Page 112 of Tyrant

I’m weak. I hate fucking feeling weak like this. The pain in my back is endless. Trying to breath feels next to impossible.

“You should be in a fucking hospital right now,” Vic says to me.

“We’ll call the ambulance,” someone says. “He needs a hospital and sedation!”

“Call an ambulance and I’m putting your ass in it,” Demo barks at the nurse.

“Give us the room,” Vic says in a little bit more calm of a voice.

Demo’s grip tightens on my throat. His eyes meet mine. “Sit the fuck down. You’re going to end up hurting yourself and then there’s no chance at getting her back.”

Getting her… back…

I crash down onto the bed when Demo lets me go.

“You’re lucky to be alive right now,” Vic says. “We found you with a knife in your fucking back.”

I look up at Vic and nod. “Yeah. I was attacked.”

“No shit,” Demo says. “Who did it?”

“Something got sprayed in my face,” I say. “I heard a noise and went to check. Some kind of liquid was sprayed. It had no smell but it burned like fire. Stung awfully too. When I turned away I felt the knife go into my back. Then I passed out.”

I stand up. Demo puts a hand to my chest.

“Serafina,” I growl. “Where is she?”

“We don’t know,” Vic says.

I take a step. “I have to find her.”

My knees start to give out and I grab for Vic.

“Your brother is waiting out there to talk to you,” he whispers to me. “We need to have a meeting about this. Talk it all through.”

“I’m not putting on a fucking mask and robe right now,” I say. “Fuck the traditions. Myclaimed oneis missing.”

“She’s not yourclaimed oneany longer, is she?” Demo asks.

I look at him. “No. She’s mine. You already know this.”

“And look where it’s gotten you,” Vic says.

“Fuck off,” I growl. “Didtheydo this? Is this thelegion? Did they kidnap her from me?”

Now my head and heart are throbbing and racing faster than ever. The door opens once again and in walks my brother. Just outside the door I see a group of men in robes and masks. Luc is carrying his golden mask in his left hand. His eyes are intense, serious, staring straight at me.

“Every second we waste, there’s a greater chance of her death,” Luc says in a calm voice. “So the more you hesitate to give me answers, the more you’re just killing her.”

“Fuck you,” I say. “I’ll fucking kill you.”

I lunge at Luc but nothing feels right about my body at this point. Everything hurts. I’m fucking dazed. I don’t have the strength I normally do. I end up toppling toward Luc and he simply just pushes me away. I bump into a wall and feel another red hot jolt of pain in my back and my lungs and I drop down to one knee.

“We have nothing to do with this,” Luc says. “I would not run my throne as such. Wasting time over whores and theclaimed.”

I look up at my brother, gritting my teeth. “Then who the fuck stabbed me? Who the fuck took her? Where the fuck is she?”

“Why do you care so much about it?” Luc asks. “Why does it matter so much to you?”

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