Page 55 of Blood Day

Why?

To what purpose?

What lesson did he have in store for me next?

I shivered. Something about this game felt more dangerous than any I’d ever played. And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to win.

Because passing these lessons might just end in the biggest failure of all.

A dangerous sense of optimism.

A desire to live.

A desire formore.

With Master Cedric.

A future that could never truly be mine, no matter how much I dreamed or fantasized about it.

“Try not to dream. Fantasies don’t exist in your world anymore.”

His words from the other day haunted me as I closed my eyes. This was all a game to him, a way for a predator to play with his food.

I pressed my fingers to my neck, feeling the already healing punctures in my skin. It grounded me in the present, chasing away my hope.

I might have enjoyed the sensations.

But that was all they were—pleasurable reactions to a predator’s bite.

I sort of hoped the marks scarred my skin. I could use the constant reminder.

Because something about Master Cedric made me want to fall.

And if I gave in, I would truly drown.

It wouldn’t be a quick death, but a slow and agonizing torment.

The kind of end that would chase me into the afterlife and haunt my soul.

Maybe that was his goal.

Maybe he wanted me to suffer.

I won’t let that happen, I thought at him, my jaw clenching.I refuse to be easy prey, Master Cedric. If this is a game, then you chose the wrong girl to play against. Because I will fight your mind games until my dying breath. I vow it.

Chapter 13

Cedric

My wrist buzzedas I entered the kitchen closest to my quarters. I glanced down to find a message from Silvano scrolling across my watch.

Of course.

It was like he’d sensed my temporary bout of pleasure and decided to kill it with a summons.

Rolling my eyes, I dismissed the message and started rummaging for food. I’d respond to his request in a day or two. Maybe three.

Not that it would help anything.