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“No. I want you here, suffering. Knowing that you can do nothing as she dies in the arms of Jaxon.”

“Imogen,” I snarled. “Free me.”

“I saved you from the slums you and your brother came from. I made you a predator. And this is how you both repay me? I would kill you now, but I want you to live with knowing you will never escape me. Both of you will suffer. And it all starts with the dead bitch upstairs.” She began to walk away. I tried to turn, anything, but it was no use.

“No,” I roared as her tittering laugh disappeared. Helplessness ate my insides. “Catalina!” I tried to move my fingers, but nothing.

I staggered forward so suddenly I almost tipped face down on the cement. Catching myself, I was up at the front house and zooming into the foyer.

A deep, soul-wrenching tormented bellow echoed from upstairs. I was in my room within seconds. My veins went cold. Jax huddled over the bed, clasping Catalina to his chest. Her legs spread limp under him, her spine curved up where he held her to him, but her head . . . it lolled—lifeless.

No. Impossible. I blinked. No, she couldn’t be dead. Imogen was just trying to set me off. But why wasn’t she moving?

I was shaking my head as I approached.

“Pet?” I croaked.

Jax turned and hissed at me, his eyes blood-red. He clutched her tight to his chest, backing away like he was guarding a meal. Her body flopped in his arms.

“You’re going to hurt her.” His arms tightened around her even more. If he continued like this, he would split her frail human body in half. “Release her—now. We can help her,brother,” my voice lowered cajolingly. Jaxon didn’t back up when I approached this time.

Red faded from his eyes and a stricken look crossed his face. His eyebrows furrowed and he looked down at her. “I-I tried to give her blood. I tried.” He trailed off. Her face was smeared with blood to the point of it being unrecognizable. My nose burned and the pressure spread to my eyes.

I gingerly touched my face.

I had not cried since I was a human. I slowly slid my arms under her body, taking her from Jax and propping her up more securely.

“She’s not going to die,” I said, resolute. She would not die. I nodded, agreeing with myself.

Jax dropped to the chair beside the bed. He fixed his attention on the wall across from him. He didn’t move.

“You will be okay, Pet,” I said to her, smoothing her hair.

Her death wasn’t an option. She would beat the odds and turn into a vampire. I would not be able to survive her leaving me, I would not want to. Bruises littered her body, and her body was broken down—weak. I lowered her onto the mattress.

“Catalina,” I whispered near her ear. “You will be okay. I will take care of you.” I stretched out her arms at her side. “We’ll get you cleaned up.”

FIFTEEN

tobias

Asher had not returnedfor us in the car. It was supposed to be a minute long wait, but time stretched more than it should have.

“Something is wrong.”

Ren grunted, standing at the threshold of the duplex.

“Darius, give me your car keys.”

“Yes, Sire.” Darius hurried away, and was back within seconds. He tossed Ren the keys.

“Let’s go.”

I followed Ren to the truck, and he revved it on. The tires bumped and bounced across the asphalt.

“Did you bring your phone?”

“No,” Ren answered. And I’d left mine in the basement room. I ran my hand through my hair. Asher wouldn’t disappear like this without reason. Ren cruised beside Saphire Lounge and our vehicle was gone.