Page 101 of Marked
Markus snatches the device and places it on speakerphone. “Raina?”
“Markus,” her voice is broken, sobbing. “Vlad was here. Caine is down, and I can’t find Lilah anywhere.”
My world narrows to her words and the strange feeling now spiraling through me.
I stumble and strong hands grip me to keep me upright. My eyes trail to Markus, and I’m vaguely aware of the low snarl pouring from my lips. I dive across the space.
My fist slams into the chiseled line of my king’s jaw. “I fucking told you,” I bellow as hands close over my arms. My body bucks in their hold, straining to get loose as Markus turns back to me, his gold eyes blazing. “I warned you that he would come for her. Now Caine is down and Lilah is–” I choke off, throat closing.
He has her. Vlad has Lilah.
I collapse.
“Ruin?” Markus walks closer.
“My lord, that may not be–”
“Silence.” Markus cuts through T’s words with finality. He eyes me. “Did you feed her?”
My lips clamp closed.
“Did you fucking feed her?” he bellows.
I nod, and the others inhale sharply around us.
He walks closer. “What you are feeling ... the anxiety in your stomach ... Is it strong?”
I blink. “What the fuck does that–”
His fingers close over my jaw, bruising me into silence. “Is the damn anxiety strong?”
My head moves slowly in his grip.
“Then focus on it,” he commands. “Feel it, allow it to roll through you.”
“I don’t understand what that has to do with anything–”
His hand tightens. “You are vampire, Ruin. A bastard born, but a vampire all the same.” His gold eyes turn supernova level bright. “Your blood is in her veins and hers in yours. Feel the connection, the dark tie of our kind. Follow it.”
I continue to growl, but try to do as he says.
My eyes fall closed and I pull Lilah to the forefront of my mind, her scent, her heat. The innocence of her humanity.
Her blood.
The anxiety doesn’t come gently, it barrels through me and I hunch inward as the urge to vomit taints my insides.
“Oh Goddess,” I spit.
Markus paces in front of me. “Let yourself feel it, Ruin. Do not shut it out.” He motions behind him. “Get the car.”
Loping footsteps fade across the pier.
The King continues his prowling. “I am going to enter your mind, Ruin. Keep what you are feeling at the surface.”
“How are you going to–”
A dark-clad blur flits in. Markus pulls my head to the side and his fangs sear into me like lava laced razors.
