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The next time I woke, I was no longer in the cage. Instead, I found myself strapped down to a cold, metal table, my heart pounding in my chest like a caged animal fighting to escape. That’s exactly what I felt like, too. Panic clawed at the edges of my mind as I frantically searched the room for any sign of Jax, or a possible escape route, but to no avail. A bright light shone above, casting the rest of the room in shadow.
“Ah, you're awake,” a cold voice purred.
I jerked my head back and saw Tomas Hawthorne looming over me, a predatory grin etched on his face. His fingers trailed across my cheek, leaving an icy, sickening sensation in their wake. My body tensed, and I flinched from his touch as much as my restraints allowed.
“Get away from me,” I said hoarsely.
“Feisty, aren't you?” He chuckled, seemingly unfazed by my defiance. “Well, I have good news for you, my dear. You are exactly what we've been searching for.”
His glee sent a shiver down my spine. Whatever he had planned couldn't be good. The thought made my stomach churn with dread.
“What do you mean?” I said. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to know, but I had to ask.
He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my face, making me want to gag. “You see, we knew there was something special about you. Your blood, your DNA… it's all part of the puzzle. It took us a while to locate the specific strand we needed, but we finally did it. Of course, altering the serum so it wouldn't destroy the strand entirely was a bit tricky, but we managed.”
“Serum?” I tried to hide the fear in my voice, but this only seemed to fuel his excitement.
“You'll find out soon enough,” he said, his malicious grin widening. “Wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise, now, would I? Just know that you're the key to unlocking a power beyond your wildest dreams.”
I wanted to scream, to plead for my life and beg him to let me go, but something inside of me refused to give him the satisfaction. Instead, I glared at him, conveying all the hatred and anger boiling within me.
“Whatever you're planning, it won't work,” I said. “Evan, Sebastian—they’ll stop you, and when they do, you'll pay for everything you've done.”
Tomas laughed, a high, cruel sound which echoed through the sterile room. “We'll see about that, my dear.”
The sterile room seemed to close in as Tomas leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with twisted satisfaction.
“Your DNA is truly fascinating,” he said, drawing out the word. “Not only is it compatible with dragon DNA, but it also reacts positively to wolf DNA. It's not as effective as the dragon compatibility, but it will be more than enough.”
More than enough for what? I tried to comprehend what he was saying, but my thoughts were foggy and slow from exhaustion, fear, and whatever they might’ve been drugging me with. My throat felt dry, but I managed to say, “Why are you doing this?”
“It’s simple, really.” His smile grew wider and more sinister by the second. “There are some very powerful and wealthy men in this world who’d pay their entire fortune for the power and strength that comes with being a shifter, and thanks to your unique DNA, I can grant them such abilities. For a price.”
“Money?” I spat. “You're risking innocent lives for money?”
“Oh, my dear, are you really so naïve?” Tomas said condescendingly, shaking his head. His fingers brushed against my cheek, and I jerked back at his touch. “I’m already wealthier than you could possibly imagine, but once I have more, I'll show Sebastian what true power looks like. He won’t stand a chance, and he'll regret ever, ever crossing me.”
He paused, his gaze wild, and I realized in that moment just how mad Tomas Hawthorne really was. All of this for some twisted vendetta, some imagined wrongdoing. Sebastian had never gone after Tomas, but Tomas had created his own skewed version of history in his mind.
But then he snapped back into his cool, controlled demeanor, lingering on me as if he was savoring the moment. “Of course, let's not forget, my dear, this all hinges on whether or not your body accepts the serum. I really do hope you don't die.” He clucked his tongue. “Otherwise, all of this would be for nothing.”
In that moment, I hated him more than I ever thought possible. I hated him with every fiber of my being. My heart hammered, and I wished more than anything that I had the strength to break free from these restraints and make him pay for what he'd done. Instead, I could only lie there, weak and defenseless, as he continued to torment me.
“Sebastian will find you,” I said through gritted teeth. “He won't let you get away with this.”
“Sebastian,” Tomas said, sneering. “He hhas no idea what he’s up against.”
I swallowed hard but forced myself to speak. “What about Jax? Where did you take him? What did you do to him?”
“Ah, your little friend, and my biggest disappointment.” Tomas waved his hand dismissively. “Dead. Tried to be the hero and got what he deserved.”
A sharp pain pierced my chest at the idea of Jax being gone. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You're a monster,” I said. “You murdered your own son?”
Tomas only laughed. “Save your judgment, my dear. You'll soon understand that we all have a role to play in this world.”
The door creaked open, and a tall, gaunt man entered the room. The doctor. His appearance sent shivers down my spine. He was like a living ghost, his skin stretched tightly over his bones, and his eyes sunken and hollow. I wondered if the man had ever been the subject of his own experiments. My breath hitched when I realized what he held: a large syringe, filled with an ominous-looking liquid. It was thick, like plasma, and had a glow to it.
“Time for your treatment, Mariah,” Tomas said with a twisted smile. “As long as your body accepts the serum, you soon won't be so weak anymore.”
