Page 81 of Inked & Bloodbound

Except it’s not there.

Shit.

With a sinking feeling, I realize I’ve left it at home. I can picture it, sitting on my coffee table. I took it out when I was changing my bag, and I must have forgotten to put it back in. Tonight, of all nights, I am without my protection. The revelation causes the floodgates to open, and now there’s no stopping them from coming.

Fresh meat in the back corner?—

I’m high as fuck

Should’ve seen her beg when I?—

Rip her throat open and let her bleed into?—

Lexi’s alone in the Acheron, someone should?—

The voices crash over me in waves, each one more violent than the last. I can’t filter them, can’t focus on just one thread. They’re all screaming at once.

Break her fingers one by one until?—

Shift supervisor forgot to lock?—

Blood tastes better when they’re crying?—

Wait.

Lexi. Megan.

The Acheron.

My heart pounds as I try to catch that thread again, but it’s gone, swallowed by the chaos of hundreds of the most depraved minds all thinking at once.

I put my head between my knees and thread my fingers through my hair, using all my strength to reach out.

Cass, I think I found her. I think I found Megan.

He turns to look at me abruptly. Breaking away from the twins, and when he sees me crumpled in a heap, he grasps my shoulders and eases me up to look at him. Propping me against the bench and brushing the hair out of my face. I don’t know when I started crying, but the strands stick to my wet cheeks.

“Where?” he breathes, his face knotted in concern.

Somewhere called the AcheronI tell him

You’re sure?

I’m sure. They’re changing shifts. She’ll be unguarded for maybe five minutes. You need to go right now.

I’m not leaving you Lily, not like this and not with them.

You won’t get another chance.

“Is little Nurse Lily upset by all the big bad vampires at the big bad vampire club?” Roel, or maybe it’s Ronan, coos from somewhere behind Cass. “Poor thing. First time? How tender she is.”

“If she thinks this is bad, she should see what’s happening downstairs.”

“Maybe we should take her?”

“We should take her.”

Cass’ nostrils flare, and his hand clenches into a fist. He doesn’t even look at them, but the depth of his voice roars through the heavy sludge metal droning through the speakers.