Page 25

M oving as quietly as I can, I slowly make my way down the tunnel, not wanting to be stuck at a dead end if I run into any of the feral Shadows.

It takes me twice as long to get to the bend, the sharp pain in my foot throbbing with each step.

There has to be another way out. I doubt they’d throw them down here through the latch. And Knox said there are four underground tunnels. There has to be an entrance somewhere. Just hopefully not near any of the feral Shadows.

“Sena… We’re dividing up and each taking an entrance. Try and stay calm, we’ll be there soon,” Knox says, sounding a little too panicked for my liking.

“You actually sound like you’re being nice… Stop it. It’s freaking me out.” It has the effect I intended, and he barks out a laugh.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back to my asshole-ish ways once you’re safe.”

Sounding like he’s a little calmer, I smile to myself. “Good to know.”

I put too much weight on my foot and hiss when it shoots up my ankle.

“Sena?”

I wince when I hear the fear return to Knox’s voice. “It’s okay. There’s no one around me. I’m safe.” For now, at least.

I glance around the next bend, ensuring no one is waiting in hiding before I push myself to keep moving.

“Cyrus said it feels like your foot is sprained. And your wrist is broken.”

I glance down at my wrist and find it nearly double the size it was a few minutes ago. Yes, definitely broken.

“Tell me who did this to you,” he demands.

“No.”

“Sena—”

“What I’m going to do is get out of here, get you all to heal me, and then I’m going to hunt them down myself.” One by fucking one. Starting with the blonde bitch.

He groans. “Why is that such a fucking turn-on?”

I chuckle. “Maybe because you’re a psycho and into that sort of thing?”

“True. But I’m your psycho. We all are.”

I swallow hard at the complete conviction in his voice. They were in the Void because of Sena. But they don’t know that wasn’t me. And yet they still forgive her… me.

The last of the barriers I had surrounding my heart crack and shatter, leaving me feeling vulnerable and open.

A screech bounces off the walls around me making me jolt. I glance up and spot two tall angry-looking males stepping around the bend.

Taking a slow, measured step back, I freeze when I find two more behind me. Four pairs of black, eerie eyes stare at me, and an icy chill crawls down my back.

“Shield, Sena!” Knox screams into my mind.

I mentally kick myself for not thinking of it sooner. I try to focus on the shadowy shield as they move closer to me, surrounding me, blocking me in.

Finally grasping onto the energy, I push it out around me. But instead of a dark shield full of shadows, something else happens, I glow.

The energy keeps building inside me as glowing tattoos swirl across my body, pulsing in waves. Just as the men move toward me, the glow brightens and blasts out around me, slamming into each of them.

I open my eyes—not realizing I closed them—to find the four men a few feet back from me, all staring at their hands and body.

Their gazes find one another before landing on me. But instead of black eyes that were empty of any emotion other than rage, they’re normal. Blue, green, and two pairs of dark brown. But every pair is now staring at me in shock and awe.

The blonde-haired, blue-eyed one takes a step toward me when a vicious growl echoes from behind me.

Malakai is front of me in seconds with the rest of my mates taking their place around me.

Relief fills me until I realize my mates are about to attack these men.

The blonde holds up his palms making them pause. “She healed us. The madness… it’s gone,” he rasps, his eyes flitting from mine to my mates.

Malakai narrows his eyes on him. “That’s not possible. Once you turn feral, there’s no turning back.”

A strangled laugh leaves his lips as his eyes widen. “I’m talking to you. I can see you.” His eyes find mine. “And feel everything again.”

Seconds is all it takes for Theon to have him shoved up against the wall by his throat.

“Keep those eyes to yourself, unless you want me to rip them from your head.”

“I meant no harm,” he gasps. “I’m just grateful.”

“Theon…” I call out, and his hand spasms on the guy’s throat before releasing him.

With one last vicious glare, Theon heads back over to the spot beside me, while completely ignoring any look I give him.

The other three men move over the blonde and help him up while keeping their distance.

“We are forever in your debt,” the blonde says. “Thank you.”

I open my mouth to tell them to forget about it. I haven’t even a clue what I did anyway. But before I get the chance, he and the other men all drop to their knees, glancing up at me like I’m their damn savior.

H ealed and back in the house, I watch each of my four mates as they all try to contain their frustration and anger.

“What happened?” Cyrus asks.

“They were coming closer, and I tried to create a shield. But something else happened instead. I… glowed.” I frown and glance down at my body, but there’s nothing there anymore.

“It was similar to your tattoos when they glow but bright and they crawled all over my body. It felt like energy was building up under my skin and then it just… blasted out of me, knocking them a step back. When I looked at them, their eyes were no longer black, and they were just standing there, staring at me in shock.”

I glance at the four of them and realize they’re doing just that. All staring at me in shock. But that shock quietly morphs into something else, and they all move closer to me.

Malakai steps in front of me. “Show us your tattoos,” he demands, and I raise a brow.

“ Please ,” he grits out.

I roll my eyes but get to my feet and pull up my top. Glancing down at them, I see them exactly as they are since I got them.

A collective sigh rings out around the room, and I pause realizing why they wanted to see them.

They thought I added a few more men to my little harem.

“I don’t feel drawn to anyone but you four,” I tell them without thinking and wince when I see their smug smiles.

Exhaustion and hunger hit me all at once. But the exhaustion wins out. I don’t think I even have any food in my hidden spot anyway.

My hunger will have to wait until morning.

“I’m hungry, I’m going to bed,” I tell them before making a move toward the stairs.

Knox frowns at me. “Why are you going to bed if you’re hungry?”

“I’m not allowed touch the food here, and I’m too tired to head to the canteen this late. I don’t think it’s open anyway,” I say with a shrug. “It’s fine, I’ll find something in the morning.” I take another step but pause when I see them all freeze and stare at me in shock.

“We didn’t mean…” Malakai starts but stutters to a stop, shaking his head as if he’s in disbelief.

Knox frowns, looking so damn sad. “Shit… Sena…”

Cyrus looks absolutely devastated. “We never ? — ”

“That’s not what we meant,” Theon says with his hands clenched by his sides.

I glance around at them, wondering if I’m misunderstanding. I guess things have changed between us since they enacted that rule. But I know how hard it is to come by food. I didn’t want to take anymore from them then the other Sena already has.

“So… I can eat your food?” I ask, and my stomach grumbles even at the thought. “But?—”

“No fucking but . You want food, you eat it. There’s plenty to go around,” Malakai grits out, looking angry as hell now.

Ignoring his temper, I head to the kitchen, looking forward to throwing a quick sandwich together when Malakai stops me.

“Go sit down. I’ll make you something.”

I narrow my eyes on him. “This is all so you can poison me, isn’t it? I knew there would be a catch,” I joke, but it doesn’t even get a smile out of him. Or any of the others.

Shrugging it off, I head to the stairs, telling them I’m going to take a quick shower first.

They all nod but avoid looking at me. It’s not until I get to the top of the stairs, do I hear them speak in hushed whispers.

“Has anyone ever seen her eat here?” Knox asks.

“No,” Cyrus answers.

“She’s been here weeks,” Knox points out.

“And she looks like she’s lost weight too,” Malakai grits out.

Knox groans as if in pain. “Fuck…”

Frowning, I glance down at my body. Okay, maybe I’ve lost a little weight. But I’m more toned now too.

Making sure my block is up and enforced so they don’t feel my conflicting emotions, I head into the shower. Taking the quickest one yet, I get dressed and head back downstairs as my stomach grumbling loudly at the thought of food.

As I hit the bottom step, a delicious smell hits my senses, making my mouth water.

“Something smells amazing,” I tell them, but it only gets grunts as a reply.

I guess it’s going to be a quick meal.

Heading to the table, Knox hands me a plate, and I take a bit of everything before sitting down.

I’m about to dig in when I notice the frowns each of the guys are wearing and that they’re all directed at my plate.

I glance down at it, wondering if I’ve taken too much or taken one of their favorites.

“Why did you only take a little bit?” Knox asks, and I instantly relax and take a bite. “If you don’t like anything, you can tell us.”

I shake my head while trying not to inhale the food.

Damn they can cook. “I’m not used to eating this much.

I’ve pretty much been living off a meal and a snack or two a day.

If I attempt to eat any more than this, I’ll probably be sick.

And I don’t want to waste it. It’s far more appetizing than anything I’ve been having the last while.

” Home cooked food always trumps canteen food. Or any food for that matter.

Almost feeling the atmosphere in the air change, I glance up as Theon gets up and leaves without a backward glance.

I frown after him and place my fork down with a sigh. “What did I do now? Seriously, just tell me. I can eat upstairs if you all prefer?—”

“Just eat… Please ,” Cyrus says, giving me a soft, sad look. “He’s not angry at you.”

I glance at the door Theon just slammed out of. “But?—”

“We’re still adjusting to what we thought we knew,” Malakai says. “Just eat.”

I glance at the three of them, but none of them head off after Theon or even make a move. After of minute, I shake off their strange behavior and dig back into my food. And after another minute or two, they do the same.

Heading up to my room after a meal of silence and strange stares, I’m cornered by Malakai in the hall. He quickly cages me in against the wall.

“If you don’t move, I’m going to break something very precious to you,” I tell him.

He smirks but there’s nothing smug or happy about it. In fact, it looks a little… sad. “Too late. You’ve already broken my fucking heart. Not once but twice now.”

I frown. “What?—”

He dips down and runs his nose up along the length of my neck, breathing me in. Warmth slides down my spine before spreading out to every limb.

“I can smell your desire,” he rasps, and the low throaty sound makes me shiver in heat and want and need.

“Soon,” he breathes before bending down and kissing me hard and fast before walking away with a savage smirk on his face, leaving me standing there completely frustrated and worked up.

“ Dick ,” I mutter, hearing his loud laugh as I head for another shower. A cold one this time.