Page 85 of Scorned

My chest tightened as she shouted nonsensical words. Needing to comfort her, I attempted to place the mug down on the small marble-top table next to me, but my fingers refused to let me release it. In my attempt to stand up, I found myself unable to, an unknown force mysteriously locking my knees.

“Luka, please!” she screamed, but this time it didn’t sound like Sage anymore. The hauntingly familiar voice sent shivers down my spine.

The sun’s rays brightened, making it unbearable to keep my eyes open. Despite my attempt to close them tightly, something pulled my lids back, forcing me to stare directly into the intensely bright light.

“Bill, his pupils are dilated. Inject him with the serum now!”

“But it could kill him, Doctor Ishman!”

“If we don’t do it now, he will die anyway and our hours of research will be for nothing!”

Someone released my eyelids and my entire world went black. I frantically felt around, looking for my girlfriend.

Sage! Where is Sage?

Gray pulsing shadows floated around me, each one attempting to steal my breaths before engulfing me, revoking my license to live.

My heart began to slow, the dark void taking over my senses.

An icy coldness washed over me, sending a chill through my veins and slowing my movements until I . . .

disappeared . . .

from . . .

existence . . .

Chapter 25

Sage

We got to the hotel around three am last night. Ravage grabbed some food for us, and we chowed down while going over the plans once more. Lyric and Winnie crashed in my room. Lynx slept in the bed with me. Marcus and Zeke took the other room, and I don’t think Ravage ever went to bed. My emotions were so high, I’d barely slept a wink myself.

Now, the fear of dying lingered in the air before I even had my coffee.

The mission we’d been preparing for had finally arrived, but strangely, I felt completely unprepared. A small bit of worry mixed with a high dose of anticipation tickled my nervous stomach as I sat on my hotel bed, listening to Ravage go over the plans one last time before we left.

He stood in the middle of my room, cracking his knuckles. “I’m going to explain the rules again. If anyone finds Luka, you feed him a blood bag, but only for thirty seconds at a time. And whatever you do, don’t let him feed from you. If he’s been starved into submission, which I’m sure he has, then he won’t be able to stop. He’ll drain you completely dry.”

As I wondered why Strike hadn’t been mentioned, Ravage’s eyes locked onto me, and I instinctively recoiled from his penetrating stare.

“You hear me, Sage? You can’t let him feed from you. Once his fangs pierce you, you’ll be useless, and he’ll drink until you die.”

Everyone in the room glared at me as if I had fire shooting out of my asshole or something.

Erik leaned against the wall, his face telling me to just agree.

Zeke sat in the only chair in the room, his fingers laced together, pressed under his chin, his expression unreadable.

Lynx’s forehead wrinkled, a look of concern on her face.

Winnie dropped one knee to the beige carpet, his eyes conveying he wouldn’t believe me even if I did say yes. And he was correct. If my only option was using my blood to save Luka, I’d happily die.

Marcus crossed his arms, leaning back in a relaxed way. “Sagelynn, answer Ravage.”

I kneaded my knuckles into the top of my thighs and Lyric laid her hand on top of one stopping me. The gentle touch assured me I could do this.

Taking a cleansing breath, I nodded. “I understand. If I feed him, I die.”

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