Page 69 of Bloody Nights (La Vega Vampire Showstoppers 2)

“If you kill him, she’ll never do as you say. Look how much she has taken already. This is not how you get a dhampir to obey.” Cooper risks speaking out, rattling the chains stretching his arms high above his head.

Alexander drops me, and I scream in agony as my weight slams on my ankle, sending me to my face. Blurring through the room, Alexander appears in front of Cooper and jabs a knife into his stomach. It’s the tenth time he’s done so, and Cooper manages to only grunt instead of yell out this time.

“Then maybe I should kill you. If you know so much about dhampirs and my baby doll, you pose a risk to me. We can’t have that now.” Alexander pulls out the knife and returns to me, holding it against my lips. “Or maybe I’ll demand that she kills you instead.”

My nostrils flare at the scent of Cooper’s blood.It’s not until this minute that I realize how hungry I am. I can’t even remember the last time I properly ate. And this hunger...it’s far worse than what I’ve experienced before. I never knew what it was like to be without blood. I feel like I’m on the verge of either exploding or shattering. If I shatter, that’ll be it for me. But if I explode? I’m fucking taking down Alexander with me.

I can’t control my body, and I flick my tongue between my lips and lick the middle of the bloody blade. I cut myself on the sharp edge, but I don’t even care. Cooper’s blood tastes incredible. It’s exactly what I needed in this moment. Even the tiny taste is enough to send a burst of energy through me. I tense my muscles and jerk my attention to Cooper. His eyes flash silver. He sees what I feel. He knows me now on a different level that he can predict what to expect. And right now, I need to be the true monster. I need to show Alexander what I am capable of despite not wanting to obey him.

But it’s not Alexander I’m going to go after. It’s Cooper. If I can get within his reach for a second, I might be able to break the chains. I feel as if I could break bones and bricks and everything that rises in my path.

I lick the bloody knife again. “You’re going to regret this,” I snap, my voice sounding stronger than ever. I don’t know how I manage to suppress the pain, but my adrenaline kicks on and my blood hunger suppresses my humanity.

“Prove it. Prove it, and perhaps I’ll let your blood source go.” Alexander grabs my hair and jerks my head to look at Knox bleeding on the floor. It’s enough to kick me into action.

Jerking my hand out, I snatch the blade from Alexander’s fingers and sink it into his stomach. My speed throws him off and startles him, and he throws me to the floor and smacks me with his hand, the force of the hit enough to knock the wind out of me.

“Lawrence, stab both those bastards five times each. Whatever Hayley does to me, they will experience the same but far worse.” Alexander pins me down, and a moment later, my whole body stings and screams in pain as he slams his studded paddle across my ass.

“Don’t do it! If you do it—” I scream again, my threat cutting off as Alexander hits me over and over with his vampire speed and strength. He hits me enough that my body shuts down. It wants to protect me from the pain.

He shatters me. I’m not sure I can continue fighting.

“Enough, Alex. That is pointless. You’re hurting her out of anger and not for punishment. That is not how you train a dhampir to comply. If she believes you’re just going to hurt her, then what’s the point? She will not do anything.” Lawrence stands tall over me, his shadow blocking out the bright lights from above.

Alexander snarls and abandons me, shoving Lawrence back. The two of them standoff and threaten each other like monsters, but then Alexander finally backs off.

“I want to see her in action now. I want to be able to control the leadership. They’re growing weaker by the day, allowing more vampires coven union and power. They’re proving not to be my allies. If they were my allies, they would stand beside me.” Alexander’s voice rips through the air as he yells the words.

I inhale and exhale slowly, my whole body just wishing this would end.

“Hayley.” The soft whisper of my name draws my attention away from Lawrence and Alexander, and I manage to roll on my side to look at Knox. It’s the first time I’ve been able to see him, and my heart sinks into my stomach at how beaten and bruised he is. Alexander took out his wrath on him first, beating him into submission.

My whole body quivers as I press my hands to the floor, trying to get to my feet. I don’t know if I can. I don’t know if my body will let me or if Alexander will just knock me back down again. I wish we would’ve put up more of a fight instead of believing Lawrence was still going to double cross Alexander. The only thing giving me hope is that Lawrence stopped him from beating the shit out of me. I know he’s capable of doing the same. He did whip me before. I just hate this. I hate the fact that they’re trying to turn me into a psycho at the same time as they try to lure the Bella Crew here.

I just hope they didn’t believe Cooper. Because if they enter the building, it might be over for us.

“Hayley, get up and show him who you are. He won’t expect it right now.” Knox’s words drift to me, his voice low, but I’m so focused on him that I’m able to shove away Alexander and Lawrence yelling over what to do next.

And he’s absolutely right. I need to take the chance to get to him.

This could be the only thing that will save us.

I grab the discarded knife as I force my legs to cooperate. I stumble, but still, Lawrence and Alexander ignore me. They have so much confidence in themselves that they don’t consider me a threat. I don’t even consider myself a threat right now. The only thing I’m going to manage to do is probably get in one last blow before Alexander tears me apart.

But I have to try. I have to do something. I haven’t been through everything I’ve been through already just to let him win in the end. He can’t win. Lawrence can’t win either. I need to summon everything in me to prove I’m worthy of the Bella Crew. I’m worthy of being more than a slave.

Gathering my nerves and focusing on the rage brewing inside me, I charge forward, my body kicking into action as I trigger my dhampir nature, focusing on the blood staining Alexander’s clothes. I can smell him from here, and I imagine what it would be like to taste him as I drain him dry. I have drunk his blood before, but it will never be as sweet as it will be now. Because once I get my teeth into him, I’m not going to stop.

Lawrence darts his gaze to mine, but he doesn’t even react. He doesn’t warn Alexander either. I jump up and cling onto Alexander’s back, locking my hands around his head as I bend it sideways. I sink my teeth into his flesh hard enough to break his skin. He hollers and spins around, trying to throw me off him, but I lock my feet at my ankles, tightening my hold on him the best I can. Blood fills my mouth, and I suck and suck, feeling the tingles blossoming through my body. Heat swells in my stomach, and I savor the sensation that comes with satisfying my dark need. Alexander spins and tries to shove me into the wall, smashing me into it as he crashes backwards. But still, I don’t let go. It’s as if I’m permanently adhered to him. He’s going to know what it’s like to be my donor.

“Get her off me now!” Alexander shouts, digging his nails into my arms, trying to hurt me.

“Prove your strength, Aris,” Lawrence says, materializing in front of us. “You have to show her who is most powerful.”

Alexander tries to grab the front of Lawrence’s shirt, but he steps out of reach. Both of them are so focused on me that they don’t see the door to the gym flying open. They don’t hear the safeties clicking off on the guns.

I release Alexander for a split second only to bite him again, tearing into his flesh as hard as I can, hoping to make it hurt. Lawrence smiles at me, his fangs extending even more. They look like they’re desperate for a kill bite, but he keeps himself in control.

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