Page 66 of A Madness of Crows

He pauses in front of her, frowning as if genuinely disappointed. “There will be a price, of course.”

“I will pay it.”

Cat’s eyes widen in horror as I push forward, straining against that grip. “I’ll pay whatever price you want, Salvatore. Don’t touch her.”

“No,” she breathes.

He ignores me, ignores both of us as he strolls to the side of the room.

“Your blood test results came back, Caterina. Quite helpful. It allowed Reed to calculate a better dosage for you. One that will keep you upright, but a little moredocile.”

He flips open the small, black leather case sitting on the side. Turns to show us the rows of small vials inside, with a smile. “An ongoing supply.”

I throw myself into the men holding me at the sight of those clear vials, shoving at them even as guns aim at my face from every direction. “Don’t fucking touch her. ”

“Enough,” he snaps at me. “I’ve allowed your behavior for too long,nipote, and it ends tonight.”

Her eyes are wide with shock and grief as they lock with mine. He walks up to her, the syringe ready and waiting. “Say your goodbyes, Caterina.”

“Stefan.” Her voice cracks on my name as she struggles, the men holding her still as he squeezes her wrist, searching for a vein.

“It’s going to be alright.” My voice shakes just as badly as hers. “You’re going to be alright, Cat.”

“Take him.” Glacial ice in his voice. He doesn’t look at me as they pull, pull on my arms, those guns still there even as I thrash and roar against them, trying to get to her.

He pushes the needle into her skin, the clear liquid vanishing.

She should havegone. Should have gone, and now—

They drag me from the room as her eyes glaze, already losing that spark. That brightness that makes Caterina who she is, vibrant and fierce and vulnerable at the same time.

The numbness spreads through my body as they drag me down to the dungeon, shoving me into that cage. I throw myself against the bars, over and over again, roaring her name.

But they walk away.

And they leave me there.

Day 66 – Caterina

My heart flutters in my chest like a hummingbird.

I stare up at the black canopy above my head, trying to pick through the cotton wool clouding my mind. Everything… everything is hazy. Wrong. And it hurts, my body aching as I blink.

I was… where was I?

Even blinking exhausts me. I let my eyes close, sinking back into that cloud of nothing.

My waist feels tight, heavy, when I open them again. Something is pressing down on me, pinning me.

I turn my head with effort.

The man sleeping next to me feels familiar, but my head is…slow, to catch up. Heavy, like the rest of my body. Dulled.

My eyes close again.

Fingers in my hair. Lips on my skin, hands on my body.

A brief, flashing pain in my arm.