I tried to hold onto Wolf’s voice, but a deep-seated fear threatens my grip.

The claws curled into my brain flex, and I moaned at the pain.

Now Iceman is crouched in front of me, his fingers brushing against the side

of my face as he traces Ellery’s marks. I flinch from his touch. His smile widens

and Wolf slips further out of reach.

The monster in my head rips at me again, and a coppery taste fills my mouth.

I spit out the blood and snarl in defiance, even as mocking laughter takes over.

There was nowhere to hide. Nowhere the claws couldn’t reach. No matter what I

try to get him out, he bats me away like a cat with a mouse.

I was losing.

Iceman’s hand rose again, and I flinched back. “Don’t touch me!”

Desperate to get away, I yanked against the bonds shackling my hands. They

won’t budge and my fear rockets. Water drips from my face, and Tito’s laughter

mixes with Iceman’s frigid voice. “You’re going to do what I want, aren’t you,

Cyn?”

Pain surpasses levels I didn’t know existed. Blackness curls around the edges

of my consciousness, luring me with a false escape.

Too much, it was too much.

Something flows around me, dragging me out and away from the pressure

and pain. “I’ve got you, baby. Shh…” It took a moment for Kayden’s familiar voice to break through the overwhelming nightmare. “Hold on to me, I got you.”

Little by little, the weight of arms holding me tight replace the horror lurking

on the edges. As Kayden becomes more and more real, so does the feel of his solid chest under my cheek and his unique spice of sunshine and man. The sensations curl around me and add another anchor. I burrowed into the safety he’s offering and mumble against him, “We’ve got to stop doing this.”

Despite my voice being muffled, he heard me. “Can you finish this?”

I didn’t want to. No one sane would, but we needed to know what the hell Iceman put in my head. I just didn’t want to do it by myself. “You sticking around?”

“Not leaving until you’re done.”

I nodded. “Where’s Wolf.”

“Right here.”

I lifted my head and found him standing next to us. Concern darkened his face. “You sure you’re up for this?”

“Finish it.”

The glow around us dimmed, and the nightmare reformed. This time, with

Kayden and Wolf beside me, it was easier to fight the pull. The two men would

not let the emotional and physical sensations suck me under.

Iceman had my chin in his hand, and although is voice echoed around us, his

mouth didn’t move. “You’re not going to let your team take Ellery alive. The minute an opportunity presents itself, you will kill him, and anyone who tries to

stop you. Do you understand?”

“Why?” My voice was dull.

“He betrayed my employers. Betrayal is not tolerated.”

“Your bosses sound like assholes.” Go me. “I don’t work for assholes.”

The crack of Iceman’s hand on my face registered before his movement did.

“No, you work for incompetents. Too bad you chose the wrong team. Your

future would be so much different.”

The monster in my head tore deeper, but the sensation stayed out of reach, so

I was able to ignore it this time. “You know if you had just asked me nicely to

kill Ellery, I may have considered it. Now?” With my hands behind my back, my

shrug was awkward. “I don’t think so.”

Even with the emotional distance still holding strong, Iceman’s smile curdled

my blood. “You’ll change your mind.”

Again, the monster flexed his talons in my head. The move had fresh blood

dripping from my nose. “Nope, don’t think so.”

The pleasant laugh was disconcerting. It left me unprepared for Iceman’s