Page 59 of Blood Day (Blood Alliance #7)

I slammed the door on those thoughts, tired of this circular logic. If he cared so much, he… he would have found a way to contact me by now.

Unless he’s hurt.

I gritted my teeth and nearly shook my head. Could he be hurt? Yes. Maybe. And if he was, then I still only had myself to rely on. So regardless of the reason— he wasn’t coming for me.

Which meant I needed a plan.

A purpose.

Something .

Because this endless sea of depression was going to end up killing me.

You’re stronger than this, I told myself. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, and find a way to survive.

By what? Becoming a breeding slave?

I wanted to scream in frustration. This wasn’t the life I wanted. No, that life had been with him .

Maybe I’ll survive and hunt him down, I mused. Wouldn’t that be a fun surprise?

I started imagining his shock at seeing me on his doorstep—not that I knew where to find him—only for the bell overhead to interrupt my daydream with a bing .

Well, I have time to contemplate that idea, I decided, standing and eyeing the food again. But I don’t have a lot of time to make this decision.

I glanced around the room, noting the humans falling into line as we’d done the last however many days. Or has it been a week? I wondered, moving to join them all.

Regardless, it was all second nature now.

Step into line.

Walk back to the cages.

Find your temporary home.

Sit.

Stay.

That line went right by the remaining food.

And from what I could see, there were no lycans watching.

It’s too risky , I thought, only a few feet away from the bananas now. It could draw attention to me, which I don’t want. I’m not ready yet. I need a plan first.

Except I wasn’t sure if a plan existed.

Still…

I swallowed, my eyes falling shut for a long second.

No .

I continued past the bananas and the water. As much as I wanted to help Willow, I’d learned long ago that the only person I could truly look out for was myself.

Sorry , I thought at her, my steps feeling heavier as I continued the trek back to our cell. She might not even be awake yet, but that didn’t stop the guilt from eating at me. She’d suffered last night. That much was clear. And now she would continue that suffering by not being able to eat until?—

A lycan stepped into my path, his nostrils flaring in my peripheral view. I quickly dropped my gaze to the ground, my feet freezing to keep myself steady and obedient in front of him .

“Hmm,” he hummed, the sound sending a shiver down my spine.

Interested. Feral. Wrong.

“You smell different.” He leaned in, his nose going to my neck, his warmth bleeding into my chilled skin. “Very different.” His low tone swirled around me, his arm encircling my waist as he pulled me out of the line and instructed the others to continue forward.

Oh, no. My heart skipped several beats. No. No. No.

Stay calm, a voice whispered back to me, one that didn’t belong to me.

I nearly frowned. Am I imagining him now?

“What’s your number?” the lycan mused, his fingers drifting up my back to my nape.

“Moon Chase Item Seventeen, sir.” The words came out stilted, but they lacked the quiver threatening to overcome my being. I considered that a temporary win.

Until the lycan squeezed. “Moon chase.” Intrigue darkened his tone. “Seems like wasted potential.”

“Or a good test of strength,” another commented, joining our little group in the hallway between the cafeteria and the cells. “You’re right. She does smell different.” He leaned in to scent my neck like the other one had. “Interesting.”

“Shall we taste her?” Lycan One asked, his palm resembling a shackle around my nape.

“Maybe,” Lycan Two replied, his hand going to my hip. “Take her to the black room. Then join me in my office. We’ll go over her file first.”

Lycan One released an appreciative growl and started pulling me back toward the cafeteria. “Hear that, pretty one? He wants you in the black room. Quite an honor, considering what toys wait for us there. ”

Somehow I doubted his definition of honor matched mine.

Bile rose up my throat, burning the back of my mouth as the lycan led me to my fate.

I supposed the banana debate no longer mattered since I’d managed to acquire this male’s attention anyway.

“You smell different.”

Why? Because of him ? Our bond?

Was he still haunting me even now? Dragging me into a new purpose, a darker fate, all because I’d given him my heart?

I hate him, I thought for the thousandth time. I hate him so damn much.

You love me, too, his voice whispered back, confirming that I’d lost my damn mind. Because I knew he wasn’t really there. He’d abandoned me. Left me here to suffer.

And now I was being taken to the black room .

Where my bond with him would likely be shattered.

This was not what I’d wanted. They hadn’t even given me a chance to run or to fight. Yet I wasn’t sure I’d wanted that, either.

No, what I wanted was a tall, brooding vampire with thick brown hair, a cruel jaw decorated with the shadow of a finely shaved beard, and wicked, dark eyes. Full lips. Athletic build. Elegant demeanor. Penchant for terrifying games.

I shuddered, his image appearing in my mind for a brief, blissful moment.

Then the visual shattered into the reality of the black room , which I quickly realized was named after the obsidian-like walls.

Easier to hide bloodstains , I assumed, my heart hammering in my chest as the lycan shoved me inside.

“Don’t leave this room,” he growled, then slammed the door as he left me in the darkness .

No windows.

No light.

Just cold isolation underlined with the faintest scent of iron.

Blood , I realized. I’m smelling blood.

Did he leave the door locked? that voice asked, making me frown. Because again, it wasn’t mine. Yet it had to be some version of my mind because he had left me here to die.

Stop thinking and check the door, the voice demanded. You can hate me later.

My brow furrowed. Ce-Cedric?

Check. The. Door.

I blinked several times. Is… is that really you? I stammered. No. Impossible. He left ? —

Quit wasting time, and check the goddamn door, Lily. I trained you better than this.

I stepped forward, obeying him as my instincts took over for my mind.

The handle moved with ease. No lock .

Good, the deep voice—one I hadn’t heard in what felt like ages—replied. Now listen to me very carefully and do exactly what I say. Then maybe you’ll survive.