Page 12 of Inked & Bloodbound
Older? That doesn’t make any sense. Cyrus has got to be in his late forties at least, whereas I’d guess Cassini is thirty-something.
Cassini lifts him off the ground a few inches, and noises gurgle from Cyrus’ throat, filling the room with thick, wet gulps. He tries toleer at me, his pointy teeth bared, and I see something that makes my mind reel.
His eyes are glowing orange—not reflecting light, actually glowing—like embers in a dying fire.
“You’d betray one of your own for this cunt?” Cyrus coughs.
Cassini squeezes harder, pushing him so hard I think he might break his neck, but Cyrus is undeterred.
“I knew I was right about you. A fuckin’ snake in the grass. What is it, huh? You want to keep her all to yourself? In case you hadn’t noticed, we share everything around here.”
“This doesn’t concern you,” Cassini warns. “You’ve had too much to drink. She’s just a customer, alright? You can’t have her. It’s bad for business.”
“What’s he talking about?” I croak. My voice sounds like it’s coming from far away. “What does he want from me?”
“Nothing,” Cassini says, eyes fixed on Cyrus. “You stay right there, okay? Stay right where you are. I’m gonna make sure you get home safe.”
I couldn’t move even if I wanted to. I’m too scared. Too shocked by what’s happening to leave, my whole body poisoned with terror. This man just moved faster than humanly possible and threw a grown man across the room like he was a rag doll. It doesn’t make any sense.
Cassini releases Cyrus with a final, violent slam, and he drops to the ground. He spits out a mouthful of blood and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
“You think you’re so fucking special, don’t you, pretty boy?” Cyrus says, eyes glinting menacingly. “You think you can just waltz around playing the brooding human, acting better than the rest of us?”
“Shut up,” Cassini snarls, but there’s something in his voice now—desperation.
“She doesn’t know, does she?” Cyrus grins, revealing his yellow, jagged teeth. “Poor little lamb has no idea what she’s dealing with.”
My heart is hammering so hard I can feel it in my throat. Whatever this is, I want out.
“I told you to shut up,” Cassini grits out, but Cyrus just laughs.
“Well, I guess she’s about to find out.”
Cyrus opens his mouth and tilts his head up. His amber eyes roll back until all that’s left are the whites, and the low humming sound rumbles from his gut creates tiny goosebumps on my forearms.
“Enough,” Cassini warns, lunging toward him. “Cyrus, fucking stop!”
But Cyrus just starts laughing—this horrible, manic sound that echoes off the walls like breaking glass. When his eyes roll back down, they’re normal again, but the smile on his face is pure malice.
I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. Not in any medical textbook, not in any case study. Human eyes don’t just roll back and stay white like that. There was nothing, no color, no pupil. It’s not possible.
He wipes the broken glass off his shoulders with a smirk. “You shouldn’t have fucked with me, bloodtraitor. They’ll be here soon, and when they find out what you’ve been doing.” He glares at me again, and I want to disappear. “Well, let’s just say they’re going to be very interested in having a little chat with you and your new girlfriend.”
Cassini rubs the stubble along his jaw. “How many?”
“Enough.” Cyrus straightens his shirt like nothing happened. “I’ve got a lot of buddies around here, unlike you. You’ve got maybe three minutes before this place is crawling with my people who already hate you, by the way. Who don’t believe a fuckin’ word you say. I knew there was something wrong with you. You confirmed it the second you put your hands on me. So you’d better take your girl and run fast,handsome, or you’re both dead. I’ll even give you a head start.”
Without warning, Cassini tears across the room, grabs my hand and yanks me toward the door. “Come with me. Now.”
“Wait—what? No!” I dig my heels in, but he’s stronger than me. Much, much stronger. Freakishly so.
“Now,” he growls, and I swear my heart stops.
“I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m going home.” I force the words out as assertively as I can manage, though I can hear the shake in my voice as I turn toward the door.
“We don’t have time for this shit,” he hisses through clenched teeth.
Without warning he grabs me firmly by the hips, scoops me up in his arms and throws me over his shoulder. I scream, writhe and kick, but it makes no difference. Nothing I do makes any difference to him. His grip is tight against my legs, but it feels strangely safe as his granite chest presses against the tops of my thighs.