Page 72 of Eternally Yours

“Father, where’s Catherine? I’d like to speak with her.”

“They performed a miracle, Nicholas,” he replied, ignoring my question. “That mons—” He cleared his throat. “...womanalmost decapitated you.”

I winced again as I tried to roll my shoulders and tilt my head, but a sharp jolt shot up my spine.

Shit. This is going to take some getting used to.

“I still can’t believe it,” my father went on. “We brought you back from true death.”

Trying to make sense of my father’s words made my head pound. And the pangs of hunger twisting in my stomach were not aiding the situation. I turned toward the glass of blood, contemplating giving in to my impulse.

I needed—wanted that blood.

“It’s what’s kept you alive. Drink it,” my father said.

Without much choice, I reached for the glass and tipped the liquid down my throat. Aside from drinking from Loren, nothing was richer and smoother than fresh human blood. It went down in two gulps, soothing the burning in my throat. But it wasn’t enough.

“Get me the decanter,” I said, placing the glass back on the table.

My father smiled. “Glad to see you’re already feeling better.”

I swallowed hard, my insides protesting at the lack of more sustenance. “Not quite. I’ll feel better once I’ve had a chance to speak with Loren. Where are you keeping her?”

Pressing his lips together, he stood and started toward the bar. “Perhaps now is not the best time to talk about such matters. You need to rest.”

There he was again, dismissing my question. “Father, where is Loren?”

He kept walking. “There’s plenty of time to discuss this later.”

That’s it. I’ve had enough of this bullshit.

“Quit fucking around with me,” I said, pushing up from the bed, my jaw clenching as I fought through the spiderweb of pain across my body. Limping, I followed after him. “Tell me where she is. Now.”

His back to me, my father remained brutally silent, his head bowed.

Alarm rang through me and my blood ran glacial. This wasn’t my father being an asshole. Something was terribly wrong. Nostrils flaring, I fought to stay upright. “Father, please. I need to know she’s okay.”

“Loren is dead, my son.”

My muscles locked and I stared at the back of his head, my lungs fighting for breath. “What the fuck you just say?”

He turned around, face downbeat.

My jaw slacked. I’d been wrong. Thiswashim being an asshole. But this was low. Even for him.

“You’re lying,” I gritted.

Eyes wide, he stepped forward. “Why would I lie to you about such a thing?”

Needing distance from him, I staggered back, disgusted with his never-ending machinations. Loren had fed me her blood. He’d said so himself, which meant Cat had disarmed the collar. Everything had gone according to plan.

Everything. Had gone. According. To plan.

It had to, otherwise… I ran a trembling hand through my hair. “You’re upset about the shame I brought this family, but I won’t allow you to use Loren to punish me.”

Stepping closer, he put a steadying hand on my shoulder. “I made you a promise, Nicholas. Despite my disapproval of the choices you’ve made, I’m a man of my word.”

I knocked his hand away and pinned him with a hard stare. “Then you’re mistaken. Loren can’t be dead.” I paced, the pain in my body numbed by the one in my heart. Closing my eyes, I searched for her through our bond, but was met with silence. Perhaps he was keeping her offsite. Maybe the collar had left a lasting effect that dulled our connection.

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