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What the hell kind of crazy is she on right now?
"What—"
My words are cut off as a bag is jerked over my head, and a spell binds me, turning me as stiff as a board. I can only struggle internally because my body can't move—I'm paralyzed, damn it.
I try to curse her, say anything, but the spell they've used has muted me. I start chanting inside my head, desperate to break free, but I'm met by darkness before the first line can be said.
Being chained up and as cold as a human in the winter isn't pleasant, but at least I'm alive.
"’Bout time you woke up," an impossibly familiar voice says, chilling me to my core.
I look up, squinting against the darkness. When I finally see him, my breath leaves my lungs in a gasp. I scramble backwards until I slam into
the wall, shaking my head in disbelief, as I stare at the blond-haired ghost.
I'm dead. Oh fuck. I'm dead and in a different plane.
"You're not dead," he says, seeming to read my mind as the chains rattle around his wrists. He rests his head back against the cold stone as he licks a drop of blood from his lip. "And neither am I."
It takes me a second to even attempt to speak, but when I do, it's hoarse and strained. "I saw you. Bound, shredded, and... and... fucking dead! How—-"
"You saw a changer who looked exactly like me, smelled exactly like me, and even dressed in my clothes. These people are good. They are both genius and stupid. They left behind something as a way to crush all doubt that it might not be me, but it's what they've been looking for."
He lets out a low chuckle, either delirious or amused—I'm not sure. Quite frankly, I'm questioning my damn sanity right now.
"Why—"
"There are things you don't know, Gage. Things about me, about who I am, about what I can do. Ever wonder why I'm so fucking strong? Well, not everyone overlooked it. I should have kept my secret better. Apparently Alyssa and Kane exposed themselves as well. They know everything."
What does he mean about Kane's secret? "They know about Alyssa? You know about Alyssa?"
"I do now. I've overheard chatter through the pipes when I strain real damn hard. The ring leader found out several years ago when a night stalker fed from Alyssa's veins. He lived. Her blood gave him so much strength, and the high he was on almost carried him over the edge. It's also how they figured out about Kane. Because he never hit such a high—he was too strong to be driven to that side of madness."
Kane. Why does he keep mentioning that fucking night stalker?
"What about Kane?" I finally ask, trying to get him to stop hinting and just blurt out whatever it is he has to say.
"You should be more worried about why you're in here."
I swallow hard, still trying to fully grasp the fact that he's here, alive, in front of my fucking face.
"Why am I here?"
He turns to me, letting his sad smile slip free before his jaded words fall out with a heavy blow. "Because someone fucked up, underestimated our little creature goddess. She fucked their plans up real damn good. They can't use me because she'd never believe it's really me. They need you there as a distraction—when they try to kill her again."
Chapter 21
Alyssa
The hangover from hell wakes me up with the most ruthless touch I've ever felt. When did I get drunk?
As I sit up, a wave of memories or dreams wash over me, stinging me, stealing my air, and burning my mind as they ravage me and place themselves at the roots. I gasp for air, and then I scramble in the bed, searching for the body that's not here.
"Kane!" I scream, praying that was a rush of memories and not dreams. "Kane!"
"Hey," he says, running into the room.
I launch myself from the bed and he catches me midair. I sob for so many reasons as I cling to him, and he holds me almost too tight.
