Page 259 of Craving Venom

“You have ten seconds.”

Ten seconds?

Ten seconds for what?

The thought barely has time to finish in my head before he growls the answer against my skin.

“Hide.”

Goosebumps skitter down my arms, my thighs, my spine because the way he says it, like he’s giving me a head start in a hunting ground built just for me… I know he means it.

Then he says the part that makes my knees weaken.

“If I hunt you,” he snarls, dragging his lips along my jaw, “I prey on you.”

He lets go.

I stumble forward, catching myself on trembling legs.

“One!”

His roar shakes the shelves behind me, but I’m already bolting past the shelves. My juices are dripping down my thighs as I sprint through the library. My heart’s beating so loud I can barely hear anything else.

I shove the door open and nearly slip on the floor of the hallway, catching myself just in time. My fingers slam the elevator button.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

The elevator dings.

I slip inside and slam the button for the dorm rooftop.

If I can get up there, someone will see me. Someone has to be out there. I’ll scream. I’ll jump the railing if I have to. There’s no way he’d risk being caught.

The doors begin to close.

I glance back, but there’s no sign of Zane.

I peek out again.

Still nothing.

My chest seizes. He didn’t follow.

Why didn’t he follow?

The doors inch closer to closing, but I shove my hand between them, reopening them, just in case.

Still nothing.

I do it again.

And again.

Where the fuck is he?

Why isn’t he chasing me?

Why does that terrify me more?

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