Page 93 of The Lycans: Vol Four

I felt dizzy, like I was going to throw up. I tightened my hands around the exam table. It was the only thing keeping me steady as my knees locked and the breath stalled in my lungs.

He handed the saw to the guard. “No drugs. I want it to really scream from the pain.” The Suit gave me one more smirk before taking his place back on the other side of the window.

The blood left my brain and settled in the soles of my feet as I swayed.

“Put it on the table.”

V grabbed my arm, but I jerked it away, survival instinct rising up in me. I struggled, then backed away, but was yanked toward him again. The other guard grabbed a chunk of hair behind my head and pulled me forward and across the table so I was facedown on it.

My arms were thrust above my head, the manacles secured to a lock, my legs spread, and restraints placed over my ankles.

I felt the icy touch of a blade skating down my spine as the ratty shift I wore was cut off me. The sound of fabric rendering was ominous as it filled the room.

Warm breath skated across the shell of my ear as V whispered, “You’re not gonna be a pretty little thing for me and let me hear you beg?”

I gritted my teeth, turned my head so I could look into his eyes, and said, “Fuck. You.”

The pain took over…

I jolted upright, a cry torn from my throat. Or at least I thought I screamed. I could hear it echoing in my head, felt hot tears track down my cheeks.

I closed my eyes and wiped the tears away, my body achy and sweaty, my mind at war with what was real and what was just a horrible memory.

My heart slammed against my rib cage, and the phantom pain in my back made itself known once again, like scorching-hot nails tearing up my spine.

The nightmares were frequent, and they were so bad it was as if I were living in that moment once again, experiencing the torture, the cruelty, and the absolute horror of what they’d taken from me.

For a moment my mind was discombobulated, confusing my reality.

But when I opened my eyes and inhaled deeply, I took in the dank cave and heard the trickling of water.

I’m not back there. It wasn’t real.

I felt the sensation of being watched.

My gaze darted to the entrance of the cave, where I saw Sebastian standing. His big, tall form was shrouded in shadows, his eyes glowing red.

Despite his somewhat unnerving presence, I couldn’t help but feel myself start to calm with the knowledge that he was here.

But then I took in his stance. His hands were curled into tight fists at his sides, and I could see him flexing and relaxing them over and over again. His chest was pumping up and down, and he emitted a low growl as if he were a wild beast unable to control himself.

“You were dreaming.” His voice was guttural. Frighteningly low.

I scrubbed a hand over my face, my brow dotted with perspiration, my mind still trying to catch up with reality.

“A nightmare,” I corrected. “It was nothing.” The lie came easier than I expected, but I was desperate for him to stop watching me, because his gaze told me he could see right through the facade.

“It didn’t sound like nothing.” His eyes seemed to glow brighter. “You were whimpering, asking them to stop hurting you.”

I bit my tongue and looked away, hating that anyone saw me like that.

“I wanted to go to you.”

I shook my head and reached for the bag, grabbed the canteen, and took a long drink from it, the water tasting stale and warm. “I’m glad you didn’t,” I whispered. “It would have made it so much worse.” Because anyone seeing me broken in that way is a shame I hate feeling.

“I was standing guard at the entrance of the cave when I heard you making noises. You screamed. I was ready to kill whatever was harming you.”

I snapped my gaze back to him, surprised at the warmth I felt at his admission that he would have hurt whatever was causing me pain.

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