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Theo stares at me, wild-eyed. "And they are planning on conducting science experiments on Avery? On all of us?"
I nod, glancing over at Grey. "We've managed to stop it the past few months, but they will be getting desperate. Charitable donations aren't enough to cover the maintenance costs to run this place. That's why I inventedCirque des Morts—to stop them."
"Where's Avery?" he spits out, looking at Christopher. "Where the fuck is she right now?"
Christopher looks at us with a troubled glance. "She's with Dr. Elsher, I believe."
Grey shoves him out of the way, heading toward the library doors. Theo and I quickly follow, Christopher tailing us.
As we barrel into the corridor, I spot Jillian, darting toward us with a panicked expression.
"Damon!" she shouts, skidding to a halt in front of me. "We've lost access to the cameras. Everything has gone offline. They've taken back control."
My stomach drops. I swing my head to look at Grey, trepidation on both of our faces. "Find her—right fucking now."
Chapter 33
Avery
I wake up, a storming cloud lingering over my head that rivals the one outside.
Last night was surreal. There's no other words to describe it.
I saw a side of Grey that I've never seen before—but I guess always knew was there.
Is that what Sam saw before his life was cut short? Is that the beast that lurks below the playful, flirty man I've grown to love?
The reason question is—why am I unfazed by it?
I'm no stranger to death. I've taken a life before, even if it was by accident. But to physically witness someone being murdered—no, tortured—is a sight I'll never forget.
It's conflicting, terrifying… yet at the same time, he was protecting me… protecting us.
Normal people would run screaming in the other direction, but I think it's become apparent that I'm not normal. Maybe I was in the past, before my life was subject to hatred and harm. I don't know who I was back then, I don't even remember it.
The few fleeting memories I have of better times were solely experienced with my mother and Paige. Any other happy times have been here at Lilydale, with people like Grey.
My Grey.
My monster and protector.
I was so terrified that he was going to leave when I told him about Damon. I was scared that I was going to rip them apart, disintegrating a brotherly bond. But I couldn't keep this from him. I've worked so hard to regain his trust. In return, he's made a huge effort to include Theo—like in the library.
A relationship has to go both ways, and I owed him the truth.
I just never expectedthatreaction from him.
By the time he dropped me back to my room, he was his usual happy self again. If he wasn't covered in blood, you'd never know that he had just brutally ended a life.
He fucked me in blood.
I wish I knew where the term cold-blooded came from because it's certainly not relatable to humans, no matter what people joke. It's warm, thick… and staining.
My bloodied clothes are shoved under my mattress, the evidence of our late night adventure. I have to figure out how to get rid of them, but I'm sure Grey will know what to do.
There's a knock on my door as a guard pushes it open, looking at me lazily as he gestures for me to follow him.
It's time for my appointments, and I follow suit, the guard leading me to Dr. Markel's office.
