Page 2 of Bite of Sin

A large bed was in the middle of the room, and it was the only piece of furniture that I could see. A woman was lying there, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed. Her long hair was deep brown with red highlights and was wrapped in a loose bun. Her nose was red, and her eyes were squeezed shut as she rocked back and forth. Until she suddenly went still.

My heart stuttered when her eyes snapped open, and a moment later, her gaze locked on me. I wasn’t sure if she could see me through the vent, but her stare didn’t waver as I swallowed thickly. Before I could motion for Pax and Viggo to move back, she began speaking.

“I know you’re there,” she said softly, her voice motherly and sweet. “Come out. Help me. Please.”

I didn’t move, and I heard Pax’s quiet arguments. I’d never seen her before, and I knew everyone on the grounds. But she didn’t look dangerous. If anything, she looked nicer than any adult I’d met. My chest constricted as I thought about my mother. The mother I’d never known or met. More than anything, I wanted a mother to tuck me in at night. To sing to me and keep me safe. Like Pax and Viggo, I’d never gotten that. Other than our strict nanny, our father was the only parent figure we knew.

More tears welled in the lady’s eyes, and that was all it took for me to push against the metal vent. It shook a little, and I knew the screws holding it were short and not sturdy, just like the screws in the grate we always snuck through. I slid back, giving myself more room for my arms.

“Zan,” Pax hissed. “Let’s just go back. Don’t.”

Instead of doing what he wanted, I slammed my palms against the metal two more times, ignoring the pain jolting through my hands. The grate loosened, and after hitting it a couple more times, it finally gave and clattered to the floor. Panic slid through me, worrying the noise would attract attention.

“It’s okay,” the woman coaxed, giving me a warm smile. “Come here, dear boy.”

“Hurry up,” Viggo grumbled from behind me. “I need to get out of here.”

Pax sighed. “This is a mistake.”

Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself forward until I was going headfirst into the room. My chest hit the floor, and I groaned as Pax fell on top of me. I pushed him off and rolled to the side before Viggo landed on me too.

“Who are you?” Viggo asked bluntly once he climbed to his feet.

The lady smiled, and small wrinkles covered her forehead. “I know who you are, Viggo. Along with your brothers, Pax and Zan. Your father wouldn’t be very happy to find you here, would he?”

“We’re leaving,” Pax mumbled, glaring at me.

“It’s okay. I’m not going to tell him,” she whispered. “Can you boys do something for me?”

Curiosity filled me as I stepped closer to the bed, my body tensing when I saw what was connected to the bedpost near the foot of the bed. It was a thick chain, and it traveled under the blanket, making me believe it was connected to her. Viggo nudged me in the shoulder, noticing the same thing.

“Are you a prisoner?” Viggo asked, his voice sharp. “Are you against us?”

The woman shook her head gently. “No. But I’m sure your father wouldn’t agree.”

“We don’t talk to traitors,” Viggo spat out.

I stared at her, not agreeing with Viggo. Her eyes were warm and sweet. She didn’t look dangerous at all.

“I’m not leaving this place alive.” Her voice caught, and she cleared her throat. “But I don’t want my daughter to share the same fate.”

All three of us went silent with shock as she shifted and raised her arms to show a baby bundled in a blanket. My gut churned as I looked at the tiny baby. When traitors were brought here, they were killed—along with any of their family that were caught too. I’d never seen them kill kids or babies, but we all heard rumors.

“Take her. Please,” the woman pleaded, pain lacing her voice. “You boys know a way off the grounds, don’t you?”

Viggo exchanged a glance with Pax. There was a tunnel we’d discovered a few months ago. We’d only used it once so far to leave the mansion. But to sneak a baby away? No way we could get away with that.

“She needs to live,” the woman implored, her voice rising. “She is vital to everything. The war—”

“What?” Pax questioned, looking doubtful.

“Where there is death, there needs to be new life.” She stared above us as she spoke. “The balance cannot be disturbed. One cannot survive without the other.”

“I think it’s time to go,” I muttered, not understanding the lady’s ramblings.

“Zan.” She spoke my name with a love I’d never experienced before, making me halt. “You’re going to do great things. One day, your father will fear you.”

My fingers curled into fists. “You don’t know who I am.”

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