Page 83 of Bite of Vengeance

“The Clovers?” I looked at Viggo. “They agreed to help?”

He shrugged. “We came to an…understanding.”

“What understanding?”

“We’ll talk about it later when you don’t look like you’re on death’s doorstep.” He squeezed my arm. “Come on, let’s go.”

Chapter 33

Kali

Ihopped off the bottom step, peering around the room as my heart squeezed slightly. The smell was different than I remembered because of my new enhanced senses, and now the windows were all boarded up. A few tables were flipped, and the cages were all open and empty. The loud, party atmosphere was now nonexistent, but stepping into Impulse still shot a flurry of emotions through me.

This place was where my journey with Zan started all those months ago. I’d walked in here with loathing in my heart for him and his brothers. Now, I stood here a completely different person. The lingering question was whether my change was for good or bad.

“Good to see you out of bed. How is Zan?”

My eyes snapped up, and I saw Gia behind the bar just like the first time I’d met her. Only this time she was loading guns instead of filling drinks.

“He’s still out of it,” I muttered. We’d escaped from PARA three days ago, and Zan had been sleeping most of that time. The only time he did wake up was to feed. I’d been staying in bed with him because he slept better when I was in his arms. Herefused to go into detail about what they did to him when I was knocked out for days, but I did know they tortured him so badly that his ribs and other internal injuries were still mending.

“You look fine.” Her gaze traveled over me. “How is your transition going?”

My heart skipped. “I think it’s done.”

“I thought so. You healed quickly. Especially after what they did to you.”

My stomach churned. “What they did backfired. I don’t think Rowan was expecting me to become immune to hawthorn so quickly.”

“Your mother was the same,” she informed me as she loaded another rifle. “That was why she was under guard her entire pregnancy. They couldn’t use hawthorn to control her.”

Sadness for the mother I never knew swallowed me. I couldn’t imagine how horrible it must have been. To be imprisoned, knowing she was going to die while unable to protect her unborn children.

“Are you sure we’re safe here?” I blurted out. Just thinking of PARA or Amaros tracking us down had ice flowing in my veins.

She nodded. “Deadwood was abandoned after Zan and Pax took Keeva out of Project Hope. We’re staying out of sight. No one will know we’re here. Plus, we took over Project Hope. There are enough Shadows prowling this area that we’d be alerted long before anyone reached us.”

I shuffled closer to her, moving around the flipped tables. “Gia…did my mother ever say anything about what I was born to do? What me and Keeva were meant to be?”

She set the gun down, her smile dimming slightly. “Why?”

“The things Keeva said.” I cleared my throat. “There’s a book or text or something that explains what we’re meant for. One of us is dark and the other is light.”

“Did she say you’re the dark?”

Shock flared as I crossed my arms. “Yes.”

“Kali.” She rounded the bar and stood in front of me. “Remember who Keeva is with. They made her believe what they wanted. No one knows who the dark and the light is. No one but you and Keeva.”

“But I don’t know what I am,” I whispered hoarsely. “I’m in love with a Kane. I care for vampires?—”

I snapped my mouth closed, realizing she was the vampire I was talking about. Her eyes warmed, and she squeezed my arm.

“Only you know your soul, Kali,” she said softly. “Only you can make choices in your life. Just like your twin.”

We didn’t even know where Keeva was. Once everything calmed down, we realized there were tunnels under the building I’d been imprisoned in. Keeva and Rowan had gotten out, along with all the blood they’d taken from me.

The door opened, and I glanced over my shoulder to see Viggo and Pax entering Impulse. My heart was still hammering from talking with Gia, but she left me with more questions than answers.

---