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I tried to remain cool though my heart rate picked up and my head began to pound. “So. We’re back here again.” I spoke as nonchalantly as possible as I wandered over to the wall closest to me and sat down on one of the twin single beds.
When no-one else said anything, I twisted around and lay down on my back with my head on the pillow. “Cool.”
“What do you want from us now?” Xander demanded, his words barely discernible above the growl in his vocal cords.
I didn’t lift my head to indicate I gave a shit about the conversation. I just listened. I tucked my hands under my head on the pillow and stared up at the starless ceiling. I didn’t like the feeling of being underground. The panic in my chest was like an ever-present weight. A threat of things to come.
But I could not come undone. Not now. Not even later. I refused to let this asshole win. I breathed slowly and deeply, and listened to Xander and the high warlock.
“I want your blood,” the high warlock said, as though what he asked for was nothing. He sounded like a bad-movie version of a vampire.
“You already got it,” Xander said. “Twice.”
“Oh, I need a lot more than that.” The warlock spoke with a slight chuckle. “I need to stay with my wife this evening. She gets scared when she doesn’t see me.”
Oh, I bet.
“But I’ll be back in the morning for the Beta’s blood. I think it’s best if I alternate between the two of you. You’ll last longer that way.”
I closed my eyes against the sense of hopelessness his words brought with him. He talked about us like he never intended to let us go. Michael and Monique had been right. This guy would never let us leave. If we couldn’t find a way out of here, we’d be drained of our blood until we were dry.
I rolled onto my side. “Hey. Where are we?”
The warlock turned to me, then blinked a couple of times like he’d forgotten I could still speak. “I beg your pardon?”
“Where are we?” I asked again, gesturing to the dark, plush surroundings. “I mean... it’s pretty obvious that we can’t get out of here. There’s no window or door, but I was just wondering. Like... are we under your house in a cellar sort of thing? Or are we like... in another realm altogether? Coz that would be cool.”
It took all the strength inside of me to make light of the fact the man had imprisoned us with the plan to hold us here till we died. But we needed information. God knew when we’d be able to use it, but still. I wanted to knowsomethingat least.
His mouth twisted as though he found my question funny.
I sat up and swung my legs off the bed. “Come on, Thomas,” I said, using his name for the first time. “You’ve got us here. We can’t fight you. You know that, and so do we. At least tell us where we are.”
He waited for a moment, then inclined his head as though partially agreeing. “Your first guess was correct. You are in a magical room beneath my house. No-one else knows about this room, and no-one ever will.”
I tried not to gasp, or show any signs of worry, but I was pretty sure he heard the swift intake of my breath.
He frowned suddenly, then swiped his hand through the air. “But if it is a window you seek...” The wall to my right changed and I stared in awe as the high warlock created a window in the wall.
I gaped at it. There had to be earth on the other side of the wall and yet, through the glass pane, I could see a sunset and a small cottage in the distance.
“How...”
“If you give me what I want, I will make sure you are comfortable.”
I turned back to look at him, and Xander growled loudly. “And if we don’t?”
The warlock’s smile was mocking as he said, “Then I will make sure you are very uncomfortable.”
Xander took a step toward him and Thomas grinned widely. The grin was terrifying rather than jovial. “And if that doesn’t work... well... I will make Monique, very very uncomfortable.”
That had me sitting up and Xander freezing. Triumph lit up the warlock’s dark eyes. “Yes... you both care for her. But you cannot help her. Not from here.”
Xander’s growl reverberated through the room, a warning that his wolf was ready to jump forth. But it was too late to shift and attack. The warlock clicked his fingers and he disappeared into thin air.
We were alone.
I groaned and threw myself back onto the bed, rolling onto my side to look out the window while it still existed.
