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His finger hooked into the collar of my shirt, stopping my tip backwards.

“The stupidity of humanity will never cease to amaze me.” I audibly swallowed. The corner of his lips slowly lifted like the Cheshire cat. “I would have already killed you if you had not . . . intrigued me. So instead of whining, you should be thanking me.”

He let my clothes go, and fortunately, I’d already caught my balance. I reigned in my flight instinct, since it was bound to trigger my asthma. I inhaled sharply, taking as much oxygen into my chest as possible. Even if I did run, I wouldn’t get far. The dull clicking of my crutch hitting the tile mingled with my puffing breaths.

Ren moved with such ease; it looked like he was almost floating. The top of his head almost reached the high ceilings. I had been so foolish; what had I been thinking trusting fucking vampires? I ground my teeth, sucking in the wracking sob urging to break free. Affection wasn’t something I even thought I wanted. I just wanted to survive, but the possibility of experiencing the sweet gestures—of relaxing in someone’s presence—had been too tempting, and I’d lowered my guard.

But not having to worry about anything wasn’t a privilege I could afford.

“Are you going to kill me? Will you?” I sucked in a lungful of oxygen, and it sent jagged agony into my ribs.

“Not yet.”

His stride didn’t shift. He hooked his arms behind his head and stretched. Such a laid-back air to him while he’d talked about my death.

If this was the end of me, everything was settled for Peter in my will. I’d prepared for my death since I’d escaped the vampire that almost murdered me. My lawyer had a string of instructions to keep him in boarding school abroad and then provide him all the information to my accounts.

The only other person who would reach out to me was my agent because she expected my draft submission.

Other than that, no one would question my disappearance or death. Peter was all I had.

Another thrum of hurt travelled through my chest. I really meant nothing to Asher and Jax. I’d thought it was different between us. Jax had softened toward me—I could have sworn it, but he proved me wrong.

A silent sob wracked my shoulders, and I pressed my lips together to stifle it, keeping my head down as I struggled to keep up with Ren’s wide stride. He stayed a few feet in front of me, compelling any human we crossed.

The low hum of music swelled.

Each step I took not only throbbed through my entire body, but it also enhanced the agony pulsing through my heart.

I’d been such an idiot.

Caring about vampires turned out to be my downfall, and I hated myself for being so weak.

I was nowhere near special to Jax. My eyes dropped to my clenched hand. The vampires next door shouldn’t have this hold on me.

They’d shown their true colors.

Calliope had done me a favor by forcing me to steal the urn. Even though I wasn’t going to go through with it—God, I hadn’teven known what it was, I’d just been lashed with accusations and hateful looks. They didn’t bother hearing me out.

I clenched and unclenched my teeth. The shard of pain that traveled up my arm reached my elbow and I winced. This was a lesson I never should have had to learn, because I never should have allowed myself to weaken to the vampires.

A sad, heart-breaking lesson. They would never have valued a weak, pathetic, useless human. I exhaled slowly.

Jax was right. Who was I kidding?

Finally, the glass panes framing the front door came into view. A few more steps and I’d be exiting my last semblance of safety, but even that was an illusion. Humans could do nothing to them and just as Ren had threatened me with the nurse, he’d kill any other person that tried to get involved. I couldn’t have that on my conscience, so I would meekly follow.

A cool breeze billowed in and flittered my hair around my face.

Ren gripped the back of my neck and guided me toward the vehicle parked along the curb. I hobbled toward it as fast as humanly possible, unwilling to trigger Ren into lashing out.

“In,” Ren ordered, taking the crutch from my hand.

Grunting, I opened the back door and dropped on the edge of the cushion then awkwardly dragged my leg cast in after me. Ren handed me my crutch and slammed the door shut, cutting off the chirping crickets.

THREE

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