Page 26 of Claiming the Dhampir

Brance and Alyssa were definitely the enemy. They led me into a trap because they knew what I was. Resisting Nathan and a roomful of vampires the night before wasn’t enough for them. I was scared to death to open my eyes and see how much of Nathan’s blood they’d spilled. All to reveal my dhampir.

I can’t resist him! Mir screamed into my mind.

Yes, you can! We have to!

Why? she argued. Why can’t we feast and then kill them all? I’ll make sure there are no witnesses left.

It was tempting, but I didn’t want to become the monster everyone expected me to be.

We won’t get to have the life we want if we go down that road, Mir.

Mir growled at me and pushed against my control. I pushed her back and forced the memories of my childhood on her. I showed her my parents’ love, my siblings’ acceptance of me, and our mates. We would lose all of them if we lost control.

I will not give up everything unless it’s the only option! I pushed harder, and she slowly yielded. Damon will find us. You know he will.

He didn’t find Kenrid or Nathan, Mir said. She sounded so defeated, but I wouldn’t change my mind. You couldn’t find Kenrid either.

She was right. I hadn’t found Kenrid. But there had to be a way that didn’t involve killing.

I sucked in a breath, then wished I hadn’t. The scent of Nathan’s blood coated my tongue and made my mouth water. I tried to ignore it and focus on my bond with Kenrid. As soon as I reached for him, the connection flared to life.

My eyes popped open, searching for my mate. I should’ve kept them closed. Kenrid wasn’t the first thing I saw. Of course not! Alyssa had dropped me in front of my vampire, a few steps away from the blood pooling on the floor at his bare feet.

My attention lingered on the blood, pain curling in my gut from my desire and hunger. I swallowed and pressed my lips into a thin line, refocusing my attention on what really mattered. There was only one way to spill that much blood.

My gaze traveled up Nathan’s tattered slacks. Someone had torn—no, sliced—long gouges in his thighs. Several puncture marks covered his muscled torso. Tears stung my eyes, and my heartache increased when I finally reached his face.

I’d hoped to see a murderous scowl or a pained expression from the torture he’d endured. His head hung forward with his chin against his collar. Bruises surrounded his closed eyes, and blood caked his dark hair against his forehead. His arms were stretched over his head and tied together at the wrists.

They’d hung him from a ring in the ceiling. Was he still breathing? After several agonizing seconds, his chest slowly rose and fell.

They all need to die! Mir exclaimed.

I didn’t reply, but I also didn’t disagree. The fae had a room specifically designed for torture. Who the fuck does that? Who takes pleasure in the pain of others? And why Nathan? He’d given them a home, a clan to protect them. And this is how they repay him? Making him suffer to get to me?

They wanted to see a monster? I’d give them a monster!

I lunged forward, startling whoever was gripping my shoulders. They released me, and I rolled to the side to avoid Nathan’s blood. Yes, it still called to me, but revenge for the pain they’d inflicted outweighed everything else.

I sprang to my feet and nearly fell back to my knees. Kenrid lay on the floor a few steps away. Thick chains covered his body and tied him spread-eagle to four rings in the floor. He was also beaten, and the red welts covering his exposed skin looked a lot like burns. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen him earlier.

Kenrid’s gaze met mine, and our bond bloomed. I expected the tiny bird on his chest to flutter its wings, but it remained still, looking like a pretty tattoo. Did my mark also understand the danger of revealing itself?

They need to die now! Mir’s voice bounced around in my skull.

I agreed, but I wasn’t going to let my anger make me stupid. I’d nearly gone down that road a second ago. I couldn’t go on a killing spree. Not yet.

“Kenrid,” I whispered. “What do they want?”

“You,” he replied, his voice raspy and weak. “They trapped us in a room covered in wards that hide us from everyone and records everything happening within.”

I squeezed my eyes shut again, understanding exactly what he meant. Anything we did in this room would be recorded. That also meant that their torture of Nathan and Kenrid had been recorded, right? I would absolutely use that against them.

I rose to my full height, tearing my gaze from my mate and avoiding Nathan’s limp form hanging from the ceiling.

We need to be strong for as long as we can, I told Mir. Elliott and Damon were on their way to the house to get us. They’ll make those fae assholes talk. They will find us. We just have to give them time.

I’ll try, she whispered, but I could hear the pain in her voice. I could feel her need to feed pushing us closer to the edge of her control. Our anger didn’t help. I refused to let us fall down that rabbit hole, though. We would have the life we wanted with the men we loved.

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