Page 38 of Blood Caged

Yet even in my weakened state, I feel a strange pull toward him. It’s infuriating, this unwanted attraction to someone who’s part of the reason I’m here. But I can’t deny the way my pulse quickens, and it’s not just from fear.

Soren moves silently, his tall frame looming in the dim light. He approaches my bed, and I fight the urge to flinch away. Instead, I watch him through my lashes, curiosity mingling with wariness.

His face, usually a mask of cold indifference, is different now. In the privacy of what he believes to be solitude, his expression is open, conflicted. Those icy blue eyes that have looked at me with detachment now hold…is that concern?

I’m struck by how young he looks in this moment, despite knowing he’s centuries old. The weight of whatever internal struggle he’s facing seems to press down on him, making him appear almost human.

Soren reaches out, his hand pausing inches away from my cheek. I brace myself for his touch, unsure if I’m more afraid of the contact or my potential reaction to it. But he hesitates, fingers curling back as if burned by some invisible barrier.

A soft sigh escapes him, barely audible even in the quiet room. “What am I doing?” he murmurs so quietly I almost miss it.

I want to scream at him, to demand answers. Why am I here? Why did he save me? What game is he playing? But I remain perfectly still, heart pounding, as I continue to observe this unguarded version of my enigmatic jailer. His presence fills the room, a mixture of power and something I can’t quite define. Just as I think he might leave, his voice breaks the silence.

“I’m sorry,” he says softly. “This…this isn’t right. What they’ve done to you…”

My eyes fly open before I can stop myself. Soren jerks back, clearly startled to find me awake. For a moment, we just stare at each other, the air between us crackling with tension.

“You’re sorry?” I croak, my voice rough from disuse. “You’re fucking sorry?”

Soren’s face hardens. “Miss Blackwood,” he says formally, “I want to assure you that what happened will not be repeated. The…excessive harvesting was not authorized.”

I snort, wincing at the pain it causes. “Oh, well, that makes it all better then, doesn’t it? Unauthorized torture instead of the approved kind.”

His jaw clenches, and I’m surprised to see genuine anger flash across his face. “It was unacceptable,” he growls. “Those responsible will face consequences.”

“Why do you care?” I challenge, searching his face for answers. “Aren’t we just blood bags to you?”

Soren takes a step closer, and I tense instinctively. But instead of menace, I feel an inexplicable pull toward him. He extends a hand, his fingertips hovering just above my arm. For a heartbeat, I think he might actually touch me this time. The air feels charged, like the seconds before lightning strikes.

Then, as quickly as it began, the moment shatters. Soren turns away abruptly.

“Rest, Miss Blackwood,” he says stiffly, already striding toward the door. “You’re safe here.”

Safe?

He has got to be freaking kidding!

Before I can formulate a response, he’s gone, leaving me alone with a whirlwind of confusion and conflicting emotions.

14

Chapter 14

Soren

Ipace the operationsroom, my footsteps echoing in the tense silence. I’m struggling to come to terms with what’s been going on; it doesn’t sit well with me. Mia’s condition, Lucien’s callousness, the moral mess I find myself in – I don’t like it. I don’t fucking like it at all.

The door opens, and team members begin to file in. The humans among them look disheveled, rubbing sleep from their eyes. Confusion is etched on their faces – late-night summons aren’t common here.

“Sir?” Grayson, my second-in-command, approaches. “What’s the situation?”

I hold up a hand, silencing him. “We’ll begin when everyone’s here.”

Minutes tick by, each second grating on my already frayed nerves. Finally, the door swings open one last time. Heath stalks in, his face a mask of annoyance.

My jaw clenches at the sight of him. A witch betraying his own kind. The very thought turns my stomach. I’ve lived for centuries, seen countless acts of treachery, but this…this feels particularly vile.

Heath’s eyes meet mine, and I don’t bother hiding my disgust. He returns my glare with equal intensity. The air between us crackles with unspoken hostility.

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