Page 44 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

I come to a sharp stop as King comes into view.

“Your new alphas have been asking questions.” My blood runs cold at the mention of the guys. I try to move, but a searing pain shoots through my body, stopping me in my tracks.

“They are causing more trouble than they’re worth.” King’s words move through my brain like thick sludge.

“There is something almost… familiar about them.” He stares at me with a cruel smile.

He couldn’t know. If he knew who or what they were to me, they will be killed.

I try to speak, but there’s too much blood filling up my lungs.

His nostrils flare at my attempt just before he strikes me hard across the face. “Silence them or I will.”

“Up.” His command strikes the room like lightening.

I grit my teeth through the pain. An uncontrollable shake rattles through my body as I force myself to my knees.

Before I can steady myself, my hands are gripped tightly behind me. My whole body freezes up as cold metal bands are placed around my wrists.

A shooting electric pain envelops every nerve in my body. My vision blurs from the tears running down my face.

“Quite painful, aren’t they? Cast in iron and said to have been dipped in the blood of all three harpies, the pain they emit is as vicious, violent and cruel as their counterpart.” Wave after wave of agony falls over me as my pain tolerance is pushed to its limits. King’s attempt to reach my breaking point, yet again.

I try to scream, but my brain no longer functions. All I can feel is pain. I can’t move, every inch of me trapped in a loop of agony.

Dark spots blink across my vision as I sway, making it hard to focus on what’s going on around me.

“Right now, your nerves are attacking your body. Destroying itself from the inside out and melting your organs to ash.”

I hear the smile in his cold voice, making me shiver. Even after all these years, hearing the delight in his voice is unsettling.

Holding me in place, the pain turns sharp, pulling every nerve in my body like a bow strung too tight. My lungs burn to take a deep breath.

Flames attack my throat travelling to my chest as I choke on ash. I’m frozen in an endless loop, trying in vain to take a breath but become halted by the relentless electric shocks.

I’m powerless to do anything but try and hold on.

To think of anything but my broken battered body and mind.

I need to focus. To fight. To hold on that bit longer.

Trying to breathe through the pain, I slowly lift my gritty lids.

King’s dark eyes come into view.

“With the blocker in your system. It will take days for you to heal completely.” His cold chuckle echoes around me.

Suddenly I’m lifted into the air. A long black cord coils around my throat, taking whatever air I have left. I claw at it, trying to get it to release me, but it’s no use. My energy is gone and along with it, any hope I had for my ability to kick in.

I gurgle as more dark cords appear, growing sharp points as they dig into my legs and stomach.

Blood dribbles out of my mouth in a stream as I choke down liquid flames. Black spots dance across my vision. I welcome it, too tired to fight any longer.

A spark of energy tugs somewhere inside me, just as darkness calls to me.

CHAPTER 11

“Why isn’t she healing?” a gruff voice asks, his tone unconcerned.

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