Page 104 of Cruelly Bitten

Michael was saying something, but I couldn’t hear him, the echoing in my head too loud. “Weak” was the only word I seemed to understand.

That’s rich coming from someone who used to be human,I muttered in my mind.

Or I thought I’d said it to myself, anyway. But I must have spoken the words aloud because Michael growled and threw me to the ground.

His foot hit my stomach, knocking the wind from my lungs as he berated me for my disrespect.

“I earned this position. Meanwhile, you’re just an immortal blood bag. He’ll kill you as soon as he can find a worthy replacement.”

My head burned as he caught my hair up in his fist once more, my vision spiraling with flickers of color amidst a sea of darkness.

“What do you think he’s been doing all week while you slept?” Michael demanded. “He’s been grooming your replacements, Ismerelda. And after this little stunt? He’ll probably take a temporary one without a second thought.”

I gritted my teeth. There was no way Cam had beengroominganything or anyone this week. Not with how many hours he’d spent inside me.

“He doesn’t remember you,” Michael went on. “And he willneverremember you. Lilith’s fail-safe made sure of that.”

My heart skipped a beat.“Lilith’s fail-safe made sure of that.”

No.

No, I refuse to believe that.

He’ll remember me. Camhasto remember me.

“Lilith won,” Michael whispered against my ear. “You mean nothing to Cam. And even if—and that’s a pretty strongif—he ever realizes the truth, it’ll be too late. The damage is already done.”

I tried to shake my head, but his grasp held me firmly in place.

“Where do you think he is right now?” Michael asked. “Because I can tell you… Or maybe I’ll just show you.”

He yanked me upward, causing pain to shoot up my spine.Fuck!

That time, the thought didn’t escape my mouth. Probably because I was too busy groaning for coherent words to escape me.

Space whirled around me as Michael dragged me through the catacombs by my hair, my feet moving on autopilot despite the agony swimming through my being.

He’s compelling me,I realized as my legs moved without my permission.He’s making me run to keep up with him.

My lungs protested, my muscles cramping.

But I didn’t have a choice.

He was tugging me along without thought or care as to my mortal condition.

Another way to make me feel inferior,I realized.To prove that I’mweak.

A growl worked its way through my chest but lost its momentum before it could leave my mouth. All that came out was a soft gasp, my body trembling as Michael started down the stairs.

My feet weren’t really touching the ground now. It was mostly my toes, skimming the surface as he maintained his grip on my hair, his compulsion still working magic on my legs.

This is bad.

Very, very bad.

My knees buckled.

My scalp spasmed.