Page 47 of The Prince's Mate

I hissed at the pounding in my head, not used to getting headaches, and blinked my eyes open. My ears twitched as I tried to get the sense of where I was, and the utter silence of the room was the first thing that clued me in to the fact that something was wrong.

I jerked upright, wincing when something wrenched against my right wrist. Glancing down, I found a thick, iron shackle wrapped around it, the other end tied to the bed frame. My other hand was free, and so were my legs, but I could feel the black magic woven through the shackle, and it was strong enough to keep me from magicking away.

"Fuck," I cursed, and then realized that I was in my true form. I hadn't thought to change back before I opened the door because I'd thought I was opening it for Walker. It hadn't been him, though, and I'd been too worked up at the sight of blood to realize that until it was too late. I tried to change back into my human form, but pain shot through me when I tried to use my magic, and I glared at the shackles. Curling my fingers, I sighed when my nails slid out. Maybe I could use them to unlock the shackles somehow. Or rip into Andras's throat.

I glanced around the room, cataloging each detail in case it became useful later. The room was well-furnished, a little dated but in good condition, with a mahogany dresser and cabinets, a huge mirror in one corner of the room, and a door that I assumed led to the bathroom on the other side. I glanced down at the bed, noticing the silk sheets, and froze when I realized someone had changed my clothes. I'd worn sweatpants and Walker's T-shirt, but now I was dressed in a silk robe...and nothing else.

I pushed back the fear that wanted to consume me. I wouldn't be afraid, not this time. I wasn't a kid now, and I was more than a cage fighter. I was a warrior. I'd fought dark souls, helped run a realm, and I now knew what love was truly supposed to feel like. I wasn't going to get fooled by Andras now, and I definitely wasn't letting him anywhere near me.

The door to the room opened, and I jerked against the shackle holding me to the bed, using all my strength to try to wrench it free even as it burned my skin.

"Oh, you're awake!" Andras exclaimed, his delight clear in his voice. "Look at you, my warrior cat. You look magnificent."

He strolled into the room as if he had no care in the world, draped in a loose white shirt and black pants like some retro pirate. His long brown hair had streaks of gray in them, and his skin was marred with wrinkles. He mustn't have turned into a vampire until his mid-fifties, to look as old as he did. He was still a stunning man though, the man I'd fallen into the trap of all those years ago, the man who'd made me believe he loved me and I loved him, when all he'd actually done was use and abuse me.

"Get me out of these and I'll show you how magnificent I can be," I growled, and he chuckled.

"Such fire. I always loved that about you. I like the new ears. And that tail? Oh my. I'm excited to see what I can make you do with them," he said with a grin, and my stomach turned. I curled my fingers into fists, gnashing my teeth as I tried to figure out a plan of action.

"What do you want from me, Andras?" I demanded, mostly to keep him talking while I figured something out. The person who'd impersonated Walker to get me out of the house...they'd apologized, hadn't they? Before I went unconscious? Maybe I could convince them to help me.

"I was so sad when we lost you in that fight. You were always my favorite, you know? I never forgot your face. Imagine my surprise when I saw you strolling down the street, smiling and happy andaliveall these years later," he said with a shake of his head. "You were always my most prized warrior. Of course I had to get you back."

"I'm not yours," I told him with a scowl, and he waved me off.

"You will be. I'll make you mine just like I did last time," he said, stalking closer to the bed. He gripped my chin and jerkedmy head up, and in my mind, I begged him to come just a little closer so I could rip his throat out.

I tried to pull my chin out of his grasp, but his nails dug into my skin, holding me still. "I will make you mine, Caelan. You'll remember whom you belong to, and then you will sit at my feet, at your rightful place, my pet."

I gritted my teeth and wrenched my chin free, wincing, when it left a bit of my skin between his nails. Raising a brow at me, he lifted it up and gave it a lick, humming softly.

"Your blood is unlike anything I've ever tasted," he murmured, and I swallowed hard. How was I supposed to get out of here without revealing what I was to him? Not that he could ever even guess what I was, but every little difference was a clue that he shouldn't have.

I could feel the droplets of blood trailing down my chin, and I watched his eyes darken as he followed their journey. I knew the moment his control snapped, and then he was on me, pressing me into the bed as he lapped at my neck.

I was frozen solid for a moment, the feel of him pressing me into the mattress sending me into panic. I squeezed my eyes shut, and suddenly, Walker was there, comforting me, assuring me everything was okay. That I was okay.

Snapping my eyes open, I soundlessly reached up with my left hand, my claws sliding free as I ripped them across his throat. He jerked back, his hand flying to his throat as blood poured down his chest, soaking into his white shirt. His eyes were wide and blazing hot as they met mine and he scrambled off the bed and stumbled out of the room without a backward glance as I lay there, my hand soaked in his blood and the damned cuff digging into my other hand.

I needed to get out of here and find my way back to Walker. If only I could get out of these damned shackles.

Ro'Shassz

I'd been playing the blame game for hours now, but at the end of the day, it was only one man's fault: Andras, and we were going to make him pay.

Step Twenty-One: Get Caelan back and make sure Andras can't hurt anyone else ever again.

Twenty-Two

Walker

"We have no clues and even Ro can't find Caelan! What if he's hurt? What if Andras did something to Caelan?" I demanded as I stalked across the room, tugging at the strands of my hair because the pain was the only thing keeping me the least bit focused.

"Walker, you need to calm down," Pops said, and I whirled to face him.

"I can't calm down! Caelan is out there somewhere, alone and in danger. How can I calm down?" I shook my head before resuming my pacing as I tried to figure out a way to track him.

"Walker, stop," Dad said, stepping into my path, and I looked up at him, at his golden eyes and huge black wings that had always brought me nothing but comfort. "I want to try something."

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