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I STOOD PARALYZED ONmy tiptoes with my arms stretched above my head. The vampire had attached thick steel bands around my wrists and hooked them to a dangling chain hanging from the ceiling. Blood stained the stone tiles beneath my feet as if they’d tortured and killed others here in this house.
But worse than knowing others were killed here before me was the device around my neck. It had sharp metal spikes pointed toward my skin like a prong collar. If I moved my head, the spikes cut into my skin. Any larger movements or if I lost my footing, the spikes would puncture my neck.
We’d moved from Liam’s club to the house an hour ago. It was clear Jasmine had the control and Liam was merely a puppet. Like me. Except I was a puppet who was going to be decapitated soon because my legs shook so badly I could barely keep my balance.
Liam had watched Jasmine hook me up like a Christmas tree ornament. But there was a flicker of uncertainty in him, as he’d looked away several times, head bowed as if he regretted what this had come to.
“Just think, my child. Your father had to remain like this for hours at a time. Sometimes, I left him for days just to see his resilience.” Jasmine ran a hand over my head in a soft caress and I flinched, but couldn’t move away. “He is stubborn. That is what I love about him. So controlled. I wish I’d seen his face today when he heard the news. When he found out his beloved Delara betrayed him.” Her fingers bunched in my hair and she yanked. The prongs dug into the back of my neck and I winced. “You’ve been a constant reminder that he escaped me in order to save that bitch. Tarek was supposed to kill her. Pathetic Scar.”
All this time, she was waiting to use me against Waleron and Delara. I was her revenge on Delara and her plan to lure Waleron back into her prison.
She let me go and I quickly took little steps to gain my balance. My toes cramped and I felt blood drip down the back of my neck where the spikes had pierced through my skin.
“Did you know Roarke had the pleasure of this device, too?” Jasmine asked, her finger sliding down the side of my cheek. “Little reminders to behave himself every so often. That day the Scars escaped, Roarke was as you are right now.”
Oh, God, Roarke. He’d told me he knew I was hiding in the air duct with the Scar. He’d tried to protect us.
Jasmine’s finger pressed harder into my cheek and her nail broke the skin as she dragged it down to my jawbone. “That’s why he wasn’t there when Kilter came back for you. I kept him for weeks like you are now.” She dropped her hand from my face and walked to the bay window, parting the heavy blue curtains. “He’s a lot like Waleron, except I had to allow him a human every week to keep him alive. Stupid Grit wouldn’t kill them though. He’d suck just enough air to keep himself alive. Pathetic Grit. I planned on keeping him for myself if you hadn’t escaped.” She shrugged. “But I knew he’d come after you and I used that.”
Shivers coursed down my spine. Tears teetered on the rims of my eyes, and if I blinked, they’d fall and Jasmine would win. I wouldn’t give her that satisfaction.
“Leave her alone.” Liam stopped pacing the hardwood floors.
“Soft spot for the girl?”
“No, sick of hearing your voice,” Liam shot back. “We need to make plans.”
“Don’t be such a—”
The door burst open.
I jerked and the spikes cut into my neck. My eyes widened and my heart pounded when I saw Waleron standing in the doorway.
“Release her, Jasmine,” he said, striding into the room, his face a mask of stone.
I waited for more Scars to follow in after him, but he was alone.
No, he couldn’t be.
His eyes flicked briefly to me then back to Jasmine and Liam.
She put her hand on my neck. “Well, this is a surprise. I didn’t expect you to find us so quickly. Let me guess—Roarke? He is resourceful. Did you kill him after you got the information?”
Waleron ignored her and spoke to Liam. “Abby is with us. You’ll have her, but Rayne is to be released first.”
Jasmine flicked her hand in the air and four of her followers took off through the house. She strolled back to me and put her hand on the back of my neck just above the collar.
“Abby first,” Liam said.
“No.” Waleron walked further into the room to stand twenty feet from Jasmine with the wall at his back. “This is what you want, isn’t it, Jasmine? Me.” I heard her breath quicken with anticipation. “Once Rayne is free of your toy,” he nodded to the contraption, “I will bring Abby in.”
Jasmine laughed, and goose bumps popped along my skin. “That’s not how this works,” Jasmine said. “I don’t trust your word, Waleron. First we will make certain you cannot escape me—again.”
Waleron didn’t say anything; he merely nodded and walked toward me and Jasmine.
“No, Waleron, don’t.”
“This is how it’s supposed to be.”
