Page 109 of Inhuman Nature

DJ entertained himself for the next half hour by projecting very horrible things very hard at Lawrence. It improved his mood somewhat. But when he grew tired of that, he had to face the reality of his dire situation. He wished he’d been able to speak to Rake.

Who wasalive.

DJ wondered if Rake would ever forgive him for hurting him. Whilst a rational part of DJ knew he’d been unable toresist Lawrence’s compulsion, it had been the most devastating moment of his life.So far, that insidious little voice at the back of his head whispered. He told it to shut up, both mentally and out loud, just to be safe.

“I see it only took a day for you to descend into madness,” came Lawrence’s voice from the doorway. DJ whipped around, seeing Lawrence’s smug face with his amused expression. “It takes most of my captives longer than that. It was weeks before Shaun had his first proper breakdown.”

“Keep his name out of your mouth,” DJ said, though a lot more tiredly and with less venom than he was aiming for.

“You’ll be reunited soon enough.”

Because, of course, Shaun would offer to sacrifice himself for DJ. He was just that kind of person. Not only would Shaun put DJ and Rake’s needs above his own, but he wouldn’t think twice about giving up his life to save theirs.

DJ’s emotions were all in flux, but one thing occurred to him at that moment. He loved Shaun, and he had no intention of letting him hand himself over to Lawrence without doing everything in his power to prevent it.

The compulsion for him to not attack Lawrence had worn off, and so he lunged. Lawrence stood in the doorway, unfazed, as DJ almost snapped his wrist again whilst trying to get at him. In his rage, he’d forgotten about the cuffs.

“Did you get all the anger out of your system?” Lawrence asked.

DJ growled at him. And then cringed, because it sounded ridiculous and not at all as intimidating as he thought it might.

It was even worse when Lawrence laughed. “Woof, woof, little puppy.” He then pulled out a small case from his backpocket, opened it, and withdrew a nasty-looking syringe that was filled with red liquid.

Blood, DJ’s brain helpfully supplied. “What’s that?” he asked anyway.

“It’s for you.”

DJ didn’t want blood from a syringe. He didn’t want blood at all, but especially not from an implement like that. He shook his head. “No thanks,” he said. There was nothing to lose at that point from using his manners if it stopped Lawrence from sticking him with that thing.

“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice. Lie still.”

DJ was helpless to resist doing just that, eyeing Lawrence as he walked over, brandishing the syringe. He shut his eyes when Lawrence leaned closer, unable to watch any further. He barely felt a sting when the needle pricked the skin of his elbow, but then pain twisted through his entire body.

DJ screamed. It felt like his veins were burning up from the inside.

And then there was nothing at all.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Shaun

Shaun barely listened to Lawrence’s words as he spoke down the phone to Lynette. He was too busy concentrating on stopping Rake from leaving the club right then and there, pinning him onto the sofa to prevent him from running off. Kit hovered nearby, ready to provide support if needed.

Ever since being recreated, Rake’s anger point had been tested. They’d spent the day sleeping in a couple of rooms normally used by club members, and Rake had held Shaun as if he was all that anchored him to the earth. And now, the threat to DJ from Lawrence only minutes after waking up on Rake’s first full night as a vampire had sent him well over the edge.

Lynette continued her back and forth with Lawrence, but Shaun was too preoccupied with sitting on a spitting-mad Rake.

“Shaun, if you don’t let me go, I swear I’ll—” Rake broke off mid-sentence, shame filling his face.

Shaun cupped a hand around Rake’s stubbled jaw, making him meet his eyes. “I would be out that door in a second if I thought it was a good idea. But it’s not. Lawrence has theupper hand. He’ll hold DJ’s safety over our heads, and he’ll finish the job he started.”

“I…know,” Rake said.

Lynette hung up the phone by hurling it against the wall, shattering it into pieces. They all waited for Lynette to speak, but she folded herself into an armchair, crossing her legs and then uncrossing them again as she glared at nothing in particular.

“So, I guess this means we’re all going up against him,” Shaun said, breaking the silence.

“Well, I’m not about to hand myself over to him,” Lynette said. “Boris, tell the others to come here now. No exceptions.”