Page 9 of Marked for Redemption

Drugs.

Pain.

Drugs.

There were no mind games, just suffering.

COLTON

I couldn’t remember the last time that I’d fed. It was before I got here, but I couldn’t judge time because she always kept me so doped up that it would leave me near unconsciousness, or extremely groggy. My metabolism couldn’t process it quickly enough to rid it from my system.

Same for the pain. It was so frequent that without blood to heal, I wondered what state I was in. I hadn’t seen daylight since they had kidnapped me. My muscles protested from being in this same position. I figured she had to have been providing me with relief while I was unconscious. Being in the same position this entire time, I would be sorer than I am.

Maybe she wasn’t all bad.

I couldn’t tell much about her, but I knew she needed me alive. If she didn’t, she’d had every opportunity to kill me. She didn’t smell human, so she didn’t need a manual on how to do it. She needed something from me. What was the question?

Tired and needing sleep, I couldn’t figure out how to get back to my safe space. She’d used knives again today, draining me so much that I’d passed out. Something prodded me to stay awake. I almost succumbed when Zendaya appeared next to me.

“Where are we?” My mouth felt nasty as if I’d eaten something sticky. I smacked my lips together while trying to move my heavy tongue.

“In bed.” She caressed the side of my face before kissing me hesitantly. “How are you feeling today?”

“Tired, baby. Real tired. Why won’t she just ask for what she wants? Kill me already. I don’t know where I am. I’m hungry and this game isn’t fun for me. If she gave me the blade or a stake, I’d kill me for her.”

“Shh… don’t talk like that.” Her hand caressed my chest, calming my anger immediately. “What was it like before you got here?”

“In the mountains? I loved it there. Peaceful and even training didn’t seem so bad there. I knew what each day was going to be like. I didn’t have to wonder if I was going to live or die. Not while we prepared. Even politics didn’t touch us up there.”

“You were just fine and didn’t realize what was happening around you?”

“No, I did. It’s hard to miss what’s going on. Everybody wants power, wants to win.”

“Even you?” Zendaya rested her head on my chest.

“Yes, and no. I want peace, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get that.”

“Where does your loyalty lie?”

“With myself. If one of the sides of the fighting houses agrees with me and what I want, that's where I’m setting up camp.”

“Have you found that?” Zendaya nipped at my neck and I closed my eyes, relishing the feel of her mouth.

“Baby, I can’t think with you doing that.”

“Have… you… found that?” She rested in my arms, putting her lustful play on hold.

“Kind of. I’ll see what happens after the next few battles. Well, if I ever get out of here.”

“Battles?” Her leg crossed over mine and she pulled the blanket further up our bodies.

“Yeah, we’re setting up camps around a few of the places that we’re going to attack. If they’re coordinated correctly, we should come out ahead.” I thought of the map and where planned battles would happen. None of the clans were immune to what was coming.

“Will you hold me tighter?” Zendaya asked.

“Then we can rest?” I asked, before kissing her forehead.

“We can.”

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