Page 42 of Bite of Sin

“No. You’re killing him,” Zan shot back. “Answer my question. And I swear, if you lie to me, neither of you will leave here alive.”

“I’ve known him my whole life,” I choked out, unable to stop the tears from flowing.

Zan’s face didn’t reveal anything, and I screamed when he didn’t stop. The arms tightened around me, keeping me back as I struggled.

“His name,” Zan spat out. “What is it?”

“Warner,” I cried. “His name is Warner.”

Zan relaxed his hold, and a sob escaped me when Warner sucked in choppy breaths as Zan kept his hand around Warner’s neck. Viggo moved beside me, making me realize it was Pax who was holding onto me.

“A bond strong enough for her to hold on to after transition,” Viggo muttered, giving Zan a long look.

I frowned in confusion until I remembered what Pax had told me. Human bonds survived even after people were turned into vampires. They still believed I was a vampire. I wasn’t sure if that helped right now. My heart was racing out of control, and I was sure all three of them could hear it with how quiet it was now that no one else was here.

“Do you love her?” Zan cocked his head, his stare on Warner.

Warner glared daggers at him, keeping his mouth closed. Disgust and loathing covered his face until Zan squeezed, and Warner flailed when his air was cut off again.

“Zan,” I pleaded, my voice raw with emotion. “We grew up together. He’s like my brother.”

“He’s not looking at you like a sibling.” Zan glanced at me, his eyes cold. “Have you been with him?”

I hesitated for only a second, but it was enough for Zan to think I was lying. With a snarl, he shoved Warner back hard enough that he fell to the floor of the cage. I’d never been with Warner, not sexually—not even a kiss. But we’d talked about it. Promised each other that if we lived past twenty-five, we were going to try it. Build a life in this hell together and have each other to lean on.

I loved him because he wasalwaysthere for me. He was my comfort. My safe place. He’d never let me down. It wasn’t sparks of love or lust, but I never expected to find that in this life. Warner was reliable. He was as close to a home as I’d ever had.

Warner climbed back to his feet, his devastated expression cracking my heart. Pax slowly let me go, and I looked over my shoulder to see him glowering at me. He was definitely regretting keeping my secret now.

“Did he turn you?” Warner growled hoarsely, hitting his hands on the bar. “I’ll fucking kill them—”

“He doesn’t know?” Viggo cut him off with a callous laugh. “What a shit way to find out.”

I threw him a scathing look, and he gave me a shrug. Zan’s eyes darted between me and Warner before he reached forward and grabbed me, pulling me in front of him. He situated me just like he had on the dance floor a couple of nights ago, with my back pressed to his chest. I was facing the cage, and Warner watched, his jaw muscle flexing when Zan wrapped one arm around my waist.

“She’s with us now,” Zan said, the possessiveness in his tone making the back of my neck prickle. “Where were you when a vampire turned her?”

Warner let out a shout of fury, horror crossing his face when he looked at me again. “Fuck, Kali. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”

Anguish sliced my heart as we stared at each other. He was already mourning me. He thought I was gone. And I couldn’t blurt out that I was still human. No matter how hard it was. I knew how devastated I’d be if I were in his position. If we had any chance of getting out of this, he had to believe I was a vampire.

I jerked when Zan’s fingers softly touched my skin. He slowly traced my collarbone, and I stilled, not understanding what the hell he was doing. Warner watched him, rage quickly replacing the sadness when Zan’s fingers dipped lower, grazing my skin around the necklace.

“You left her alone and look what happened.” Zan’s voice was mocking. Cruel. And it had the effect he wanted, because Warner recoiled like he’d been hit.

“It wasn’t his fault,” I snapped.

“Mmm,” Zan hummed out. “Protecting him? Now I understand why you’ve been so compliant the last two nights. And here I thought you were warming up to me. But no—it’s because he’s here.”

I didn’t dignify that with a response. Viggo took out a pack of rolled cigarettes and took one out before putting it to his mouth. He lit it, his stare staying on Warner as his brows furrowed.

“Should I turn him?” Zan whispered in my ear. “Give the two of you eternal life together?”

My blood turned to ice, and I stayed silent because any answer was dangerous. He was playing a game that I didn’t know the rules to.

“Bad idea,” Viggo retorted, blowing out a lungful of smoke. “Her bond with him is strong, and his will be the same. He’ll never follow our orders. Not when it comes to her.”

“True,” Zan mused. “Kill him then?”

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