Page 8 of Blood So Brutal

I snarled and yanked the clothes from his grasp before storming into the bathroom and shutting the door.

Thankfully, this place had running water. It seemed to be nicer than the building Wolf and I stayed in that first night inThe Golden City. I had no idea where we were directionally, but I guessed that Asmodeus and his crew lived in the center of it all.

I avoided looking in the mirror entirely and started the shower, letting the water grow hot as I peeled my disgusting clothes from my body. I took everything off—including my underwear and chestwrap—and threw everything in the garbage. I sure as hells never wanted to see those clothes again.

Wolf didn’t so much as knock on the bathroom door, but I could feel him out there. Since we bonded, I was much too aware of his presence at all times. It was a damn curse. I wanted nothing more than to forget all about him and everything he put me through.

My mind wandered to his wings—or the lack thereof.

Don’t even go there,I reminded myself.He deserved this punishment. He’s still working with his father to keep you a damn prisoner here.

I stepped into the hot water and moaned at the feel of it. There were times in that dungeon when I thought I would never see the light of day again, let alone take another shower.

I accepted my fate. If I really was the heir to the vampyre kingdom,the blood kingdom,death would come soon enough.

Wolf cracked the door open but didn’t come inside. “Doing okay in there?”

I picked up one of the few soap bars and threw it at the door.

Jessiah would have been a much, much better option. I was surprised at how similar he and Wolf looked, but they were brothers, after all. They both had lightning eyes and fierce brows to frame them, but Jessiah was softer than Wolf. His angel wings were white, certainly not fallen, and he carried himself less rigidly.

I tried not to think about everything Wolf went through in his life. If his brother was here this entire time living with Asmodeus, what did Wolf think? Or had Wolf done somethingto piss his father off so badly, he was now the one to take all the hits?

The water washed the dirt from my skin after a few minutes. I dunked my head beneath the stream and massaged my curls with the pine-scented soap that made it absolutely impossible not to think of Wolf.

This was great. Really fucking great.

I would have stayed in that shower for ages, but my legs began to shake once more as I stood there. The second I was clean, I braced myself against the wall and turned off the water.

I had never been so exhausted in my entire damn life. Even after days and days of training with Lord and killing vampyres in Midgrave, I hadn’t been this sore. I would have taken one of Lord’s whippings again over this bone-deep tiredness.

I dried myself off with a clean towel and pulled Wolf’s loose trousers over my bare legs. I tugged the tunic over me next, grateful it covered more of my body than any of my own clothes would.

I already felt way too exposed here. Drowning in these clothes would help.

By the time I slicked my curly black hair into a tight braid over my shoulder and pulled Wolf’s door open, he was nowhere to be seen. I glanced around the empty bedroom one more time, ensuring no one else lurked in the shadows, before walking to Wolf’s perfectly-made bed.

Black linens draped over the large wooden structure. I wasn’t surprised; everything about this place was dark, black, and shadowy. Still, as I ran my hand over a pillow, I felt my eyes growing heavy.

I tried to sleep in the dungeons. Trust me, I did. But there was no amount of exhaustion that would have let me fully relax there. I was too unprotected, too vulnerable.

Although, I supposed little had changed about my situation since then.

I was still exposed, still vulnerable to anyone who might enter that door, still unsafe.

The edge of the bed shifted around me as I sat, and I became immediately grateful for the support. I sank into the thick fabric like I belonged there, like I was drawn to this bed for more than just temporary support.

My body screamed in relief as I kicked my feet up next, reclining back onto the pillows.

This. This was fucking nice. I tried to keep my awareness on the door, tried to shut my eyes for one singular moment before Wolf came back, but the darkness of sleep called me home.

In the span of four days, I saw Wolf once. Strangers brought me food every day, but other than that, I was left alone.

So much for showing me The Golden City.

I didn’t mind it, though. It gave me time to think, to plan my fucking escape. Because there was no way in all hells I was going to sit here, cooped up, waiting for Asmodeus to tire of me.

Wolf was no longer someone I could trust to help me. I had to make it out on my own.

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