I make a mental note to ask him what else he can do. I wonder if he’s able to shift into a wolf as well and what other magic he has up his sleeve.
A sudden wave of jealousy hits me. Jax can do all sorts of things, and all I’m able to do is occasionally grow fangs and claws. And if I were able to fully shift, I wouldn’t be here since I’d already be mated with Ryker. I’d be useless to Nicolai.
* * *
I pullmy shirt over my head and use it to dry my face. I wish I was able to take a real shower, but splashing some water on my face is going to have to do for now. I don’t know how long Jax is going to be gone, but I decide to take advantage of not being chained to a table and clean myself up as best as I can. I look down at the damp shirt in my hand and wonder if Jax could score me a new set of clothes.
I walk out of the bathroom in my sports bra and leggings and move to hang my shirt over the plastic chair to allow it to dry out. I barely make it a foot into the room before the main door swings open, and Nicolai saunters in. His hair is sticking up all over his head like he had been nervously pulling at it, and his pale eyes are wild-looking. I immediately take a step back and hold the shirt in front of me, not wanting him to see me in just a bra.
It’s probably better not to add any fuel to that fire.
“Why aren’t you chained?” he questions when he scans the room and then me. “Where’s Jax?”
“He stepped out for a minute.” Not wanting to get Jax in trouble, I don’t offer any more information than that.
“I see the hellfire didn’t work.”
“What, really? I totally thought I had grown a tail and a set of pointy ears.” I pat my head before turning around to look at my rear end. I turn back to Nicolai and attempt to look disappointed. “Oh shoot, better luck next time?”
Nicolai roars in rage and flies across the room at me so fast I don’t have enough time to react. He slams us into the wall behind me. My spine and shoulders take the brunt of the hit, and I groan in pain.
“I’m so fucking sick of your mouth,” he growls, his breath hot on my face. “I really didn’t want to mutilate you since you’re so enjoyable to look at, but I’m seriously considering cutting your tongue out.”
“We both know you won’t.” I smirk. “You get too much pleasure out of our witty banter.”
“You’re overestimating my fascination with you. I wanted your mother, and while you’re a strong alpha wolf and would make a great addition to the program, you’re still nother.”
“If you don’t care about me, why don’t you let me out of here?” I ask.
“Because I still want what is owed to me. I will break you, Grey—I can promise you that. I will break your spirit, and then I’ll break the binds that hold your wolf prisoner. And lastly, I’m going to break you physically. And I know exactly how I’m going to do it.” The look of delight on his face makes me very nervous. “Go ahead, ask me how I’m going to do it.”
I don’t do what he asks at first, so he presses me harder into the wall and digs his claws into my upper arms where he holds me.
“Fine,” I huff. “How are you going to do it?”
Nicolai leans forward and speaks low into my ear. “I’m going to make you watch as I kill Ryker, but first, I’m going to make him watch as I fuck you.”
I jerk back and glare at him, confused. “You promised you’d leave him alone. I did what you said—I voluntarily came with you! You said you wouldn’t hurt him if I did.”
“You’re right, that is what I said. I believe I also said as long as Ryker stayed away and didn’t try to find you, I wouldn’t touch a single hair on his head.” Nicolai releases me and takes a step back. “Well, guess who’s found you?”
Ryker…
* * *
Nicolai didn’tchain me back up when he left, so I pace back and forth across the small room while I wait for Jax to get back. I’m a combination of pissed off and elated Ryker has found me. My skin prickles at the idea of him being close to where I am, but my stomach twists in knots and fear at the idea of him being close to me. Because it’s not just me who he’s getting closer to, Nicolai is here too, and he wants blood.
I’m pissed because in the clearing and also in the video I left, I begged Ryker to stay away. Like I had told him in the video, all of this will be for nothing if he shows up and is killed by Nicolai. I’m also angry Elias or Sawyer would allow him to go after me. I had made them promise to keep Ryker safe, and him coming here is anything butsafe.
“Fuck!” I shout, slamming my fist into the drywall. Dust and debris fall to the floor when I remove my hand.
“What the hell?” Jax says when he suddenly appears across the room with a grocery bag in his arms. The smell of smoke fills the room before quickly fading. “What happened to you?”
“He’s coming here, and Nicolai is going to kill him.” My voice is flustered when I speak. “And he’s going to make me watch as he does it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jax shakes his head as he digs around in the bag of food. “Granola bar?”
“What? No!” I slap his hand away when he holds up a green package. “You’re not listening to me! Nicolai is going to kill him!”