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HAYLEY
Savage
TWISTING, I SURPRISE Alexander by launching at him. It’s like my body acts without my mind’s consent. I collide into him and hug him with my whole body. I scratch my nails into the back of his neck and bite his throat, using my body as a weapon. I thought I could handle this. I thought I could close myself off from the savage world around me for the sake of my survival, but I can’t. I can’t just let him auction me off like this to men who will make me want to die but force me to live. I’d rather fight and get killed trying to save myself than just accept my fate.
Alexander snarls and tries knocking me away, but a gunshot blasts through the air. He grunts as it hits his shoulder, coming from somewhere in the crowd. A strange vampire tries to snatch me away, managing to sink his fangs into my shoulder. I screech in pain, releasing Alexander from my bite. His blood stains my face, the taste lingering on my tongue.
Unsheathing a dagger, he throws it with perfect accuracy at the fucker who bit me, dropping him to his knees as blood spills from the wound on his neck. Alexander grabs my waist and forces me away, no longer in shock by my attack. He throws me onto the stage and kicks me in the stomach, sending me rolling over and over again until I crash into the legs of one of the security guards.
“Fuck yeah! I love them wild! I’ll give you twenty percent of my barely mature donors!” a man shouts from the crowd. “All healthy and ready to be trained.”
I gasp, trying to suck air into my lungs. Alexander ignores the man, striding across the stage to me. I swing out and try to get the security guard to move, but he doesn’t budge. Flashing his fangs with his fury, Alexander bends down and snatches me by my ankles, spinning me so quickly that all I can do is brace myself to smash into a wall. He drops me to the floor and kicks me again, knocking me to my stomach.
The crowd goes wild, a mixture of laughter and growls filling the air. The security guards manage to stop the fights quickly, but an occasional gunshot rings through the air. I try to find my will to get up. I summon everything in me to continue to fight. But I’m disoriented, my head spinning with dizziness.
Alexander clicks his tongue and steps on my back, squeezing the air from my lungs. “Ruby, baby doll. What do you think you’re doing? You know I don’t like hurting you.”
I sniffle, trying to remain calm. He thinks he can break me, but I’m already broken. I’m damaged goods. All he will do now is light a fire in my soul. Instead of burning, I’ll explode. I’ll blow up and take him out with me.
“Now, be a good doll and get up slowly. Everyone’s anxious.” Alexander flips me onto my back with his foot and extends his hand to me. “Let’s just get this over with. You’ll be happy. These gentlemen plan to let you take good care of them. I know how much you like it.”
I blink, trying not to react. I’ll not only take care of them. I’ll fucking cut their dicks off in their sleep. I’ll be a good little girl, obedient, and on my knees, pretending to please, but they’re not the only savages. I will wait for my chance and strike. All of these fuckers will regret even showing up today.
But I must take care of Alexander first.
Letting him lift me to my feet, I stand for only a second and wait for him to bring his microphone to his mouth. I jerk my hand out and try to snatch the knife from his belt. He catches my wrist and looks at me. I do the only thing I can think of and swing my leg up, kicking him as hard as I can in the balls. The force of my leg sends him into the air a few inches, and he howls in pain. The crowd cheers and shouts, the whole room enjoying me humiliating Alexander in front of La Vega’s toughest assholes.
I don’t wait for him to react.
Dashing away, I run toward the side of the stage. If I can get at least a dozen feet between us, maybe Sawyer can reach me from his spot in the crowd. I know Alexander wouldn’t have let the Bella Crew come in here armed and unescorted by security. They’re probably as far away as they possibly can be.
“Hayley!” Alexander hollers, breaking his role as emcee and auctioneer, turning into the monster he truly is. “You fucking ungrateful donor. You’re going to beg me for mercy.”
I swivel, shading my eyes to peer at the restless crowd, more fights breaking out across the room. A light beams over the audience, and I realize that one of the stage technicians purposefully shines the spotlight where the Bella Crew fights a few of the security guards and steals their weapons.
“Sawyer!” I shout, taking a few steps back to put some distance between me and the four-foot drop that leads to the crowd. “Sawyer!”
This might be the stupidest idea I’ve ever had, but I can hear Alexander growl as he rushes in my direction. The cage falls, blocking his path for a second, and I run as fast as I can and take a flying leap toward the audience. I know there are monsters in the audience. I know one of them could try to kill me, bite me, kidnap me, or worse, but at least I’d have a better chance because I’d be closer to the Bella Crew. If I can get to them—
A heavy body collides into mine, sending me crashing on top of one of the tables. I catch a whiff of Alexander’s bitter cologne as he smashes me to the table. Vampires crowd around us, and dozens of hands touch every part of my body, trying to just get even a feel of my skin. I scream and struggle, squeezing my legs shut, trying to stop them from trying to grope me. Someone slides their hand between my body and Alexander’s heavy weight, grazing their cold fingers over my nipple.
Shrieking, the hand goes limp and warm blood drips down my side. I twist, trying to get a view of what’s happening, and I see a vampire clutching the bleeding stump of his severed hand. Alexander swings his short sword around, getting the audience to back away or risk losing their limbs. Ripping me off the table, Alexander yanks my wig off and tangles his fingers into my hair. He drags me from the table and carries me back to the stage.
Throwing me to the floor, he stomps on my back so hard that the worst pain I’ve felt in my life consumes me. The wave of agony steals my vision, and as hard as I try to get to my feet, I can’t. I can barely breathe.
I pass out. For how long? I have no idea.
Nails bite into my skin, making me bleed. I lie on my back under a bright spotlight that haloes Alexander. He heaves a breath, extending his fangs completely. If he were to sink them into my neck, it would be a kill bite. I know it. I can see the murder flashing in his eyes.
The lights turn off and the shock alarm blares, dropping the crowd with the noise. It cuts off, leaving utter silence in the air. The crowd stops fighting, and the heavy weight of their stares penetrates into me.
“I’ve decided to put a stop to the auction,” Alexander says, his voice booming through the speaker. “All vampires are allowed to submit a bid of any amount over one percent of your donor population, and I will draw out six assholes to split the rest of Ruby’s contract. If one of you kills her, that’s on you.”
I try to get my eyes to focus. I try to pull my thoughts together. But I can’t do anything as Alexander straightens himself up and towers over me.
“You may do so now. Until everyone has a chance to submit a claim for the lottery, I will punish this donor for ruining our event. Take as little or as much time as you need, and enjoy the rest of the show. The Aris Hotel appreciates its guests and those who love Ruby as much as I do.”
The crowd murmurs in uncertainty, but Alexander ignores everyone. Clapping his hands, he summons one of the stagehands, who brings out a chair for him to sit in. Shoving his fingers under me, he jostles my body, and I scream again. I think my back might be broken. Every inch of me blazes with pain that I can’t be certain.
