Page 65 of Catastrophe

“Before I came to meet you both.” I tilted my head and informed him, “Some are still breathing if you want to punish them yourself.”

“Punish them myself,” he repeated, the shock remaining clear on his face as he scanned the cells again.

Trepidation, a feeling I hadn’t had since I was a boy trying to impress my parents, trickled through me, and I asked, “Have I misstepped?”

He choked as he tried to form words. Then he swallowed and turned to face me. “I was forced to be a violent man. Pushed into a life where I hurt and killed to survive. It went against my nature and my beliefs.”

My shoulders slumped. “So, you are angry with me for hurting them?”

He surged in front of me, grasping my arms, and I steeled myself for his censure, but his lips pressed against mine suddenly, passionately, bleeding with pain and relief and gratitude. Our tongues warred against each other as he cupped my face and twisted his fingers in my hair.

My heart sang, and I could hear the pounding call of his heart and rushing blood. The smell alone was intoxicating, and my fangs descended without my permission. Zaide jolted but pulled away from me slowly, licking his lips and wide blown eyes.

Breathlessly, he said, “While I dislike violence and using it, I understand the necessity of it in certain situations. In protecting people. I just never imagined someone would want to protect me from my memories enough to punish those in them.” He pressed another gentle kiss to my lips, one that felt like hope and almost made tears come to my eyes. “Thank you.”

“You aren’t angry?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I find it distasteful to see a being in such pain and distress and knowing their last moments were filled with fear and pain, but it is nothing they didn’t deserve, and nothing they didn’t inflict on others. A part of me is rejoicing and relishing in it. I could never have done as you have, but I’m glad you did.”

“You need not suffer from the past any longer. If you see these males in your waking nightmares, you can now assure yourself of their miserable end. And know that those who keep you caged and suffering will also suffer the same fate.”

“I am blessed to have you.”

We left the dream, abandoning Zaide’s captors to their deaths and promising the same to those who held him now. I hoped it heartened him until we could rescue him. I know our kiss heartened me.

CHAPTER 16

CLAWDIA

My whole body twitched awake, and I jumped onto my feet, urgency rushing through me as my mind cleared from the pleasure of the dreamscape and turned to my situation and mission.

I listened to the steady breaths and occasional small snores from the hunter in the bed for a few more moments before deciding it was safe enough to make my move.

My bonds glowed inside my chest, which was a relief. Baelen’s seemed to be the strongest, but Zaide’s and Charlie’s, although muted, were now obvious and warm. And by borrowing their strength and confidence, I pushed aside my exhaustion and shifted.

I crawled to grab the handcuffs I’d seen earlier and held them tightly so they wouldn’t jingle as I slowly rose to my feet. Without thinking too much about it or trying to talk myself out of it, I leaned over Michael until my body was inches from his. I shook from the tension. Then, quietly, I secured the handcuffs around the headboard and quickly put his hands inside the manacles and closed them.

Green eyes flashed open, and confusion turned to fury in a moment. I gasped away but only succeeded in sitting on his legs and covering his mouth with my hand as he jerked against his restraints, shaking the bed and making the metal ring loudly.

I shushed him, panic rising in my chest at the noise, and turned my head to the door to check no one was coming to investigate.

“Please don’t scream. I really don’t want to hurt you, and I can see how that’s not very believable right now, but I just want to talk.” His glare didn’t ease, and his lips moved behind my hand. “Please. Promise you won’t scream.”

He took a long time to stare at me, and my heart felt as though it was beating out of my chest, I was so anxious, but finally, he nodded. I scanned his eyes, desperate to see something assuring there, but found nothing. It was a risk, but something inside me said I could trust him, so I carefully pulled my hand away, ready to slap it back down if he made any sound.

He waited a few moments before saying in a low voice, “You’re a shifter.” I shivered at the underlying anger I saw in his gaze but didn’t reply to his accusation. “And you’re naked.”

My eyes widened, and I looked down at myself in horror. I’d completely forgotten to find something to wear before I captured the hunter. I squealed and tried to hide myself with my hands, but he had already seen too much. I jumped off the bed to pick up a folded T-shirt from the chair, my cheeks burning like I was on fire.

“Don’t look,” I hissed as I pulled the shirt over my head.

His lips twitched as my head popped out over the hem of the shirt, but his response was surly. “Looking is the only thing I can do since you have me handcuffed to my bed.”

I sighed and perched on the bed. “You could scream. You could escape. The bars on this headboard don’t look that sturdy. You could probably wrench yourself free with enough strength, and no doubt someone would come to check on you with all the noise. I’d be taken down to the cells where you’re keeping the other supernaturals to await our deaths. But you haven’t done that because you are curious about why I might have done this, what I might want with you, and what I know about your newest leader.”

The silence was palpable as he processed what I said. “You overheard our conversation.”

“I did.” I couldn’t even pretend to feel guilty about it.

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