Page 29 of Bite of Vengeance

“And you,” he murmured. “You will not entrance any of my vampires again. Or Warner will die a very slow death.”

“Warner would rather die than witness vampires taking over,” she spat out, her voice trembling. “Just like me.”

His chuckle sent ice down my spine. “Oh, I won’t just stop with him.”

“Zan’s your son, you won’t kill him,” Kali said stiffly.

“All those Shadows you’ve been talking to?” He cocked his head. “If they don’t comply, then they are of no use to me. I will not worry about fighting them along with the humans.” He walked forward, causing Kali to back up until she hit the other side of the cage. “I will kill every last one of them. And you? I won’t kill you. But you’ll be wishing for death.”

Her eyes darkened with rage, and she went deathly still when he wrapped his hand around her neck. I took one step before my body refused to cooperate. I sucked in deep breaths through clenched teeth, my heart pounding out of control. When heslammed her into the bars, I choked out a growl, forcing myself to take another step.

“Your power might be even greater than your mother’s,” he informed her. “You and your twin will use that power to help me get what I want. I’ve been patient during your transition. That ends now. You’ll do things my way.”

“No, I won’t,” she managed to spit out as he squeezed her throat tighter.

“You will.”

She opened her mouth, attempting to fill her lungs, panic crossing her face as she struggled against him. My nails dug into my palms, and when he let go of her just to slap her again, I snapped.

The bands of entrancement vanished as I darted forward, slamming into him. He let out a noise of surprise before spinning around and getting a hold of my hair.

“Your infatuation with her is getting tiresome, son,” he gritted out, forcing my head up. “Look at me.” His eyes locked on mine, his power halting my fight. “You will obey me.”

“No,” I roared, shoving him away.

I wasn’t sure who was more shocked. We stared at each other for a moment before he rushed me, pinning me against the bars. This time, when he caught my gaze, that was all I saw. His green eyes were a mirror of my own, and they grew darker as he pulled me back under entrancement.

“You. Will. Obey.” Each word was a nail in my coffin. His strength overshadowed mine, and my resistance made no difference. “You will leave this property and stay away until I say otherwise.”

I fell to my knees, my energy spent. I blinked, trying to focus as Amaros backed away. Kali was watching me, the sadness in her eyes nearly breaking me all over again. I wasn’t fucking strong enough, even for her.

“You three will leave. I want her twin out of Project Hope.” He glanced at Pax. “Do not disappoint me this time.”

“I’ll stay,” Viggo piped up, looking torn. “To help with Kali. You can’t leave her alone with any of your vampires. Not when she can entrance them.”

Amaros scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I’m not sure I can trust any of you right now. You three have always stuck together.”

Viggo was trying to help, but I wasn’t sure our father would agree to it. He was right. My brothers have always had my back.

“Ask me,” Viggo said, raising his arms. “See if I’m trustworthy.”

The tension grew as silence filled the room. Kali shifted on her feet, and it took everything to stay where I was. My father was thinking about it, and I didn’t want to mess it up. There was no doubt that I would be leaving the property, but I wouldn’t go completely crazy if I knew one of my brothers was here with her.

Viggo sauntered forward, stopping in front of Amaros. “Go ahead. Ask me.”

He met Viggo’s eyes, and my pulse strummed uneasily as my brother fell under entrancement. Pax wasn’t hiding his nerves as he paced around the cage as our father spoke.

“Who is your loyalty to?”

“Our family,” Viggo responded in a low voice.

“Not good enough. Is your loyalty to me?”

There was no hesitation. “Yes.”

“You’ll do what I ask?”

“Yes.”

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