Page 144 of Primal

His hand stays steady.

The rhythm doesn’t change, but I do—cracking under the weight of his quiet, bloody defiance.

This is him telling me—I’ve got you.

Even with a blade in his hand and a gun to his head. Even while they watch.

“Harder.” Amanda slams her hand over his.

The hilt knocks deeper. My jaw snaps tight. A grunt rips free.

Kade wrenches it out.

My eyes sting. My chest fractures.

He’s hurting for me. Bleeding to stay gentle.

Those gloved fingers lace through his blood-slick ones. The more Amanda grinds down, the deeper the blade bites into his palm.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Blood hits the altar between my thighs—warm. Real.

Make it stop. Make it fucking stop.

I rock my hips, hitch my breath—anything to get that fucking blade out of his hand.

My body won’t obey. Every shudder’s stiff, each gasp hollow.

Kade’s holding back. Holding her off. Holding me together.

Me? I’m putting on a goddamn show while he bleeds behind the curtain.

“What’s the matter, Thirteen?” Amanda hisses. “Scared you’ll like it too much?”

She pushes again, rougher.

This time Kade moves—a controlled shift, his shoulder pressing into hers, forcing her off balance.

“You want to play? Then play with me.”

Derek laughs. “Oh, now he’s got a spine.”

Amanda recovers fast, grinding Kade’s fingers deeper into the blade. Her snout nudges his ear. “Finish her.”

Fuck it. Fuck them all.

I reach between my legs and smear the blood—Kade’s blood.

Look at me. Look at what you made me do.

My fingers aren’t working. Can’t feel it. But I keep trying. Can’t stop. Not when Kade’s dying.

“Kade …” I stare into those eyeholes. “Touch me.”