bChapter /bb177 /b

April POV

The world feels so distant right now, and I feel like I’m floating somewhere outside of my own body. I’m trapped in a haze where time doesn’t move bthe /bway it should. I’m not ready toe back to reality, these past few hours, or maybe days have been hell. More torture than hell actually.

My skin burns where Rn’s bit me and imed me, and the ache of it burrows deeper than my bone. I wish I could pretend that this doesn’t hurt but the pain is constant. It’s steady and a throb that reminds me alive, even if I wish I wasn’t right.

I use it, I cling to that pain as it’s a reminder that Eryx is my true mate and that he hasn’t gone, he’s still alive, he’s still connected to me even if it’s weak and only with pain.

I won’t give up the memories, I won’t let myself trust the rogue and I won’t fall for him and protect him. I know that’s possible, even if he wasn’t my destined mate, but I won’t do it, I refuse to!

I’m not even aware of how long I’ve been in this room now, the drive felt far too long, and for a brief moment, Rnd stopped touching me. I managed to sleep, but then when we got here, he began again. I’m still bleeding, thanks to my parents and the injection ito /imute my wolf, I can’t heal.

He’s had to have given me more of it, because by how I should feel my wolf but she’s still gone, unreachable.

I hate this room more than I hate the cars. There’s no windows, no sunlight either that could possibly sneak through cracks. It means I have no idea of what time it is, I have no way to track time either.

The walls are dark, and slick with moisture, and the scent of damp earth clings to everything. It makes it harder to breathe without choking. The floor beneath me is cold as well, the ctone bites into my skin where I’m sitting curled in the corner.

I can’t remember when Ist stood. I’m not even sure if I can anymore. To begin with, I screamed, I fought I did everything to try escape but no one heard me, or if they did, they ignored me.

Rnd hasn’te back yet, I know it shouldfort me, but it doesn’t.

Every second that he’s gone, is another second that I’m forced to stay here and remember. My mind keeps reying how his teeth tore into neck, bhow /bthe bond I had shared with Eryx shattered and burned within me. It was like ss breaking deep in my chest.

I remember the way Rndughed while it happened, as though destroying me was something he’d been looking forward to all along. Maybe it was, I have no idea how long ago my parents had nned to sell me to him.

Pressing my fingers to my throat, I feel sick. It’s still bleeding, the wound is refusing to close. It’s staying open and keeping me weak.

My stomach twists, but there’s nothing left to bring up. I already tried and failed, I’ve been sick too much to do it anymore. Closing my eyes, I tell myself not to think about Eryx. It’s impossible thoughb, /bI can still feel where his mark once was, bthe /bghost of it, like a phantom limb aching after being severed.

I do wonder if he felt it, did he feel anything when it happened? Does he know the exact moment that Rnd stole me from him, and does he realise that means he touched me in other ways?

I did wonder if he copsed the way I had, if he screamed from the pain, mostly though, I keep wondering if he’s already forgetting me, the way Rnd said he would?

I can’t bear the thought.

The sound bof /bthe idoor /iopening softly draws my attention, though it doesn’t make my heart brace /banymore. I bdon’t /bhave bthe /bbstrength /bleft bto /bfear bhim/bb, /bbI’ve /balready used it all. The door creaks open slowly and Rnd steps inside casually. His presence fills bthe /bsmall space like bpoison/b.

He looks pleased, more than pleased. His grin is cruel as he locks the door behind him and steps toward bme/b.

“There she is,” he drawls, as if I’m some prize he’s won, something to admire now bthat /bbI’m /bbbroken /bband /bsmallb. /bb“/bbI /bwas bwondering /bbif /bbyou’d /bbbe /bbawake /b

b1/2 /b

bIf /bbhe /bwants an answer, he will die before I give him one. There’s nothing I can say that will make a difference, Calready tried.

He crouches in front of me, close enough that I can smell the coppery tang of my own blood still clinging to him. His as sweeps over ma lentic an though he’s enjoying the sight of me like this… silent, bleeding and unmoving.

“I told your father I’d take care of you,” he murmurs, tilting his head slightly. “And I am.

Aren’t

I want to tell him he’s not, but I don’t speak. I can’t give him the satisfaction of me reacting, he wants mists, but wit

His fingers reach out, tracing along my jaw gently, too gently, like he’s pretending this is something tender, something real. I flinct from his touch,  hat onlyughs softly.

“Eryx won’te,” he says quietly, like it’s a secret meant only for me. “Even if he wanted to, your father will keep him busy ilong /ienough for me to fresh breaking you. And when I’m done…” His grin sharpens. “You’ll beg me to keep you.”

I shake my head, just once, weakly, but it’s enough. I won’t beg him to keep me, even if it means choosing between death and him, Fauld ches death.

“Still fighting,” he whispers with something that sounds like admiration. “Good. I like it better that way.”

Closing my eyes, I fight back the tears and feel his fingers slide from my face to my through. His presses against the wound and I fight back the hiss that threatens to escape. I feel his thumb smear the blood against my skin.

“Rest now,” he murmurs. “We’ve got plenty of time to yter, and believe me, I n to y.”

Suddenly he stands and leave, just as quickly as he came. The door closes softly behind him, the sound is like the coffin lid sealing shut.

I let the tears fall silently down my cheeks, but I don’t move. I can’t. All I can do now is pray that Eryx hasn’t stopped searching. Because if he does..! won’t survive this.

?

AD

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