Page 89 of Trapped for Her Blood
“Responsible for what?”
“The one responsible for the torture and deaths of my family!” Axe leaps to his feet. “Responsible for me being turned into a bloodsucking monster!”
Zuben leaps to his feet at the same time as Axe, holding up his hands in surrender. “Axel, I do not know what you are talking about. I promise you. Please explain.”
Standing as quickly as I can, I hold Axe’s arm. I know I could never hold him back, but hope my touch will calm his now-boiling rage.
“That witch,” Axe says. “She used her magic to trap my family in cages, most of my clan, in fact. Then, one by one, she tried to change us into vampires, but she clearly had no idea what she was doing. My family, my clan, they all suffered and died, one by one… Until she succeeded with me.”
Guilt fills Zuben’s face, and then he bows his head.
“Itwasyou!” Axel shouts. “Deny it, or I will tear you limb from limb!” He lunges toward Zuben, but Ryker gets in between them.
“Hey,” Ryker says, “let’s cool it on the limb ripping, okay? Wouldn’t want to get blood all over these nice furs.” Grinning he looks between the two men.
He leans toward Axe. “Think about it. Ember doesn’t need to see that shit. At least let me take her out of here before you go all grizzly bear on this tight-ass.” He tips his head back toward Zuben.
My heart’s pumping wildly. “There will benofighting.” I look between the men. “None.”
“Axe.” I run my fingers up and down his forearm, which seems to have grown more hairy, as if he might transform into a bear at any moment. But his fist unfurls and he takes my hand again.
“I’m sure Zuben isn’t responsible,” I say, looking at the tall Egyptian.
“But I am,” Zuben says, “however inadvertently.” Zuben remains still, his head high, as if he’s willing to accept whatever Axe does to him, and Axe’s massive arm twitches under my fingers.
“Youare?” My voice comes out as a squeak. Axe could easily kill Zuben, and knowing the full story, I understand why he might.
“Axel.” Zuben bows his head slightly then looks directly into his eyes. “I deeply regret my involvement in what happened to your family, to you. But I assure you. I had no idea she would do that. None.”
Axe grunts and my heart swells, recognizing the depth of his ability to listen before snapping to judgment. Perhaps that comes from his experience as an alpha.
“Octavia was always very interested in my research,” Zuben says, “but I rejected my hybrid theory and told her as much. As you know, I believed that creatures such as yourself were myths too.”
Axe growls low in his chest.
Zuben’s back straightens, like his muscles have all tightened. “And Ineversuggested, nor would I ever condone her doing an experiment such as you describe.”
Zuben clasps his hands together. “Axel, for my part in what happened, I am at your service for life. I can never do enough to atone for my unintentional involvement in your suffering.” Zuben bows toward Axe.
“I understand if you cannot believe me,” he continues. “But before today I did not evenimaginethat she had conducted experiments without my knowledge.” He raises his head, clear alarm and regret in his eyes.
“I believe him,” I tell Axe. “If Zuben says he wasn’t involved in what happened to your family, then he wasn’t.” I stroke Axe’s hand, hoping it will keep him calm.
Axe grunts, and then looks down.
“Zuben.” Ryker folds his arms over his chest and shakes his head. “Seems a lot of our problems can be traced back to you.”
Zuben’s head remains bowed.
“Axe,” Ryker adds, “did you know it’s Zuben’s fault Ember’s down here in the first place? Me too.”
I turn toward him. “That’s not entirely fair, Ryker.”
“No.” Zuben raises his gaze to meet mine. “The pirate speaks the truth.” He looks at me and then each of the other two men, in turn. “I must apologize to you all. My zeal to discover the Illuminant has caused much suffering. Suffering for you all.”
He drops to his knees. “Please forgive me.”
I step in front of him. “You didn’t know.” I cup his bowed chin to raise his gaze. “It’s not your fault.”
