AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Zan wouldn’t—” I cut myself off, thinking carefully about what to say. I couldn’t be completely sure of my words, but I had to have some hope for this fucked-up situation. “He wouldn’t force pregnancy on me. He might be a Kane, but he has some humanity, unlike his father.”
“Amaros might not give him a choice in the matter,” she mumbled almost too low for me to hear.
My eyes locked on hers. “What does that mean?”
She pressed her lips together, her expression going blank. Whatever secret she was holding wasn’t something she was going to reveal. I sagged in the chair, her answers making my head spin. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to know anymore secrets, because each one seemed worse than the last.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, changing the subject. “I’m sure I have some snacks in here somewhere.”
I shook my head. “I’m good, thanks.”
“Just relax,” she said softly. “We’ll stay here until Amaros leaves.”
I wanted to keep asking questions, but apparently, she was done with that conversation. I played with the charm on the necklace as I looked around her room again. It was so calming in here. The bright colors were so different from everything else in this city.
I blew out a long breath, steadying my nerves. At least I wouldn’t have to see Amaros again tonight. I’d be happy to never be in the same room with him ever again, but I had a feeling that wouldn’t happen.
Chapter 15
Zan
Idowned the shot before setting the empty glass on the bar and just grabbing the whole damn bottle. Even straight whiskey wasn’t touching the emotions that were strangling me. Pax was sitting beside me on the stool while Viggo was behind the bar, making himself a drink.
My eyes drifted to the counter where the woman was lying. Her body was in front of me, her head close to the edge. Amaros was leaned over her, feeding from her neck. Blood trailed down her throat, dripping onto the counter. She was still struggling, and Viggo saved his glass a second before she kicked again. Amaros had gotten her from the back room. She was one of the humans we’d kept in the cages. Her life shouldn’t matter to me. It didn’t fucking matter to me. But knowing how Kali would react to this had my limbs heavy.
“Here.” Viggo tossed a bottle at me, and I caught it before it smacked me in the face. “You need something better for tonight.”
I glanced at the scotch before pouring it down my throat. Alcohol affected vampires, but not as intensely as humans. It took much more for us to even feel buzzed. Not that I needed that right now. When Kali came back, she was going to be murderous. I had no doubt that she would actually try to stake me if given the chance. I couldn’t be distracted around her at all. Yet I never seemed to have a clear fucking head whenever she was near me.
Amaros lifted his head, his hold staying firmly on the woman’s wrists to keep her on the counter. Blood ran down his chin as he licked his lips.
“Go ahead, Zan.” He released the woman, and she froze for a moment before swinging her legs to try and escape off the counter. “I’m full.”
My movements were instinctual as I snatched the blonde’s arm, yanking her toward me before she got far. Her shrill scream was shrouded with panic, and she flailed against me as I dragged her off the counter. I stood up, the stool scraping the floor.
I trapped her arms to her sides, pulling her closer until her back collided with my chest. My father’s bite was still bleeding, and I pushed her hair to the side, revealing the uninjured part of her throat. By now she was begging. Pleading for her life. Her screams echoed around the club, but I ignored it as I slid my fangs out. The second I broke her skin, her fighting increased, even though she wasn’t near strong enough to break my hold.
My stomach twisted as I sucked, her blood pouring into my mouth. My mind was elsewhere, and I didn’t even taste it as I fed. Eating was the last thing I wanted to do right now. But Amaros hadn’t missed how I acted around Kali. He was already pissed about it. I wasn’t about to do anything else to make him think I wasn’t following his orders.
Growing up, we were taught that the needs of vampires and our Kane name always came first. What my father wanted us to do, we did without hesitation. When I stood between him and Kali in the back room, I could tell the small pause before stepping aside was enough to make him want to keep a closer eye on me. And I really didn’t want to add to that by denying to feed when he offered.
“I want you three to get into Project Hope to see what they’re hiding in that building,” Amaros stated, using a cloth to wipe his chin. “Since Kali is from there, maybe she can help.”
“Sure, Dad,” Viggo said smoothly. “We’ll get it done.”
I didn’t say a word, still drinking. Her heartbeat was getting weaker, her fight nearly gone. Amaros had practically drained her. Probably a good thing that she died now. Amaros would only torture her more if I left her alive.
“I’m serious.” Amaros’s stare lingered on me. “And once that is done, I’d like the three of you to come visit the property. We have more to plan.”
“We’ll let you know when we finish,” Pax muttered, his gaze staying on the drink in front of him.
“Bring Kali.”
His order nearly had me choking on the blood. My family’s property was the last place I wanted her to go. Anger jolted through me, and I closed my eyes, reining it back in. Amaros had a special interest in Kali, and I didn’t fucking like it. I planned to keep her far away from him.
“She’s the perfect choice,” Amaros said, repeating the words he’d said in front of her earlier. “You should be able to mate within the year. Make sure it happens.”
The woman’s heartbeat was nonexistent now. I pulled my fangs out of her flesh, holding her limp body in my arms. Warm blood coated my lips, and I set her body on the counter before lifting the hem of my shirt and swiping it down my face.
