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Alexander sets me across his lap, ignoring my screech of pain. I black out again, but the relief of nothingness doesn’t last long. Monroe yells directions at someone—maybe Knox, maybe someone else—and his voice gives me something to focus on as Alexander whacks his paddle hard to my ass. The studs shoot pain down my legs and to my toes, and I scream louder, my voice filling the air.
“I never wanted to do this to you, my baby doll. This is your fault. All you had to do is behave like a good girl for daddy, and I wouldn’t have had to resort to this kind of punishment. Your actions have consequences, and you’ll never learn if you don’t have to face them.” Alexander’s sharp voice snaps over me at the same time he hits me with his studded paddle again even harder.
What the fuck? What did he say? I can’t think. It’s too much. I just want to black out again. For the first time, I’m not afraid to die. I just want this misery to be over. I want him to just hurry up and finish my life off. He once said he made me and he can destroy me. So why doesn’t he?
“Kill me,” I say, my voice a whisper. “Just kill me.”
“And waste a future heir? I don’t think so. Once your contracts expire after you’re nice and broken and malleable, I plan to continue the bloodline. You will carry an heir like your mother had.” Alexander whacks me again, knocking his words from my mind, not giving me a chance to process. “I will get what I want in the end.”
“Enough!” Opal’s shout cuts over the pounding in my ears.
The world flies around me, and I fall to the stage and off Alexander’s lap. My vision crowds with shadows, and I squint, watching as two forms blur around me. It takes Opal squatting beside me and pouring her blood into my mouth to bring my senses and concentration back to me. Alexander growls and heaves, panting on his knees with a knife protruding from his stomach.
Opal pets my cheek, combing my choppy strands away from my face. “Hayley, I’m so sorry. I’m a coward. I should’ve fought harder for you. I should’ve never let it get so far.”
I open and close my mouth, but she doesn’t let me speak, filling me up with her blood. I finally get my mouth to cooperate, and I suck her arm, feeling the tingling sensation of her blood blooming in my stomach. The pain in my body lessens the longer I drink, and I blink my eyes clearing the tears from my vision.
“I’m done with the Aris Coven. You’re mine, as well as the other gems, and I’m taking you away from La Vega. I have an ally in a territory who doesn’t allow for the mistreatment of donors but especially women.” Opal scoops me up and cradles me in her arms. “We’re packing up now.”
Her words shock the hell out of me, and I think about what she just said. She has an ally in another area? She’s cutting ties with her coven? We’re leaving La Vega? Whoa. My heart and mind go to war, and all I can think about is how I want to leave but I don’t want to leave Sawyer, Monroe, or Knox. But if it’s this life I have to live? I need to do something for me. I can’t stay.
“Can you stand?” Opal asks, spinning around to face Alexander. She doesn’t wait for me to respond and sets me on my feet and shields me protectively.
“Dear sister, I see that you’ve healed her. How nice of you. I do love extending the punishment. Only half of the vampires have entered the lottery.” Alexander straightens his sparkly tuxedo jacket and leers, showing off his fangs. “Now give her back and I’ll forget what I just heard.”
Opal growls and clutches her dagger. “Run, Hayley. Head backstage. The others are waiting.”
I hesitate for a moment, gripping onto the back of her dress.
“Hayley, go!” she shouts. “Go now!”
I summon my nerve and spin, rushing toward the billowing curtain over the back wall. A man in one of the Aris Hotel staff uniforms waves at me, motioning for me to hurry. My feet slap on the cool stage, and I only glance behind me once to see Alexander and Opal blurring in another fight.
“Hurry, Ms. Aris. There’s no—” A hulking figure materializes behind the vampire staff member and punches his heart out.
I skid to a stop, staring with wide eyes at one of the bastards that Alexander called his coven brother. I scramble away, trying to put space between us. The vampire flashes his fangs and rushes me far too fast for me to comprehend. I trip over a fallen chair and land hard on my back. The guy looms over me, preparing to grab me and hoist me up.
Gunshots ring through the air, and he jerks as his chest is ravaged with bullets. I push on my hands and feet, trying to get back up. He stomps closer again, looking like he’s going to tackle and drain me at any second. Maybe he will. Opal can’t protect me. I don’t even see her.
The man reaches out his arm, bending down to grab me. I stare in shock as another figure swings a blade down so fast that he can’t move. His severed arm lands on top of me, and I screech and throw it, smacking him in the face.
“Gotcha, little bird,” Monroe says, hooking his arms under mine and dragging me off the floor.
Sawyer spins and swings a long sword, one stolen from security, and gets the snarling Aris brother to get back. He gives up and snatches his arm, carrying it away as Sawyer chases him. I release a small sob, my whole body relaxing under the familiarity of Monroe’s embrace.
“I’m sorry I’ve failed you,” he murmurs. “Security was a bitch to get past. I’m going to fucking kill them all though.”
I can’t speak. I can’t find my voice at all. I gasp in breath after breath, wanting nothing more than to beg him to get me out of here.
“Come on, I’m—” Monroe jerks with a holler, and I stare in shock as a blade slices through his throat as someone stabs him in the back of the neck.
His blood spills over me, and I jerk my attention to see the other coven brother of Alexander. Losing his grip on me, Monroe drops me. The asshole catches me and punches Monroe in the face, knocking him off his feet.
“You belong to the Aris Hotel,” he mutters, adjusting me in his arms. “My brother is failing to hold up his duties. I cannot let that happen. You will be sold to pay for our losses.”
I clench my teeth, anger rushing through me. I know better than to fight, but he hurt Monroe. I can’t even see him and if he’s okay. Fisting my hand, I clock the vampire in the nose and use my teeth to bite at his neck. I snap down on his ear, and he jerks away, yowling like a feral cat.
I spit flesh and blood onto the floor and whack him again, aiming for his eyes. He spins and throws me, and I tumble across the stage and right between Opal and Alexander. I curl in on myself, screaming, knowing they’re both going to try to grab me.
