Page 77 of Bite of Vengeance

“It was interesting to find out how slow the transition is,” Rowan said, looking at me. “Something we didn’t know. Obviously we knew it was true with Shadows, but knowing vampires take just as long to change is important information.”

I remained silent, wondering what he was planning. Norman’s arms were bound behind his back, and he stumbled forward when they shoved him to the floor.

“PARA has Shadows?” Kali hissed.

Rowan cocked his head. “You thought we killed them all? No. We kept who we could. Twenty-five years is a long time to wait, but now that Keeva has transitioned, it was all worth it.”

Ice chilled my veins. My father wasn’t aware of this. How many Shadows have they kept? They were doing the same thing. Trying to build an army to win the war. He must have as much knowledge about Kali and Keeva as Amaros did. But his words also proved something else. Him admitting this made it clear they were planning on killing me.

The two Shadows were staring at Kali with frowns on their faces as they caught her scent. Just like the Shadows on myfather’s property, they were realizing who she was. Would they obey her or only Keeva?

“Jacob,” Keeva said softly, catching the eye of one of the Shadows. “I want you to feed. From her.”

Silence blanketed the room. Everything I thought I’d known breaking down when she pointed at Kali. I knew nothing. The fact that they’d been taking her blood nonstop for days made it obvious that her blood was important. But I had no idea why.

“From her?” Jacob asked nervously, brushing his brown hair out of his eyes. “She’s like you. I don’t want to hurt her.”

“You won’t,” Keeva promised. “This is what we were born for.”

Kali struggled against the restraints. “What the hell are you doing?”

Rowan plucked the needle from her arm, pulling it out for the first time since I saw her in the chair. “We’re testing. If you don’t stay calm, I’ll pump hawthorn in you until you’re begging me to stop.”

I bit my tongue, his threat making me see red. The unease that had been slowly creeping through me only expanded. I’d known the second I’d woken up in the cell that getting taken by PARA was far different from when the Clovers took me. They had resources to make sure I couldn’t escape. To keep Kali. I had no idea what was going on outside this room. Where my brothers were. If they were even alive.

“Go ahead.” Keeva pushed Jacob toward Kali. “Feed from her wrist.”

Jacob crept forward, indecision on his face. Kali lifted her chin as she met his eyes.

“Don’t,” she ordered, her voice commanding. “Don’t touch me.”

The Shadow froze, making Keeva scowl. My heart thundered as Rowan fisted her hair, wrenching her head back.

“Comply,” he seethed. “Or I’ll make you watch as I torture that Kane you love so much until you don’t recognize him.”

“Get fucked,” I growled. “Do whatever the hell you want to me. Don’t give him what he wants, Kali. He won’t kill me.”

When Rowan let go of her hair, she met my gaze, fear glistening in her eyes. Fear for me. My stomach twisted, seeing her make the decision without her saying a word.

“Go ahead,” she said, looking at the Shadow. “Feed from me.”

“No—”

I let out a curse when the soldier behind me hit me in the back of my head with his rifle again. Jacob moved forward, baring his fangs as he crouched next to Kali. I strained against the cuffs, pain engulfing my wrists from the spikes.

Kali sucked in a breath when he bit into her arm right above the restraint. He sucked lightly, his nose crinkling in distaste. He didn’t react to the hawthorn that they’d been pumping Kali full of. Was her body absorbing it? Keeva and Rowan were watching closely, not saying a word when the Shadow ripped away and stumbled back. Kali watched with wide eyes as he fell to his knees, grabbing his head and letting out a pained yell.

“The process is faster than I imagined,” Rowan muttered as if talking to himself. “Fascinating.”

The Shadow rolled to the floor, his body writhing in agony. Guilt splashed across Kali’s face, and she jerked in the bonds.

“What’s happening?” she shrieked. “I’m killing him.”

“He’s not dying,” Rowan murmured, excitement in his voice. “He’s changing.”

Changing into what? After a few minutes, the Shadow fell still, his chest heaving as he laid on the floor.

Rowan nodded, and two men strode forward and lifted him up, holding his arms to keep the Shadow standing. His head sagged, and he didn’t move a muscle when Rowan stepped in front of him, a small blade in his hand. He grabbed Jacob’s armand made a long slice from his elbow to wrist. The Shadow let out a scream in pain, fighting against the soldiers’ hold.

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