“What do you want with me? Henrik isn’t going to risk anything for me.”
Grey’s laugh was chilling. “I’ve seen what a dragon will do for his mate. He’ll be knocking on our door exactly when we want him to. I have good news for you though, little dragon, you’re about to be reunited with your friend.”
He shoved her through a door that led to a hallway with cement walls and a cement floor. Then there was another door, a flight of stairs, and down they went.
Tears stung Quinn’s eyes. She had been stupid to come to the club without backup. She’d been so frustrated with everything and then she put herself at risk. She put Henrik and the mission at risk. She hoped whatever was going to happen that it would be quick. Thank goodness Henrik hadn’t claimed her. Their lifelines weren’t tied together. He wouldn’t die when she did.
Grey shoved her through yet another door. This door led to a cement room with a man strung from the ceiling.
“James!” She jerked out of Grey’s hands. He must’ve let her go this time. She stood in front of James, her dear friend, who was hanging lifelessly, his arms stretched over his head, his toes barely touching the ground. With humans, they would eventually suffocate, unable to hold themselves up like that forever.
She didn’t know what it would do to James.
“James?”
His eyes fluttered open. They closed again like he was having trouble keeping them open.
“Oh god, James, what did they do to you?”
“Q, what the fuck are you doing here?” he muttered.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, trailing into her mouth. The bitter salt taste made her cry harder.
“James, I’ve been looking for you.”
His eyes drooped again.
“Your friend is quite the pillar of strength. While I find it annoying, I must say, I am quite impressed.”
“Why are you doing this to him?”
“He was a double agent. He was playing me.”
Quinn’s head tilted back as she tried to see how he was strung up. Her eyes traced the line of the ropes, over the rafter and then secured to the wall behind him. She moved to where the rope was tied and tugged at the knot.
“If you let him down, I’ll rip his head off.”
Quinn’s hands jerked back from the knot. “Please let him down.”
“He’s going to be executed, Quinn. He’s a traitor.”
“Because he opted out of world domination and destruction?”
Grey smiled. “Yes.”
Quinn kept her distance from the vampire, though she knew it was purely false security. Trapped in a cage with a lion was not how she expected to spend her night. Henrik didn’t even know where she was.
No one did.
Grey chuckled. “Little dragon, you must keep your thoughts more guarded. Most vampires can only see what’s on the surface, and that’s only if they have age and experience on their side. I’ve been alive for two millennia. I can see much deeper into your mind. Your dragon may not know where you are, but it won’t stop him from looking for you.”
“If you’re going to kill James, he’s too weak to fight back, please let him down. Let me have some time with him.”
Grey eyed her curiously. “Why are you so attached to James? You have your dragon. What do you need with a vampire?”
“He’s my best friend.”
“How did this friendship come about?”