Page 55 of Captive Hybrid

‘I’m not a fucking meal,’ I snap.

Siobhan looks pleased at my response, as though my attitude makes me all the more interesting.

That’s it. I’ve had enough of this. ‘Good night,’ I snap as I leave the room, headed for my bedroom. Just another place I’m being held against my will.

Mordecai? How close are you? I’m done with these vampires. They want to eat me.

A pulse of concern meets me. Maybe another few hours. We still don’t know exactly how to get to you.

I do. I’ll meet you tonight. I’m getting the hell out of here.

I finally have a chance to escape, and I’m not about to wait around for someone to decide to see just how ‘delicious’ I taste. Eugh.

In my room, I pace for a while, tying my hair back in a long braid to keep my hands busy, waiting for Evelyn to march into my room and snap at me for being rude to her guest. Instead, a soft tap comes. Evelyn doesn’t seem like the type to knock quietly. ‘Come in.’

Aidan pushes the door open. ‘Hey. I heard what happened. Are you okay?’

I pace the length of my latest prison. ‘Why did Evelyn say she would keep me here? This is just another cell.’

‘It—it’s not, Zenna.’ Aidan enters, closing the door behind him. ‘She offered because she knew you would be down there, suffering. And Drusilla didn’t seem to mind. Evelyn did you a favour.’

I halt and face him, gaze level. ‘No. She didn’t. There had to have been something in it for her. Tell me.’

Aidan lets out a breath. ‘She—look.’ He runs a hand through his hair, his arms still mottled with my thorn marks. ‘Okay, so, maybe she looks good to Drusilla for looking after you, but that’s—’

I resume pacing. ‘I’m not interested in being anyone’s captive anymore. I’ve had enough.’

‘I wish I could help you with that.’

You have, I think. ‘Just go. I need to be alone.’

‘I hope you’ve learnt something during your time here.’

I frown and look up at him from the other side of the room. ‘Like what?’

Aidan just gives a shrug. ‘Just… that things are complicated, and sometimes, that’s okay.’

I roll my eyes, shoving his nonsense to the back of my head. I sigh in relief as he closes the door behind him.

I’ve been practicing keeping my heart rate even, so as not to draw attention to myself. When I press my ear to the door, the sounds of chatter are gone. Will and his bloodthirsty vampire are gone, and I’m hoping Evelyn and Aidan have retired to their room for the night.

Despite Godric’s warning, I make a decision that could be the death of me.

I pad out into the hallway alone—amid a Tomb of hungry vampires to whom I apparently smell delicious—creeping to one of the exits. I’m getting the hell out of here, no matter what.

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