Page 22 of Blood So Brutal

“It’s not going to get any better,” he said. “You’ve missed training now for five days. You’re in denial.”

I pushed myself up on his bed and shot him a death glare. “It’s not denial, Wolf. Can you just leave me alone for one damn minute so I can get some rest?”

This became our thing. Wolf would bring me food, and when I didn’t eat it, he would insist I needed blood. But there was noway I was going to drink blood willingly. Even the thought of it made me gag more than the thought of eating this food.

“Fine,” he said. “Suit yourself. But my father is throwing a party for you tomorrow night, and you’re going to suffer if you can’t even stand up straight.”

This caught my attention. “What did you just say?”

“It’s your birthday, Huntress. Tomorrow’s a celebration.” He stood up and walked over to the door, leaning against it effortlessly with his arms crossed over his chest. Even without his wings, he looked like a smug bastard.

“I don’t want to celebrate,” I groaned. “And how does he know when my birthday is?”

“He’s the archangel. He has his ways, apparently.” Wolf looked at me a second longer before turning to exit, leaving me alone in my misery.

I spent the rest of the day trying and failing to ignore the nausea wrecking my body. I was losing my damn mind, that much was certain. I could barely stand up straight without hunching over and clawing at my stomach.

Is this how I would feel every day until I had blood? What if I had blood and turned into one of those monsters? What if I couldn’t control it—what if I killed someone?

Hells, Huntyr. Get your shit together. You can’t find a way out of here if you’re too busy suffering.

Besides, the soup Wolf brought didn’t look all that bad. I held my breath and picked up the bowl, shoving a spoonful into my mouth before I could change my mind.

And another bite.

And another.

Three bites in, I practically threw the bowl across the room. That would have to be enough for now.

I forced myself out of bed and walked over to the door that led to the hallway. I pressed my ear against it, waiting.

The last few days, I had done this. Wolf thought I was too sick to even stand, and for the most part, he was right.

But he was an idiot if he thought I would lie back, complacent, waiting for my own demise.

A minute passed, then another. I heard nothing in the hall, no voices, no footsteps.

The coast was clear.

I threw on my black boots and stuffed a bag I found in Wolf’s wardrobe with the extra bread I hid over the last few days. The smell of it threatened to make me throw up that damn soup, but I choked it down. I would need energy, even if the smell of it repulsed me.

I was getting the fuck out of here today.

I tip-toed back to the door and double-checked that the coast was still clear before I put my hand on the knob.

And twisted.

Unlocked. They really did think I was a weak, pathetic female who would sit around and accept my fate. Asmodeus didn’t know me at all, did he?

I peeked my head out the door, checking both directions of the dark hallway. The sun was beginning to set, which allowed my fae eyes to see just enough to escape in the darkness.

We had come from the left. The left was where the dungeons were, where the rest of the castle resided. The left was likely where Wolf, Asmodeus, and Jessiah were. So, I turned right, down the hallway that grew skinnier and skinnier. There were no windows this far down the hallway, but I slid my hand along the stone wall to guide me as I navigated further and further from the prison of Wolf’s bedroom.

At the very end of the hall, there was a stairwell hidden in the shadows, narrow enough for my body to slip through. I stepped through and descended the stairs.

With adrenaline pulsing through my veins, I all but forgot the torturous hunger I felt. My heart pounded, every single one of my senses on high alert.

My boots didn’t so much as squeak as I descended the stairs and peeked around from the bottom of the stairwell.

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