Alfonso moved to the foot of her gurney, his expression devoid of all emotion. He snapped his head up when a Darkblood nurse entered the room.
“M’lord, I’m so sorry to interrupt you, but the blonde’s ultrasound showed she’s ovulating, and I knew you wanted to watch the first mating.”
“Yes, yes, I do want to watch, but I’m a little busy at the moment. Tell Dr. Skinner to wait. I’ll be there shortly.” He turned back to Mackenzie and ran his yellowed nails along her cheek. When she tried to turn away, he grabbed her cheeks. “You will look at me when I touch you.”
“But, sir,” the nurse said. “Dr. Skinner has already injected the young man with the erectile enhancement drug and he’s ready to go.”
Pavlos’s eyes somehow managed to get blacker.
“M’lord, this is the first one.” Alfonso set the foot brake on Mackenzie’s gurney and joined the nurse near the door. “You need to witness this, sir. It’s history in the making. Just think how much readier for the woman you’ll be after seeing your dreams come to fruition.”
Pavlos stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. If only her eyes were daggers, she’d cut him to shreds. “Yes, you’re absolutely right. No need to rush things with you, dear. We’ve got plenty of time.”
They filed from the room, leaving a guard at the door, and Mackenzie heard multiple deadbolts slide into place.
With the excess chain wrapped around his forearm, Dom put his foot on the taut length and pulled. All the muscles in his arms bulged as he strained. Nothing.
“Nice try, asshole. You ain’t going nowhere.” The guard came down the three steps from the door and Mackenzie’s heart quickened. But he pushed a chair over to the far wall underneath a tiny interior window and stood up on the seat. The other exam room must be over there. He wanted to watch, as well.
She turned back to Dom.They don’t know...my blood makes you stronger, do they?
He shook his head almost imperceptibly.
Mackenzie tugged at the leather straps binding her limbs to the table and noticed that one of the wrist straps was buckled into the second to last hole, rather than the last one as it had been earlier. Alfonso? Was that what all the fuss with the straps was about?
She threw a glance at the guard. He had his hand down his pants. Carefully, she twisted her wrist and pulled. The band definitely shifted lower. Gritting her teeth, she folded her thumb against her palm and pulled her hand free.
Kenz!
Shit. The guard was looking straight at her.
“What the hell...” He jumped off the chair, but he was a moment too late.
Her fingers found the large silver cross under her T-shirt and she yanked it free. The guard lunged at her, and she shoved thesharp point into his throat. With a hideous, breathy groan, he spun away, clutching his neck.
“He’s down, but he’s almost more dangerous,” Dom whispered. “Get away from him or he’ll attack you like I did at the cemetery to get at your blood.”
She struggled to unfasten the rest of the buckles and when she jumped from the table, the room began to spin. Oh God, she’d forgotten how weak she was. Grabbing for the edge of the gurney, she slipped anyway, and the floor slammed up to meet her.
A flood of nausea washed over her as she tried to get her brain to work. Growing darkness surrounded her like a tunnel, but Dom’s voice, although far away, gave her the strength she needed to keep going.
“I’ll kill you, you bitch.” From behind, the guard’s voice was breathy. She’d punctured his windpipe.
Her head pounded as she stumbled to Dom and examined the cuffs. They were locked, and who knew where the key was. The chains were connected to the wall in a similar fashion.
It's solid. I can’t get them undone.
She pulled his face close to hers, their noses almost touching.
Listen to me, Dom. It's the only way.You’re not going to hurt me.
I’ll kill you if I drink from you again. I can’t.
She brushed his hair hack from his face and kissed his forehead, his eyelids, his lips.
You must do this, sweetheart. I know you're worried, but I also have complete faith in you. And honestly, I’d rather die in the arms of the man I love than at the hands of him—she inclined her head toward the guard who was struggling to pull the cross from his throat—or that monster Pavlos. Please, Dom. You must try. It’s our only hope.
Straddling his lap, she swept her hair behind her shoulder.
