Page 28 of Captured Beauty

Being closer I smelled the strong stench of urine coming off him. It caused my stomach to twist.

“Now it seems we have a problem.” When I stared at Kairus, my focus was on the scars on his face first. The jagged scars and burns always made him look more dangerous. Then I looked at his unblemished side. It was beautiful, showing a man that might have once not been the monstrous beast in front of us. It was like two sides of the same coin. Both were still handsome, one just damaged.

“Here.” He shoved his knife into my hand, gaining my attention.

“What am I supposed to do with this?” I stared at it, puzzled.

One corner of his mouth lifted. He faced Rogan who stared at him with fear. “Pick a spot and stab him.”

Rogan’s eyes bucked.

I shook my head. “What? No, I can’t do that!” I went to give him the knife back.

He held up his hand to stop me. “Either stab him or I’ll kill him here and now.”

“Please, please,” Rogan begged, coughing between his words. I wasn’t sure what all Kairus had done to him but I was sure he was in need of a doctor.

“It’s your choice, Azeira, and time is ticking. Either stab him or I’ll slit his throat and force you to watch the blood drain from his body!”

I stared at the knife that felt heavier than it was in my hand. My stomach grew heavy and my ribs suddenly felt too tight to breathe.

“Kairus, please,” I begged. “I can’t.”

I had never even been in a fight before. There was no way I could stab someone like it was nothing. This man was out of his mind.

“A’right, that’s your choice then.” He went to grab the knife but I yanked it back.

“No!” I couldn’t have Rogan’s blood on my hands for something he was innocent of. I did this so I had to clean it up.

I turned to face Rogan. “I’m sorry.”

“Please, no. Don’t do this.” Ignoring him, I lifted the knife. Closing my eyes, I slammed it down, sending it through his thigh.

“Ah!” he yelled out.

I snapped my eyes open and they widened seeing the blade in his thigh. I snatched my hand away and staggered back. The tightness in my chest grew. Adrenaline like I’d never felt before flooded my veins, causing my pulse to quicken.

I swallowed hard.

“I knew you had it in you.” Kairus gave me a taunting grin.

“Fuck you!” I shouted, turning and rushing out of the room. I bumped into something hard when I snatched the door open.

“Take her home.” Nolan turned around and stared down at me.

“Come on.”

“No!” I stomped my feet.

“We can do this the easy way or hard way.” I looked over and saw the syringe. I didn’t want to get drugged again. I wasn’t even sure how the hell they seemed to have an endless supply of whatever they kept giving me.

Dropping my shoulders in defeat, I sighed.

“Fine.”

When I agreed to be Kairus’s I never would have imagined this would be the life I was signing up for.

Back at my house I went straight to Azeira’s room. Not bothering to knock, I pushed the door open. She was leaning against the wall, looking out the window that showed the backyard. Her head sagged to the side.