Page 2 of Shadow Bonds

My heart races, picking up speed as the flames rise higher and higher, setting off more smaller explosions as the rest of the building quickly burns to ashes.

A hand slides up and around to my head and a spear of pain splinters across my body in waves.

Unable to speak or move, the pain becomes overwhelming and dark spots begin to cloud my vision. Growing and growing until the bright flames and destruction before me slowly disappears.

“It was the only way,” a soft voice whispers just as darkness closes in around me.

Ijolt awake and sit up, slightly disorientated. Glancing around, I frown at the room I’m in.

Where the hell am I?

There’s a white desk and chair to the left of me, a white door beside it, and another across from me. And a chest of drawers and set of long shelves lining the wall on the other side of the room.

Gray and white blankets try to wrap around me as I get up off the queen size bed where I lay and make my way to the door across from me.

I’m still fully dressed, but the black leggings and white top is definitely not what I was wearing.

An icy chill crawls down my spine at the thought of someone changing me.

As silently as possible, I make my way to the door and turn the handle. Relief instantly fills me when it opens, revealing a long hallway.

I step outside and move down the hallway, making it to the top of a stairway when I hear voices.Malevoices.

Shoving down the panic trying to overwhelm me, I continue down the stairs, staying as quiet as possible. But even though none of the steps creak, the voices pause when I reach the end.

Shit.

There’s no door that I can see. Which means I’m more than likely going to have to pass whoever those men are to get out of here.

I step further into the open area while looking for anything I can use as a weapon. But a couple of steps in, the men come into view.

Four extremely attractive men that look a couple of years older than me.

Three of them have dark hair, one that’s chin-length, while the fourth’s is platinum blonde, tight and short against his head.All are tanned, toned, athletic, and built and look like they could take me down in seconds.

Though not the kind of takedown I’d enjoy.

Spotting the door just behind them, I push their good genes and my worries to the back of my mind and try to come up with a plan.

None of them make any move toward me which means they either don’t see me as a threat or think I wouldn’t be stupid enough to try and escape.

Two misconceptions they’ll soon learn are wrong.

“Where am I?” I ask, while still looking for something I can use as a weapon. But the long gray marble counters are bare, and the only available weapon I can see are the knives and forks they’re all using to eat with.

“Where you’ll unfortunately be for the next year,” the brown-eyed, dark-haired one mumbles. He gives me a patronizing smirk, revealing his dimples.

His words finally penetrate my tired brain, and I flinch a step back.

There’s no way I’m staying here for a couple of hours, let alone a damn year. “What the hell are you talking about?”

The one with hazel eyes and chin-length dark brown hair gets up off his seat and glares at me. “Sena, cut the crap. It’s too fucking early for this shit.”

I take a step back from him and the animosity seeping from him. “Who’s Sena?” I ask, and they all freeze.

“What kind of game are you playing at now?” Dimples asks with a snarl.

“Game? I—” A sharp pain shoots through my head, and I raise my hand to the spot behind my ear and wince. Pulling my hand back, I spot red on my fingers.Blood.

---