Page 82 of Inked & Bloodbound

“You will not touch her.”

That only makes them giggle, both of them protesting and tittering about it all being a big joke, but I see inside their heads. I know what they want to do with me. I know it’s not a joke. Despite everything, despite the fear coursing through my veins, I know what has to be done.

Hurry up and go. Please. I’ll be fine. Just promise you’ll be back for me? Promise you won’t leave me behind.

His face searches mine desperately, and I know he’s trying to figure out another way, but he knows it’s futile. He bows his head and shakes it slowly. Sending me a final message.

I promise.

And then he’s gone.

He disappears into the crowd, and without hesitation the twins close in on either side of me like predators who’ve been waiting for their moment to strike. Amber kneels at their feet, drunk on lust and shivering with each wave of drug-induced euphoria.

“We’re going to have a little party. You should join us,” Ronan says, raising his scarred eyebrow. “I bet your daddy won’t mind.”

“He’s not my daddy,” I bite back, but it sounds meek.

“Of course he is,” Ronan says, running his icy hand down my shoulder, and a fresh wave of images cloud my mind. My naked body splayed beneath them, their silhouettes looming toward me with fangs bared. “We’re all daddies, and we love taking very good care of our girls.”

“Very good care.” Roel picks up my beer and sniffs it, before passing it to Ronan, who wrinkles his nose in revulsion.

“A little too vanilla for my tastes.”

Cass? Are you there?

Amore, I’m almost there. Stay calm.

“We’re doing molly tonight.” Roel leans in and tucks my hair behind my ear. Then comes a burst of laughter. “Actually, we’re doing Amber, but she’s getting nice and high for us. Maybe we could give you some acid and candyflip. I hear it makes it even better.”

“Yummy. We love hallucinogens, don’t we, Roe?” Ronan purrs. “Especially when it’s a bad trip.”

“This one’s got bad trip written all over her pretty little face.”

“It is pretty, isn’t it?”

Roel’s brow furrows. “A little too pretty. I prefer my girls with more character.”

“Maybe we should cut her?” they cry in unison before collapsing into a fit of giggles.

“This is good shit,” Ronan says, gesturing to Amber, who’s swaying in time with the music, eyes closed and lost in euphoria.

I squeeze my eyes shut and ride the wave of nausea, but the bile in my throat burns like acid. I drain the last of my beer to soothe it and try to hold on for dear life. A minute passes, and another, but it doesn’t get any better. The room just gets hotter, the sounds more intense. Through my haze, I realize I just need to get to a bathroom and splash some cold water on my face.

But when I try to stand, the ground wobbles beneath me. I’m passing out, but I fight it. I have to fight it. Not long now. Just a few more minutes. I can hold on for a few more minutes. When Cass’ voice comes, it steadies me for a moment, and I’m flooded with relief.

Found her. She’s in bad shape but alive. There’s a service exit. Getting out now.

Then my vision narrows to a pinprick, and the darkness swallows me whole.

I’m groggy,but I’m okay, I think.

Cass has me. I’m in his arms. I’m safe. Everything is going to be okay.

When I open my eyes, it’s too dark and too blurry to focus, but I can just about make out the industrial piping on the ceiling. Acrisscross of metal supports and exposed ductwork. We must be in some kind of utility corridor.

I try to shift closer to him, to press my face against his chest, but something feels wrong. The scent isn’t right. Instead of Cassini’s familiar mixture of leather and earth, I smell something sharp and chemical. Antiseptic mixed with heavy cologne.

My vision starts to clear, and panic floods my system as I realize the arms carrying me are too pale, too smooth. No tattoos. No familiar marks.