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“You’re nothing.” Her teeth slash at my neck, but don’t bite down. “Zavier would never settle for you when he can have me, a perfect being that matches him. You areweak. A pathetic waste of life source. You’rehuman. No sane vampire wants to be mated to a fucking human. You are the cockroaches of this world. Do you understand me? Dirty and fucking useless.”

A whimper slides past my lips before I can stop it as she squeezes my throat.

Stars flood my vision when she reopens my head wound by slamming my skull against the stone floor. She doesn’t stop there though and drags her nails down the side of my face, leaving a bloody trail in her wake. The sting is sharp, and I know it’ll likely scar with how deep the gouges are.

“I might not be able to kill you yet, because I’m not done getting what I need from you, but that doesn’t mean I can’t rough you up a bit.” She stands and dangles me just above the floor. I claw at her tight grip, fighting for air. She laughs, the sound mocking and cruel. “Truly, how could Zavier everwant something as pathetic as you. I’m barely doing anything and you’rethisclose to dying.” She tilts her head at me in an unnerving, predatory way.

Just when I think I’m going to pass out, she drops me like a doll and I collapse, sputtering on the ground. My throat burns as I suck in a sharp lungful of air. A kick to my ribs steals what little air I’ve managed to take in.

“Leave her alone,” Valen’s deep voice grates from the side.

“What are you going to do about it? Stuck in a cage withering away, it’s pathetic honestly.” Genevieve walks away from me to taunt Valen. “And here I thought you were meant to be powerful.” She reaches through the bars and grabs ahold of his cheeks, her nails digging in like she’d done with mine before throwing him away. “I’d think it was all a lie if I hadn’t seen the proof with my own eyes.”

Using this opportunity to my advantage while she’s distracted, I crawl my way over to the door to my cell where it remains ajar from her entrance. My arms shake at the effort, but I keep dragging myself along. I will not die here. I will not let her be the reason for the end of my existence. If I go down, I’m going down with a fight. I’ve never balked at a challenge, so why should I now?

“Your time will come,” Valen replies cryptically. “It’s quite sad, you take to harming an innocent human simply because a man told you no.” He flips back over to face the wall and dismisses Genevieve. I can practically see the smoke coming out of her ears.

Reaching a hand up to touch the lock, she speeds over and slaps me down. My knees scream in pain at the sudden contact with the stone beneath me, and she presses my forehead flush to the floor.

“Think you’re slick? You and your new buddy here? I’m always a fucking step ahead. Remember that.” Genevieve stepsout of my cell and slams the door behind her before turning the lock.

More footsteps echo through the chamber and a deep voice calls from up above.

“Look at that, Valentine. Collection time.” She doesn’t spare us another glance and skips away back to wherever the fuck she lurks when she’s not taunting us.

Before long, a bulky vampire I’ve never seen before drags Valen out of his cell. He doesn’t put up a fight, but we lock eyes. The fear and shattered spirit in his gaze breaks my heart. I try to communicate that I’m here and it’ll be okay. We’re in this shitty situation together and I finally have the upper hand. His eyes widen slightly, and I nod to confirm I have a plan before he disappears. Well … perhaps not aplanmore of an idea of one, but it’s better than nothing.

Genevieve probably thought my sad attempt at reaching the door was to leave, but I managed to place a small pebble in the lock. It was my hope that her own hubris would keep her from realizing what I was actually up to.

Testing my theory, I feel hope for the first time since I was taken when it opens at my push.

I breathe out a sigh of relief and shove my hands in my pockets for warmth. A crinkling catches my attention, and I pull out a wadded-up piece of paper. My brow wrinkles as I unfold it and a sob catches in my chest when I see it’s a note from Zav. He must’ve stuck it in my pocket when he ripped off the sliver from his notebook at the police station.

You look hot as fuck in those jeans, sweet thing.

—Zav

Also known as Zav Daddy or Zaddy.

Despite my situation, a laugh rips out of me, and a tear catches on my jawline.

I kiss the note and put it back in my pocket.

I’m getting the hell out of here, and I’m taking Valen with me.

CHAPTER 47

ZAVIER

Apink explosion greets me when I walk into my apartment. Ava’s taken up temporary residence in it since I refuse to sleep anywhere but in Celine’s bed. Her apartment is also on the other side of town, so it made sense for her to camp here.

I’ve not been gone long, only popping over to Luna for a fresh blood supply and to check in with my contact, and she’s already made herself at home. It’s not like the apartment was ever really mine to begin with, so I don’t mind.

Over the past few days Ava and I have poured over maps of the city and stayed in contact while we walked and drove the routes. She did the latter since I didn’t want her in any danger, while I could reach places with my speed and strength that would be impossible for her. So far, our search hasn’t provided any answers and we both grow antsier by the minute. The fact Celine’s kidnapper has gotten the jump on my guys is unheard of. They’re too good.

I feel my sanity floating away bit by bit, and Ava has given me more than one side glance of worry. I’d never hurt her, I know how important she is to Celine, plus she’s grown on me, but I struggle with her presence. We’re far more alike than I everthought I’d admit. Celine has a good friend in Ava. The only time she isn’t actively searching for Celine is when she’s at work. But she’s immediately back at it as soon as she’s done.

As time keeps passing, we used the excuse of Celine’s dad needing her because it didn’t make sense to keep saying she was too sick for work.