“You are lovely. It almost makes me feel bad about this.”
“Wha?” My tongue feels too big for my mouth. I sway.
“Close your eyes. It’ll be over soon.” I open my mouth to call out for help, and the floor rushes up to greet me.
“Be quiet before you wake her.”
“So paranoid. That dose will keep her out for hours.”
“She doesn’t seem worth the fuss,” a masculine voice says.
I keep my breathing even and my muscles loose I try to gain more info about my captors and surroundings. How the hell had they gotten past my mates?
“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” a distorted voice accompanies a dark energy. “She’s the one thing that stands between us and what we’ve worked for all these years.”
The feeling in the room changes. An uneasy silence falls as uneven steps move closer. “This will be better for everyone. She was never meant for the role they’re trying to place her in.”
“What should we do?”
“Hold her here for now.” The man shuffles away. A door closes and the two in the room exhale.
“He scares the hell out of me.” I recognize the voice of the seamstress.
“Pretty sure that’s his life goal. He’s the monster his master made him.”
“And yet, you continue to serve him.” The woman doesn’t sound impressed.
“I believe in the vision. I’m tired of living in the shadows.”
They smell strange, like wolves, but not quite. What are you? The chemical stench warring with the natural musk of wolves sets my teeth on edge.
“I’m going to make the rounds,” the male stands and exits.
How long have I been out? Where did they take me? Overheated, sweat gathers on my nape and forehead. My body is working hard to purge the drugs they pumped into my system. I thank Fenrir for the gift that could only come from him.
A door opens and closes. I’m alone with the seamstress. She’s a slight woman, but I’m not sure how much strength I can generate, or what the odds of escape are.
I only have one shot at this. I take stock of my stiff limbs and the lingering haze. Arms tied behind my back; I’m gagged. My back aches from the hard cold surface they laid me on.
I risk cracking my eyes. The seamstress is seated with a book.
Stark and barren, the off-white walls offer nothing to defend myself with, but I know one one-on-one is better than two against one.
One, two, three. Launching myself off the table, I contort my body to slam my head into her gut. She doubles over, sliding off the chair on top of me. Her head bounces off the ground, and I shake her off me and struggle to my feet.
Moving to the door, I turn and fumble with the doorknob. It opens and I step into a dark hallway. I trust my gut and take a left, running full out. The scuffle and escape raised the alarm. Doors open behind me.
I scan the area, looking for what might be an exit. Spotting a stairwell, I push myself to run faster and take them two steps at a time. I hit the bottom. There’s a door. Heart in my throat, I run toward it and a body plows me down.
A strangled gasp leaves my lips as the air rushes from my lungs. A severely scarred face appears before me.
“Tried to make this easy.” His voice is smokey and gravel-filled like he’s smoked since birth. I wiggle, trying to break free. The stench of smoke and sulfur clings to him.
“Start the ritual now,” he barks. He stands and hefts me over his shoulders, pinning my legs to his body. Others approach, all dressed in black.
He opens a door, and the temp drops as we travel down into a basement. When we reach the landing, he tosses me onto the ground and the unyielding concrete breaks my fall.
Chanting begins. Shadows peel from the walls. Vaguely humanoid shapes float toward me. Those in the circle smell almost like wolves, but something is off.
Pulse racing, a wrenching tear starts at my belly button. There’s a pop and my energy and power begin to leak out.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this.” The horrific voice sounds broken. I fight against the drain.
“Stop,” he demands.
Never. Tears sting my eyes. The creatures move closer, blotting out the light. Frozen to the core, I reach out to my mates through the tentative bond we’ve formed.
The chanting grows louder around me, making the link fuzzy.
“No,” I scream against the gag.
“Make it easier and give up. They hate you. Why are you fighting so hard for them?”
How could he possibly know that? Is he trying to prey on my insecurities?
I ignore his taunting. The strange beings dig invisible claws into my aura and try to rip me apart.
