Page 65 of Bite of Sin

“I snuck him some the other day,” I said, my voice shrill. “He can’t be entranced until it’s out of his system.”

Zan’s eyes flared with fury at my words, but I didn’t look away. It wasn’t exactly the truth. I hadn’t gotten the chance to give Warner any hawthorn, but he had a bracelet that he wore around his ankle with hawthorn in it. As long as he kept it on, they couldn’t entrance him. This way, it gave us another couple of days to think of something if they wanted answers.

Viggo cocked his head. “I can think of other ways to make him talk without us having to wait. You’re going to think that cage is heaven compared to what I’m going to do.”

“No,” I screamed. “He hasn’t done anything.”

“Have you?” Zan shot back. “Did you tell humans what you’ve learned here?”

“No,” I gritted out. “I haven’t left the city since you found me that night.”

There was no controlling my heart when I spilled out the lie, but it was beating so erratically right now I wasn’t sure he’d be able to pick up on it. Before he could reply, the front door slammed open, and Pax rushed inside. His eyes widened when he took in the scene, and he froze.

“Oh shit,” he muttered.

“Oh shit?” Viggo repeated, turning his attention to his twin. “Why does it sound like you already know what’s happening here?”

Of the three of them, Pax was the most open about his emotions, and the guilt that spread across his face had both Zan and Viggo whirling around toward him.

“Youknew,” Zan accused in a low hiss. “This whole fucking time?”

“Yes,” Pax admitted, his voice thick with emotion. “But it was for a good reason—”

Viggo snorted. “A good reason? What the hell are you doing? She learned things that the humans can’t find out about. I knew your sympathy was going to bite us in the ass. But to lie to us? I never saw that coming.”

“She’s the girl,” Pax gritted out. “The one I met in the forest that night we went to the river. She was running—from PARA. The one who knew a different way into Project Hope.”

Silence fell across the room at his admission, and I stayed still, feeling Warner right behind me. I was scrambling, trying to come up with a way out of here, but I was coming up blank.

“You knew who she was when I brought her here that night,” Zan said slowly. “Why the hell didn’t you say anything?”

“Because our sweet brother was worried that we’d kill her,” Viggo answered, his voice cruel. “He chose the life of a human over his family.”

“The second you locked that necklace on her, I knew she wasn’t going anywhere,” Pax snapped. “I took her hawthorn the other day and was going to entrance her for answers. I realized I should have said something the night she came, but I didn’t. And then I felt like shit and knew you were both going to be pissed. So I was going to fix it myself.”

“How?” Zan asked in a low voice. “By getting answers and then turning her? That would be the only way. Unless you killed her, which you clearly don’t want to do since you’re the one fucking protecting her.”

“Has she left the city since she’s been here?” Viggo’s question had lead filling my veins.

Pax glanced at me. “Yes. I caught her coming back from the woods the other day.”

Viggo cursed under his breath while Zan slowly turned to focus back on me. Panic engulfed me as he stepped closer, raising his hand and gripping my chin.

“What did you do in the woods?” he asked, threat dripping from every word.

“I needed a day in the sun,” I gritted out. “Away from vampires.”

“Bullshit,” Viggo argued.

“Leave her alone,” Warner hissed.

When Warner’s arm came through the bars, Zan snatched it with his free hand and twisted until Warner grunted in pain.

“Try to touch me or her again, and I’ll kill you,” Zan threatened. His voice held only truth, and he let go of Warner, his glare not leaving me. “Do you have hawthorn running through your veins?”

“Yes.”

He tilted his head, searching my face. “I’m calling your bluff.”

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