrible yet, though I was sure that would change if I didn’t feed.

“We’ve even been giving Zan some blood,” he continued as if he were doing a good deed. “Just enough to keep him conscious.”

Had Zan been watching me the entire time I’d been knocked out? I couldn’t imagine what kind of torture that was. To watch and be able to do nothing. I looked down as much as my collar allowed and realized in horror that I was in different clothes. Shorts and a tight shirt that weren’t mine.

“Keeva was nice enough to lend you some of her clothes when she showered you off,” Rowan said, crouching down to get eye level with me. “We had an incident where you jerked hard enough to knock the IV out. There was blood everywhere.”

I was burning with questions, but I forced myself to remain silent. He was doing this to show he was in control. It didn’t matter what I asked, he would only tell me what he wanted.

“How do you feel?” he asked, sounding curious. “It doesn’t seem like the hawthorn is affecting you anymore.”

“It is,” I lied, my voice raspy. “It hurts.”

“Really?” It didn’t sound like he believed my words, but didn’t press the matter. “You woke up just in time. We’re about to do some testing.”

My heart beat unevenly at the excitement in his words. I jerked back when he raised his hand and placed his knuckles under my chin, tilting my face up. The collar preventing me from moving away from his unwanted touch, and disgust rolled through me.

“Get your hand off me,” I hissed, my voice nearly shaking in rage.

“You don’t make demands,” he said calmly. “I’m in charge here. Unless you’d like to see the torture I can inflict on the monster you’re in love with, you should listen to me.”

I swallowed thickly, a tinge of fear sliding through me. For some reason, he needed me alive, so he was going to threaten Zan. Rowan smirked coldly, moving his fingers to grasp my chin tightly.

“You weren’t raised here like Keeva was. It’ll take you time to adjust. But you will. You belong with us, Kali.”

“I will kill you,” I snarled, my loathing for this man overtaking everything else.

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