Page 95 of Bought to Break
‘No Sorin?’ she asked.
Viktor shook his head as Kane answered. ‘He wasn’t there.’
‘And Xeta?’
Viktor shrugged. ‘She wouldn’t come with us. She would have slowed us anyway. Come. We watched a servant disappear into Vineri’s private wing where he entertains. We think that’s where Sorin is.’
Lana felt sick. What were they doing to him?
Chapter 43
Sorin
They’d left him alone for the moment, Vineri and the others. Sorin remembered them all. Each of the men who had tortured him had had a hand in killing his mother that night and had hurt him many times. His lip curled as he thought of them. All five had seemed so much more terrifying then. Now he saw them for what they were; pathetic and small. He coughed up some blood and spat it onto the stone floor with a groan.
He wondered where the others were; far from here, he hoped, especially Lana. He smiled, though it hurt. He’d dreamed of her many times in this place; she’d come to him and smile and tell him she would free him and they’d escape together.
He heard the tell-tale sound of the door creaking. He couldn’t see from here, but they were coming back. He couldn’t help the panic that coursed through him, and he cursed. They weren’t worth it, he kept telling himself. But still his body began to shake at the thought of what they might be planning next.
He steeled his mind. He would not show them fear. He would meet their eyes, refuse to call them master and they could do what they willed. He would never again break for them. He looked up, intending to stare them down. They hated that, and they would lash him until he could no longer raise his head. He didn’t care.
But the sight he saw made him question whether or not he was truly awake. Lana, Viktor and Kane were coming towards him. He blinked several times, but they were still there.
Lana gave a low cry, rushing to him as if she couldn’t wait another moment and running her hands lightly over his bruised body. This was real.
His eyes flashed at his Brothers. ‘I thought she was still safely with the witch far from here. How could you bring her?’ he ground out, his voice low. He hoped they thought it was because he didn’t want to draw any attention and not that he actually didn’t have the strength.
Viktor raised an eyebrow. ‘Told you he wouldn’t like it,’ he said to Kane.
‘Sorin.’ Tears filled Lana’s eyes as she tried to reach where his wrists were tied above his head. ‘What have they done?’
He chuckled as Kane cut his bindings. It sounded hollow even to his own ears.
‘Nothing that won’t heal, don’t worry. Let’s get out of here,’ he mumbled even as his body threatened to collapse to the floor. He attempted a grin and knew he’d failed when tears spilled down her cheeks. He wanted to hold her, even just squeeze her hand, but his were numb. He shook them, willing the blood to circulate faster.
‘Lana, I just need food and water. I’m all right.’ He saw the other two exchange looks. They knew he wasn’t, but he would live, and that was all Lana ever needed to know about what had happened here.
She wiped her cheeks, looking furious now. ‘We need to kill them.’
He shook his head. Why weren’t the others gainsaying her?
‘No. We leave while we are able.’ He looked beseechingly at Viktor. He still didn’t know if he could count on Kane, but surely Viktor cared about what would happen to Lana if they found her here.
Memories of his mother flashed through his mind and he swallowed hard. ‘We can’t let them –’
The door creaked open and his words fled. They were coming.Nowhere to hide.He grabbed the closest weapon, a wooden mallet still splattered with his own blood.Apt.
Vineri, along with some of his false Dark Army guards, tore into the room. The Collector froze when he saw them, looking visibly relieved when his eyes landed on Lana.
He held out his hand. ‘Come, girl.’
Lana shook her head, edging closer to Sorin. Anyone else would think she was frightened and searching for protection, but Sorin knew she was putting herself between him and Vineri’s men. She was trying to shield him, not the other way around.
As she stood in front of him, she reached up to her neck, tucking some hair behind her ear, and her fingers brushed the necklace she wore. Except now that he looked at it closely, it wasn’t a necklace at all. It was a collar with a lock. Understanding dawned. He shifted slightly and hoped all eyes were on Vineri as he reached slowly over to the table next to them – where his torturers had laid out all their instruments to scare him – and eased one of the needles between his fingers, thankful they’d left everything out on display. He began to work at the tiny lock through her long hair, his fingers tingling as he willed the feeling back into them.
Vineri was quickly losing patience, and it showed in the set of his jaw and the fingers clenching at his side. ‘I don’t know how you got caught up with these men, but I promise you that if you come with me now, I will not have you punished.’
Lana didn’t say a word and, though he couldn’t see her face, Sorin could picture her mulish expression. He almost smiled.
