When that one started, Kyle feared he mightgo a little mad too. Some of the others hooted and shoutedencouragements at the Savage to do more. While Kyle turned his backon the madness, they keenly watched and absorbed the misery. Whichmade him suspect almost everyone, if noteveryoneelse downhere, was a Savage. He could smell their rot through the thickglass.
During most of his time here, Kyle spent itpondering what role Melanie played in this. He’d seen her father acouple of times in this cavernous room and swore he heard his voicewhile they were cutting into him, but he hadn’t seen her.
This was why she didn’t talk about her past,and after seeing her reaction to her father, he didn’t think it wassomething she approved of, but was she glad he was here? Had sheset him up? Was this all part of some bigger plan?
But that didn’t make sense. If this were allpart of a bigger plan, then they would have caught him long beforethey did. And he highly doubted she would have slept with him ifshe’d known he was a vampire.
Even if she didn’t approve of what washappening here—which he hoped she didn’t—he didn’t see her havingsex with him just to help catch him. Besides, it wouldn’t have beennecessary.
With the way they took him down, it was clearthese people knew what they were doing. They’d captured him withmilitary precision. They didn’t have to lure a vamp into someone’sbed to catch them. And they hadn’t caught him in bed with her; theytrapped him walking through a park.
That alone told him how well-trained andcoordinated these people were. While it hadn’t been the middle ofthe day, they went after him and those Savages in a public place.He didn’t know who these people were, but they knew what they weredoing.
They would kill him if he didn’t find a wayto get away. But from what he’d seen, that was going to beimpossible.
CHAPTER 25
“Can you hear me?”Melanie asked.
The sound of her voice sent a wave of purejoy through him. He rested his hand against the glass as he staredat her. What he wouldn’t give to touch her, smell her, and hold heragain.
The only consolation he had was she was okay,and his family wasn’t here too. Either Melanie hadn’t told themabout his siblings, or they hadn’t caught them.
He refused to think they’d gone after hissiblings and killed them in the process. It was a possibility hecouldn’t consider on top of the one he may die here… or worse, livehere for all eternity.
“Yes, can you hear me?” he asked.
The thick glass muffled his voice, butMelanie heard him well enough. Still, she took a few steps closerto make sure she caught every word.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
The question threw her. He was locked in acage, drugged, and if the healing cuts on his bare chest were anyindication, they’d recently sliced into him, but he was concernedabouther. Would a monster do that?
Unexpected tears burned her eyes, but sheblinked them away. Cameras hung all over this place, and if theysaw her crying for a vampire, they’d take her out of here and neverlet her return.
And there was the idea she wanted to return.Why? What good could it possibly do them?
But it didn’t matter if it did any good ornot; she simply wanted to see him again. At that moment, sherealized it didn’t matter what he was or that he’d lied to her; sheloved him.
Or did she? Was she simply feeling that waybecause he’dmadeher feel it? Was it possible he stillcontrolled her mind? Had he ever controlled it?
Melanie rubbed her temples when madnessthreatened to consume her. Would she ever trust her mind again?
Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head andfocused on Kyle again.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I’d ask how you’redoing, but I guess I already know the answer.”
Kyle studied her for the malevolence thatradiated from the others who came into this place, including herfather. However, all he saw was confusion, apprehension, anduncertainty. He hated all of it.
His gaze went past her to where Lucy stoodwith her father and the woman he’d often seen in here inspectingthe prisoners. Once they stood next to each other, he saw Lucy'sresemblance to the woman and assumed it was her mother.
However, only kindness and regret shone inLucy’s eyes, while her mother’s gaze held the cold calculation of asnake. That woman was ruthless.
His attention shifted to Melanie’s father,who stared at them with the open curiosity of an overeager puppy.Kyle didn’t know what the man would do after watching thisexchange, but he was lapping up every detail. He hoped Melaniewasn’t the one who suffered because of it.
He’d never been so defenseless before, and hehated it, but he despised even more that he couldn’t touch orprotect Melanie.
“Why didn’t you tell me what you are?” sheasked.
