Stranger still, he began to purr, heading off any tension that could twist her pain to further heights. The hesitant fingers that brushed down her arm, searching for some part of her not bundled in bandages, before coming to rest on top of her hand, sent her mind reeling. Whether from the drugs or his actions, she gripped the sheets in her free hand to keep from spinning off the face of the Earth and into the abyss.
“Sleep, Quinn. You’re safe.”
She wasn’t. Would never be again. She had little choice in the matter.
Cold hands closed over her ankles, sliding up her legs. The rasping texture of calloused palms tangled around her knees as she tried to turn, to squirm away from the forceful grip. The deep vibration of a snarl shuddered through her. Cruel and vicious, it tugged at her hair. Yanked it in thick clumps until she thought it would all rip free. Pain trickled across her scalp, but it was nothing to the violent crimson tempest centered in her belly.
“No, no, no,” Quinn whined as something heavy pushed her into softness. Thick and heavy, it slipped between her thighs and forced her open. Demanding she spread for yet more violence.
The sharp sting of a bite, the dull ache of bruises, they splintered through her body. Had her trembling, shaking in something far beyond terror. Lungs refusing to work, the ragged burn as her chest constricted pulsed through her veins.
She could feel every one of them. Each set of hands, mouths, of teeth. The rumble of a purr she knew couldn’t be his sent a jagged shock of horror down her spine all the same. Back bowing, she lurched. Tried to disengage from the suffocating pressure holding her down.
Painful in their clarity, so blue it made her ache, eyes drifted above her. Dangerous, calculating, they took in her fear and smiled.
“I’ll make you mine.” The hoarse whisper slithered into her ears, numbing everything in its wake. Fear locked every limb, paralyzed before the oncoming menace.
“No!” Screamed into the darkness, the last of her air fled past blue tinged lips as she denied those devilish eyes.
“You’re mine, Quinn.”
Choking on silent screams, she struggled against so many bodies. All of them with one purpose. To inflict as much pain as she could withstand. To take and take from her until there was nothing left. She fought, knowing it was useless. Struggled despite the growing weariness in her body. Strained through the murky cold, her goal clear.
She had to get to Elise, couldn’t fail her again.
The eerie, warm light exploded around her but left her blind. Unseeing, she scratched and bit at whatever came close enough. Kicked at what didn’t.
It had all been a too real dream. Kahler and his rescue, Elise and Adam safe. It was all a product of a broken mind and nothing more. Tasting cinnamon and anise in the back of her throat, Quinn railed against the bulky shadow pushing her down with an evil laugh.
“Quinn!”
Knowing she would die if she let him, that even the smallest moment of weakness would see her undone, she fought. Dragged in a choking breath to shriek her victory as something hot and wet spattered over her cheek. Darkness edged her vision, promising oblivion that she refused to succumb to.
“Gods damn it, Quinn, stop! Get the girl, Curtis.”
Hot breath fanning over her shoulder, the words tried to punch through the darkening haze. Tried to show her something different from the twisted smile that didn’t belong to the so blue eyes.
“Quinn, open your eyes, look.”
Snarled against her temple, she couldn’t refuse the demand. Lashes flying up, eyes wide, she saw the jagged lines on his shoulder first. Seeping blood, smeared crimson staining them both, the four distinct wounds matched the ache in her fingers. It held her horrified attention for all of a moment, before the wails of her baby girl filled the room.
“Elise,” Quinn screamed, voice raw, shattered. So much like those endless hours trapped in the room Lee made her prison, she was transported for a handful of quaking heartbeats. It renewed her fight against Kahler as he tried to hold her down without putting his weight on her.
“Calm. Down.” Straddling her thighs, holding her wrists tight to her shoulders, he kept her flat. Sitting back so he did not loom, Kahler jerked his chin at someone beyond her field of vision.
Meghan’s pallid face came first before she lifted an angry Elise. Cheeks pink, eyes wet and spilling thick tears, Elise made her opinion clear on the situation. Chubby fists reaching, she squirmed in Meghan’s hands, trying to get to Quinn.
“Give her to me, please,” Quinn begged around shattered sobs. Having already broken her promise to herself, tears streamed down her cheeks in an unending torrent of anguish. She held herself rigid as Kahler eased his weight from her legs and let go of her arms. Staring at Elise, she tried to calm the rising tide of dread that crackled through her chest lest Kahler decide to punish her for something so far beyond her control as nightmares.
A shudder rattled through her bones, the creeping chill banished only when Elise was settled on the bed beside her. Careful of all the bandages and miseries, Quinn snuggled Elise close, a splintered purr attempting to calm and soothe. Pale grays flicked aside, lip twitching to show the edge of her teeth as Meghan came near, perhaps to help arrange Elise, maybe to take her away. Taking in too many bodies filling the room, those who didn’t belong near her child, the tension began to build. It vibrated through her chest, a low growl of warning as she tucked Elise closer.
“Out,” Kahler said, voice calm and cold as ever, his gaze remaining fixed on Quinn. He stared at her as she fussed over Elise while people melted away, chin canting when she started to hum a lullaby to the still sniffling girl.
Reaching out, he caught Curtis’ elbow and murmured something to the Beta. Quinn ignored it, concentrating on the slow untwisting of her insides as Elise cooed and babbled. Miserable smile ghosting over her lips, careful fingers eased Elise back when she began to grip and root at Quinn’s shirt. Mouth working, she sought the known comfort.
“Was she still nursing?”
Though the question was soft and attempted not to intrude, it startled Quinn. Unable to believe she’d forgotten his presence, hadn’t felt him come up beside her, she covered Elise with splayed palms. Protective, worried. Afraid. The smallest twitch of her head in negation was all the response Quinn could muster. She’d begun weaning Elise in the hopes of their daring escape, had been forced to stop at Lee’s command. The seeming endless time alone in the hospital.
