Silas exhaled slowly, leaning back, but his attention never left me.
“It calls to you,” he said, calmer now. “The same way it doesto me.”
Another beat passed, his voice lowering further, darkness threading through it.
“If you want, I’ll teach you,” he offered. “how to use it to quiet the hunger. How to settle that thing inside you that needs it.”
I didn't respond.
“When Marco’s ours…” his gaze sharpened, finality hardening it, “you’ll be ready.”
Silence filled the space after that.
Silas and Knox didn’t speak.
Neither did I.
But the words stayed with me, running through my head on repeat.
Was I like Silas?
Did I want that?
To become someone capable of that kind of violence?
To be the one who finally stood in front of Marco… not afraid or broken… but powerful.
To make him feel it.
Every ounce of what he had done.
The thought should have repulsed me.
It didn’t.
Instead it settled into place with determination.
Ididwant that.
And surprisingly…
I wasn’t ashamed of what that made me.
Chapter 24: Lena
1 Month Later
Istared into the opening of the empty pill bottle. My suppressants had run out a few days ago.No refills.It was only a matter of time now.
Heat was imminent.
I’d been working with Dr. Hampton to prepare. She expressed amazement at my progress, always pointing out how far I’d come, even if I still didn’t speak to her, or to anyone, besides Silas and Knox. Some days, it felt like I had made no progress at all. Other days, I barely recognized myself.
So much had changed over the past week, and those changes had sent my fear and anxiety into overdrive, dragging me backward in ways I hadn’t expected.
She said that was normal.
Especially after leaving the safe house.
