Page 98 of Tethered to the World
The urge to meekly bow her head trickled through her, but she was able to shrug it off without much effort, while both Terrance and Tyson lowered their heads in submission.
A low chuckle came from the doorway behind them, and she froze, the sound throwing her back in time. The laughter was usually accompanied by a lash of pain, her uncle taking wicked pleasure at punishing her.
“She’s a troublemaker. No matter how much she’s reprimanded, she never learns her lesson.” He walked into the room, circling her, shaking his head in feigned pity. “Hello, Annora. You’ve been a very naughty girl, running away like that.” He came to a stop in front of her, fury at her defiance barely leashed. “Did you miss me?”
Hatred burned along her veins as she glared up at him, the raging need to pull him into the afterworld and finally kill him churned through her, but no matter how hard she reached for the darkness, it scattered at her touch. The harder she pulled, the more her head throbbed in protest.
And she realized the nightmare last night was a warning.
Her consciousness had sensed his nearness and had tried to let her know, but she’d foolishly shaken it off.
A decision that was now biting her on the ass.
As if understanding her predicament, he gave a satisfied smile. “Nasty head wound you have there. Knocks you offline for a few hours, doesn’t it?”
She swallowed hard, realizing she’d fallen into his trap. “What do you want?”
His brows shot up in genuine surprise. “Imagine my astonishment when an associate of mine gave me a call about my beloved niece who had gone missing. He knew I had been worried sick.”
“It was, of course, my duty to report you.” Director Erickson’s smile was smug. “When he told me you were mentally unstable and dangerous, I had to take measures on behalf of the rest of my students.”
She snorted at the absurdity. “And it doesn’t hurt that he sells you my blood to help make your precious drug. Tell me, do you get my blood for free or at a discount?”
The slap came fast and hard, whipping her head to the side. Heat exploded along her cheek, her ears ringing as the cut re-opened and spilled fresh blood down her face. She slowly turned to face her uncle and smiled, licking the blood off her lips. “You know you won’t be able to hold me again. I’m getting stronger, and sooner or later, I’ll escape again…only this time, instead of running, I’m going to come for you.”
Instead of fear, he gave a throaty laugh. “I die, you die. Do your best, little bitch. But I won’t be so easy on you this time. I think you’ll enjoy our new place.”
The evil gleam in his eyes made her throat dry, but she lifted her chin, refusing to show him any weakness. She turned toward Erickson. “You knew who I was the first day you saw me. Why tell him? Why not keep me all for yourself?”
“I don’t have time to babysit you.” He lifted his head, his chest puffed up as his ego expanded. “Wolves should be in charge of the shifters, and you are the one who’s going to make it happen. Other races disgrace us by treating us as commoners when we’re clearly superior. We’re the largest pack, the strongest of us all. The drugs will give us the boost we need to finally prove our point and rise to the top.”
From the maniacal gleam in his eyes, she could tell he clearly didn’t care about having to step over the bodies of all the dead shifters he’d killed to get to the top.
“Yes, I recognized you the first day. I was even going to bid for you when you went up for auction, but when you went missing, I decided you were too much trouble. That’s why your uncle Stanley has agreed to keep you for me and allow me unfettered access. Blood loss will keep you weak and pliable. We even have a compound readied, prepared especially to hold you.” He gave her a smile that was more fang than friendly. “You won’t find the accommodations as nice as your last place. Your uncle will keep you in check for us for a modest fee.”
Familiar avarice gleamed in her uncle’s eyes.
He couldn’t wait to get his hands on her and punish her for defying him.
Director Erickson dismissed her. “Tyson, gather your men, make sure they’re loyal, then take her to the special holding cells we prepared.”
Tyson’s grin was vindictive. When he reached for her, the ferret around her shoulder hissed and leapt to the ground, puffing up to nearly twice his size.
“Kill that filthy beast.” Her uncle gave a grimace of distaste. “It’s not from this world. Its bite is poisonous and can take weeks to heal.” He unconsciously rubbed the back of his hand, as if he could still feel the ache of many such wounds.
Tyson eyed the creature doubtfully, then lifted his leg to stomp on him. Edgar gave a ferocious snarl, darted forward and removed a chunk of flesh from his calf.
The wolf cursed, leaping around on one leg, his eyes turning feral as he locked on the ferret standing protectively in front of her. She reached down to sweep him out of the way, but he leapt over her hand, determined to defend her. Tears thickened the back of her throat, knowing it would destroy something inside her to see him die yet again trying to protect her.
But when Tyson advanced a moment later, a second ferret darted around her to stop next to the first one.
Then a third.
And fourth
Joy sent her heart soaring.
If the ferrets were here, the guys had to be just a step behind.
