"I didn’t know you cared," she continued.
"I didn’t either," Rhyden mumbled. But the sight of her, naked, glassy-eyed, and panting, had dominated his mind all week, igniting his fantasies.
"Come on, let’s go. We need to be done with this before the others wake up."
Rin tuggedon the collar of the full-body suit. It clung to her every curve, revealing her insecurities. Her small breasts, the slight dip of her hips. At least, now she knew why Rhyden had told her not to bother with changing clothes.
The room hummed softly, monitors casting a cold blue glow over the image of the chained Rogue on the largest screen.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Rin hedged.
Rhyden tore open a packet of swabs with his teeth, spitting the small plastic piece on the floor, then moved to stand before her. He shoved her hair aside, but a few shorter strands that framed her face fell over her cheeks. He huffed and gathered her hair at the back, procuring a small elastic from his wrist—her eyes widened as she wondered why he had it—and tying it back for her.
The antiseptic cloth tingled as he wiped her forehead. His knuckles brushed her skin as he fixed an electrode to each temple. The wires fed into a small pack beneath her suit, resting at her lower spine.
He stepped back. "Believe what you want, but I wouldn’t let anything happen to you. I’m invested now—I don’t let my investments go to waste."
"Right. Your revenge. Can’t have me dying, because then you won’t get it."
Rhyden smiled cryptically.
She turned, one hand reaching for the door. Her ponytail swung at her back as he caught her by the elbow, stopping her. His eyes traced over her as she turned to stare at him.
He looked at her like he was starved.
"I’ll pull you if your heart rate spikes." Rhyden gestured to the monitors. "I’ll be watching."
He didn’t let her go.
As she stared at him, she remembered how his lips had almost touched hers. "How do you know how to read it?" she asked, just to break the tension.
"It’s not fucking rocket science. Besides, I’ve seen Nessen with Aetherborns enough to get the gist of the shit." His features hardened at the mention of the dead vampire.
Rin hadn’t seen him shed a tear, even after he’d supposedly known the male for years. How could he be so cold? Did anything affect him?
"When you hear me knock on the door, that’s your signal. If you don’t come out in thirty seconds, I’m coming in for you."
"You can’t," she started. "The Rogue could kill you."
Rhyden let her go. "Then you better obey me."
Rin nodded jerkily and pushed open the door, revealing the chained Rogue inside. The door fell shut with a clang. It unfurled from its spot on the ground, scratching at the concrete as it huffed.
A reddish brown stain, barely the size of her hand, was near the far wall. She grimaced.
A dull yellow bulb swung overhead, flickering as the shadows stretched on the walls.
She took a tiny step forward, and the Rogue tipped its head back and bayed loudly, the sound rattling her brain in her skull as it echoed in the enclosed space. The chains clinked.
Rin froze, feeling her heart thunder in her chest.No.
The Rogue did not move further.
The room began to spin.
Shadows yawned in the corners, growing, growing.
And a hand pressed against the wall, making the concrete mold to its shape like putty.
