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Icouldn’t help but think back to what he said. Rager? I supposed that description was fitting towards what we saw. Shannon and Dave had appeared to be almost in a rage, as if their entire mindset was focused on the primal hunt and the hunt alone.

“Don’t fucking look at her!” Ryder snapped, jarring me from my thoughts. The boys were still facing off with Brad. They all seemed to be trembling with barely suppressed anger.

“She’s injured. Probably bleeding out if her arm is any indication. Why wouldn’t we sacrifice her for the good of us all?”

“Do you fucking hear yourself?” Tam exploded. My sweet, shy Tam. I didn’t like it when he was angry. Everything inside of me wanted to walk over to him and touch him. Soothe him.

“Which one would it be? Those monsters’ lives or that girl’s? You can’t have both.”

“You even try to touch her, and you’ll fucking die,” Calax threatened.

I appreciated him standing up for me, but...

“Maybe he’s right.”

Every head turned my way. Grimacing under their combined stares, I focused on the brace supporting my leg.

“We don’t know how long we’re going to be down here. What if it takes weeks for them to find us? I mean, does anyone know that we’re here? Most people would go to the level just above us because only a select few had keys to this one. Brad’s right that we need the water and food we collected.”

“No fucking way,” Calax hissed.

“Don’t even think about it, Princess.”

Declan just glared.

“I’m injured; that much is obvious. I’ll be lucky if I’m even able to keep this damn leg.” Tears filled my eyes, but I refused, absolutely refused, to let them spill. I met each boy’s stare before turning towards Declan. Towards Ducky. His face was impassive.

“I have done so many horrible things, some of which can never be forgiven. But I can do this. I can save lives. Maybe, just maybe, this will redeem myself enough where I can die without hating myself.”

For a moment, Declan continued to stare at me, face apathetic. The first crack I saw in his front was the trembling of his lips. His eyes began blinking rapidly in an attempt to hold his tears at bay. I watched with rapt attention as he fell to his knees in front of me.

And then he spoke. His voice was hoarse, from years without use, but it was still a voice I loved dearly. It was Ducky’s voice.

“No.”

One word.

Like a domino falling over, the boys took that as indication to move. They surrounded me protectively, eyes throwing daggers at the other occupants in this room.

“No way in hell.”

“Not happening, Kitten. You’re stuck with us.”

“We protect our own.”

Brad sputtered. “It’s her fucking choice whether or not she wants to.” To me, he said, “Don’t be selfish. You have to think about the others.”

“Why don’t you be the bait, then?” Ronan asked. His muscles coiled tight under his shirt, like a snake preparing to attack. I put my hand on his bicep to calm him, and he deflated marginally.

“I’m not injured,” he huffed.

Calax took a menacing step forward. “We could change that.”

“Enough, okay?” I snapped. I tugged at Calax’s arm until he turned to face me. His wild eyes bounced all around me before finally resting on my face. They seemed to have trouble focusing. “Enough.”

“She’s right.” This voice came from an unlikely ally. Elena stepped closer to Brad, head tilted domineeringly. “For now, we are fine. We’ll see how long it takes the cavalry to come. Who knows? The situation might look different tomorrow.”