Page 2 of Blood So Brutal

My thoughts distracted me, and I let my shields slip enough to hear him inhale sharply. Part of me wanted to lower the shields entirely and throw every single thing I felt his way. Part of me wanted him to feel that pain, that anger, that hatred.

But then, he would know how badly I still fucking cared, because anger still meant I cared. Anger was stillsomething.

“Here,” he said, and I heard rustling through the bars. “At least eat something, please. My father will be down here to speak with you soon, and you need your strength.”

I finally turned to face him.

He looked smaller without massive black wings towering over each of his shoulders, but the sight of him still took my breath away. His black shirt hung loose on his lean figure, and his eyes looked much wider than usual. The electric blue of his irises glowed in the dark underground of The Golden City.

My stomach lurched at the sight of the bread he offered through the bars.

“Bread?” I asked. “Really? I recall offering my own veins to you when you were hungry once, Wolf. Nice to see you repaying the sentiment with such a warm meal.”

A sliver of relief flooded me from his side of the bond, and I looked away before he could see any of the emotion on my face.

“Take it,” he pushed. “Please.”

His voice cracked, and I shoved my fingernails into my chest so hard, I drew blood.

He was hurting, I knew he was. Without his wings, he was only a vampyre. He had those glowing eyes, yes, but without the ability to fly? He was just like the rest of them.

He gave that up to protect me, goddess knows why.He already caused enough damage; it was a little too late to start saving me now.

I took a deep breath before crawling over the front of the cell and taking the bread from his outstretched hand.

Wolf said nothing, but he didn’t move away as I tore a small piece and ate. I didn’t try to hide my matted hair, my bruised, dirty skin. Wolf could damn well see what was happening to me down here in this dungeon.

I was rotting away.

“You could have told him, you know,” I whispered without looking at him.

He stiffened. “Told who what?”

“You could have told your father the type of magic I have. It would have saved your wings, and I would still be in this shit position. You already dragged me here to deliver me directly to him. No use in saving me now.”

I glanced at him in time to see his jaw clenching. “I’ve already betrayed you enough. The second he knows anything more, he’ll do everything he can to get it out of you.”

Guilt gently nudged through his side of the bond, but I threw my mental walls back up.I would not pity him.I had enough to deal with.

“Didn’t seem to bother you the first time,” I sneered. “Not sure why you’d have a problem with it now.”

“Huntyr,” he hissed, his voice turning into a warning. “You know exactly why I have a problem with it.”

I eyed him suspiciously, taking in his shockingly pale skin and messy hair. He wasn’t himself—or, perhaps, he was. Perhaps this was the real Wolf, and he was showing me the fake, formulated version of himself back in Moira.

I didn’t really know him at all, did I?

“I can still feel you, Huntyr.” His hands moved to grip the bars of the cell. “I know you’re angry with me, but I also know you want to let me help you.”

Yeah fucking right.

“Don’t push me away. I have a plan to get us both out of this mess.”

“Oh, you do?” My laugh sounded foreign, even to me. I pushed myself up to my knees and gripped the bars right below his hands, shaking gently. “Wasthisall part of getting me out of here?”

He glanced over his shoulder before continuing. “There are certain things I can’t control. My father has power, and he wants to rule Scarlata, has wanted to for a very, very long time.”

“I don’t give a damn about what your father wants.”

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