Page 12 of Feeding Frenzy (Crimson Coven #3)

TWELVE

catalina

I rolled over in my bed and stared at the ceiling . . . I could move! Had it all been a nightmare? I popped upright and almost smacked right into Bastien’s face.

“Bastien,” I cried and threw my arms around him. A sob wracked my body, and I buried my face in his chest. “Bastien,” I repeated. Even though I was in the dream world, my body still kind of hurt, like it felt the shadow of what had been done to me.

I pulled back to get a better look at him. Haziness at the edges of my vision made it difficult to see my surroundings.

Bastien’s red eyes weren’t wild or blank.

“Can you understand me?” my voice cracked.

“Yes, Little One,” his voice vibrated in my chest it was so deep, immediately the sound of his voice called my rapid pulse.

“Help me. Imogen won’t stop.” My voice cracked.

He sneered, tensing under my hands.

“Imogen?” he hissed and the awareness faded from his eyes.

The walls were suctioned into a black hole. Wait, no, not yet?—

“Kitten,” Jax’s voice floated into my consciousness, ripping me fully from the dream.

I blearily blinked. I tried to sit up. But fire blazed up every inch of my body, narrowing in on the pain from my stomach. I dropped back onto my back with a whimper.

Imogen leaned around the doorsill with a grin.

“I’ll be right with you. Just handling a few things,” Imogen said and disappeared again.

I cinched my eyes shut. I hadn’t died in my sleep.

“Kitten,” he hissed again.

“Mhm, leave me alone,” I whined. That blessed sleep felt too good. There was no pain there.

“Catalina. Look at me.” He snarled, “Catalina!” The panic in his voice dragged my eyes open, but it felt like weights were tied to my lashes.

I turned my head toward Jax.

“What?” I said, moodily.

“You need to try to get out of here.”

“Let me sleep,” I slurred.

“No,” he hissed. “Do not sleep.”

Whatever. Everything would be fine . . .

“Tell me about what hurts.”

I sighed and pressed my lips into a thin line. Was he trying to be funny with me right now?

“Everything,” I said dryly.

“Catalina, get up.”

“I can’t, Jax,” I said sadly—defeated. I was just a human. Weaker than them. Even if I could move now, I didn’t want to. I whimpered, “Sorry for being a weak human.”

Jax closed his eyes, becoming very still.

BASTIEN

I snarled, ripping into my skin. Bloody jagged wounds opened up to my wrist. I had wasted time. My anger had catapulted me into mindlessness once again.

I had no way to determine how long I had been indisposed, since I dream walked. The chains weakened me. I would not be able to free myself.

There was another way. Gritting my teeth. I stood and swept my attention across the bedroom. That device on the edge of the counter . . . I had seen Tobias use it.

My vision blurred.

“No,” I snarled. Do not lose focus .

I lunged for the electronic communicator. I clumsily swiped it open. This seemed like a speaking telegraph of some sort. The upside-down images prompted me to flip it. I studied the surface and pressed on the little button with the word ‘contact’ under it.

The madness crept over my thoughts. The odd device faded in my vision. I clicked on the first name listed. Asher.

The thing beeped on the other end. I held it an arm’s length away.

“Who is this?” The device spoke at me. It worked like a Reis telephone.

“Return,” I snarled more than said. I struggled to control my vocal cords.

“Who is this?”

“Come back,” I hissed, clutching my head as I bowed forward.

“Bastien? How the—What the fuck is going on—” The voice became unintelligible.

My human! My gums burned, prompting my fangs to burst free. I clenched my hand, shattering the device as the madness overtook me once again.