Page 90 of Midnight Hunt

“So, you decided to stalk me?”

Scoffing, he slid into his Rolls-Royce on the driver side—now doorless, thanks to me. As I did the same on the passenger side, he replied, “No, I was trying to act like a responsible big brother for once. After all the talk about the rogues, I was worried they would hunt you down while Vi was in heat, so I parked my car about a mile away to keep a lookout. I even called Kolton and told him where I was so he wouldn’t have to worry that you two were out here alone. Unfortunately, I fell asleep about an hour ago. By the time I woke up, you two were gone.”

I didn’t respond, comparing the words to the male who’d persecuted me more than helped me over the years. His story made sense, but a scarred part of me still questioned his motives. He could have easily contacted the rogues and told them where we were. He’d always liked Vi, but if it meant getting under my skin, he wasn’t above using her. He’d tried pursuing her seven years ago when he’d known how I felt about her, after all.

I couldn’t just forget two decades of abuse simply because he’d apologized.

As he started the engine and left the crash site just as the cops arrived, I fished in my pocket for my phone. Relieved to find it in one piece, I quickly called Kolton and told him what happened. He remained calm despite the dire news, but I knew he was as terrified for Vi’s safety as I was.

“Contact our allies,” I said, reining in my panic so I could focus on what needed to be done. “I know how to find Vi and the other missing females.”

“How?” Mason asked, unapologetically listening in to our conversation.

Instead of answering him, I grinned. Not a pleasant grin, but a dark one. A grin filled with malice and deadly intent.

“They never should have taken her,” was all I said. “They have no idea what hell they’ve just unleashed.”

31

VIOLET

I lost track of time. I didn’t even know what day it was.

Without access to a window, I had no idea if it was morning or night.

As the hours ticked by, I grew weaker and weaker from the silver, but also from my lingering heat and empty stomach. At one point, I couldn’t hold my bladder anymore and wet myself. Sleep came in fits and starts, but I mostly stared up at the ceiling with silent tears tracking down my face as I tried over and over to shift.

After hours of trying, though, I was finally forced to admit defeat. The dose of silver Ivan had given me had effectively weakened my supernatural abilities, including my ability to shift at will. Sable was currently curled up inside me, comforting me as best she could. At least I could still speak to her, which made me feel less alone.

Despite the awful situation, there was no way in hell I would submit to these bastards. If they wanted to claim and breed me, they’d have to do it by force. I shivered at the thought, then quickly focused on something else. Griff immediately came to mind, and I allowed myself to replay the beautiful moments we’d shared just before I’d been kidnapped. Fresh tears leaked from my eyes and into my hair, but I held on to those memories for dear life, letting them carry me away from this nightmare.

I was starting to drift off again, utterly exhausted from the pain I was in, when a sound at the door jerked me fully awake. Expecting Ivan or his prick alpha to enter, I was shocked to see a slim female with medium brown skin and a pixie haircut slip into my room.

“Desirae?” I said, certain the pain was making me hallucinate her.

She was wearing a white tunic-style outfit and looked unharmed. But it was hard to see in the room’s dim lighting, especially now that my abilities had been impaired. As she came closer, though, I spotted something around her neck. It was metal and looked like a . . .

My throat closed.

A collar. She was wearing acollar.

“Desirae, what’s happening?” I pressed as she approached me with her face downcast.

“I’m sorry, Vi,” she whispered, flicking me an apologetic look before focusing on the floor again. “I’m not allowed to answer your questions.”

What the hell?

I lifted my head as she came nearer, finally noticing what she held in her hands. “Desirae, no,” I said and started to fight against my restraints again. “Whatever that is, keep it away from me.”

“I’m sorry,” she repeated, her hands shaking as she lifted the collar. “I’m allowed to tell you that any attempt to remove this collar will trigger the needles embedded in the metal. Each needle is filled with liquid silver and will be injected into your skin before you can stop it.”

Okay. That sounded extremely unpleasant.

When she inched forward, aiming the torture device at my neck, I snarled in warning. A frightened squeak left her, and she almost dropped the collar.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Vi, but if I . . . if I don’t put this on you . . .” Her breath hitched, and tears slid down her cheeks.

Seeing the terror in her eyes, I stopped struggling. “Desirae. Desirae, look at me.” When she did, I gently said, “Will they hurt you if I don’t cooperate?”

---