Page 46 of Captive of the Dark

Cain returns. “I think we’re good, but just in case.”

He makes a circle of holy water around Donovan so he can’t get out, even if he does manage to break his bonds.

“How in the hell did you even find me?”

“We knew you’d use the Immortal Key,” I point out. “And that it wouldn’t take you too long to do it. Probably so that you could make yourself safe against whatever Roanac’s planning, hmm? We know he has big plans and you’ll want to cut and run out of the way, just like a proper coward.”

“What was so valuable in that vault anyway?” Cain asks.

“Plenty of things in there,” North observes, “but what would be so valuable that you would risk going in there by yourself and not telling your henchmen what you were up to? What did you just have to keep to yourself?”

Donovan switches his glare to North. “There’s a goblet in there that’s rumored to gift vampires with the ability to endure sunlight. If you drink any liquid from it, you’ll be able to go out into the sun.”

I shiver. Good thing that Donovan didn’t get to it. The idea of the bastard being able to walk in sunlight without having to hide away in his lair during the day is terrifying. I can’t imagine what else he and his henchmen could get up to if they weren’t restrained by the light of day.

“I don’t know what you want with me, but you’re not going to get it. It’ll only be a matter of time until Roanac finds you and then you’ll be toast too.” His gaze roams over us and lands on Cain. A knowing gleam comes into his eye. “I shouldn’t be surprised to find you here. Did you encourage them to do this? Hmm?”

“He didn’t have to encourage me to get revenge on you,” I spit out. “I was more than happy to take revenge on you for what you did to me.”

“You stole from me first!”

“You sold me to be murdered! So that a guy can try to become invincible and probably take over the world!”

“Kiara.” Cain puts a hand on my shoulder.

“Yes, yes, Kiara, calm down, listen to your boyfriend. He knows all about what to do when you’re in the clutches of vampires, doesn’t he?”

Cain lets go of me and glares at Donovan. I’ve never seen Cain look like this before, and I have a flashback to Raven when he was having his PTSD. Is Cain reliving trauma, too? What went on in these men’s pasts that they aren’t telling me about?

“Keep your fucking mouth shut,” Cain snarls.

Donovan scoffs. “Like I’ve got anything to lose. Not when I’ve got someone like him after me. Admit it, this isn’t about Roanac or anything other than petty revenge. Your grudge is against us, and we’re not even the ones you should be angry at. It’s your brother you should be after.”

“What is he talking about?” I look at Cain.

“Nothing,” Cain replies.

“I’m talking about how his brother sold him to a vampire blood slaver,” Donovan says smugly. “It’s no wonder he hates vampires so much, hmm?”

Cain lunges for Donovan, and my heart just about stops when I see that his claws are out. His demonic side is coming through.

I lunge for him and grab him just as North and Raven do, all three of us yanking Cain back before he can reach Donovan. I’ve no doubt in my mind that if Cain were to reach Donovan right now, he’d kill him, and as much as I hate the vampire we need him alive if our plan is going to succeed.

Raven lets go of Cain and moves in between him and Donovan, turning to stone to act as a shield as North and I push Cain back.

“Breathe,” North orders.

“I don’t need to breathe,” Cain snaps. He shakes the both of us off. “Get that bastard to shut up and cooperate.”

He shoves North away and storms out of the room.

Oh hell no. I’m following him.

CHAPTER18

Cain is in the kitchen, pacing up and down, occasionally opening a cupboard door and then slamming it shut again. I join him and fold my arms. I’m not letting him get away from us without some kind of explanation and fortunately for me, this is a very small safe house.

I’ve never seen him like this. Sure, he told me that he didn’t trust me, but he’s always done a good job of projecting the image of a man at ease. A man who’s laidback and casual. I know that it’s sort of an act because it gets enemies to underestimate him, but I’ve never thought of him as someone who gave into rage the way Raven and North do. He’s the more casual one out of the three.

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