Page 72 of Hell Storm

He peered down at me and said nothing, leaving me to wonder what plan he’d come up with inside that dark soul of his. Another fantasy about ending my life, perhaps?

“A blood bond,” he mumbled thoughtfully. “I’ve read Dr. Percival’s reports on the effects of one, but … are you suggesting the monarchs actually believe he was on to something?” Aaric was distracted when asking, staringthroughme rather thanatme. “I suppose that question has already been answered, if what you’re saying is true.”

I writhed beneath him again while he mostly had this portion of the conversation with himself. It was possible that, with him distracted, I could break free, but what then? I’d seen with my own two eyes that his speed was second to none. I’d make it maybe a foot before he snatched me back and finished what he started.

“Tell me, how many have already initiated their bond with you?”

I squirmed a bit less conspicuously now. “Two.”

His smile returned. “Do you believe in fate?”

The odd question made my brow knit together. “Fate? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

That wickedly handsome smile of his returned, and I had no idea what he hid behind it.

“I believe it was fate that brought you to me. And there’sanotherfact I believe bears mentioning.” With his free hand, he pushed my hair away from my face, and that was when I realized his claws were still drawn. My natural reaction was to recoil from his touch.

“What’s that?” I asked, even though I still hadn’t caught my breath fully.

His smile broadened and I just had this feeling that his pleasure was directly linked to my pain.

“Four days. That’s how long you’ve been here,” he revealed. It took a moment to understand what that had to do with anything, but then … I did.

“I’m willing to bet whatever venom you harbored when you first arrived has run its course by now. Wouldn’t you say?”

The wickedness in his stare rendered me speechless.

“Well, either way,” he continued, “I suppose I’ll just take my chances.”

There was no time to protest, no time to scream. My flesh burned and throbbed when his fangs struck deep. A frenzy of violent sucking caused my vision to blur and then dim. My consciousness was slipping quickly, but I fought it.

“Too much,” I choked out. Only … I’d forgotten he didn’t care whether I lived or died, so these words meant nothing to him.

His weight on top of me grew heavier then, as he savored my taste. He seemed to lose all sense of time in that moment of deep indulgence.

The room spun, but I was aware of a new sensation, a sharp prick to my outer thigh.

A needle.

Aaric’s mouth left my skin and the darkness that flooded behind the silver centers of his eyes faded like smoke. I moaned with weakness when words wouldn’t leave my lips.

What did he just inject me with?

What’s his plan?

The words, “Rest now,” sounded like a dark serenade leaving his mouth.

I had no choice but to obey, feeling the room closing in on me as my limbs became heavy and useless. Whatever Aaric had up his sleeve was about to come to pass as consciousness left me.

Thanks to supernatural speed, and a well-kept secret plan, there wasn’t much I could do to stop him.

I was completely at Aaric’s mercy.

***

“Corina, answer me! You have to open your eyes!”

There was panic in Levi’s voice, but the dense haze inside my head distorted everything else.

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