The engine roared to life.
And we left in a blink, speeding out of the gates and down the road I’d been desperate to find when this test had begun.
My mind spun with questions and accusations, my world turning inside out and upside down in an instant.
This was what I’d craved for months.
But now I wasn’t sure I desired it anymore.
He just wanted to hurt me. To torture me. To fail me when it suited him, just to subject me to a lifetime of pain.
The moon chase.
Becoming a lycan’s pet.
Then the breeding farm.
Fuck, I was going to be sick.
All my anger and despair from earlier came roaring back, making me dizzy with fury.
I loathed this vampire. I didn’t understand why he’d chosen me as the object of his torment, but I would give anything to make it stop.
He’d returned for me from wherever the hell he’d gone. And I’dpinedfor him.
Which was probably exactly what he’d wanted.
Goddess, how could I have been so stupid? Vampires loved to play with their food.
And I’d fallen right into his trap.
“Your fury is intoxicating,” he murmured, his hand resting on the stick thing between us. “It’s been a long time since I witnessed such emotion in a human. I’m rather pleased it’s coming from you.”
I gaped at him. “So you want me to be angry? To show emotion? To break decorum so you have a reason to punish me?” To what point? Vampires could do whatever they wanted. Why did he need a reason?
“Oh, I don’t intend to punish you, Lily. I intend to reward you.”
“By what? Failing me again?” I couldn’t help the sarcastic reply. It was so unlike me. It broke a thousand rules. But I was done caring. Done playing this game. Done being the perfect prospect.
What was the point in cooperating when my compliance only led to pain?
“I won’t be grading you on emotional performance, little flower. If I did, the others would kill you.”
“They’re going to kill me anyway,” I muttered.
“Yes,” he agreed, his voice holding an emotion I couldn’t define. Probably because I didn’t bother trying. He’d likely be there to watch the hunt, just to enjoy my suffering.
We didn’t speak again for the rest of the drive.
Which was fine by me.
I didn’t want to talk to him or be anywhere near him.
A complete contradiction to the last eight months.
Goddess, I’m a failure in every way.Maybe I deserved this fate after all.
He parked his car outside the palace, the exterior just as grandiose as I remembered.