Page 14 of Blood Bound

I shrug. “We’ll be prepared this time. I have a few wolf packs who owe me debts, so I think it’s about damn time I claim on them,” I say. Church’s face lights up in amusement when I say this, and he chuckles.

“Guard dogs? You’re going to trust those puppies with our lives as we sleep?” he says while I shoot him a glare.

“They owe their lives to me, and I’m already indebted to Fenriz, so I won’t ask him for help again. All we can do is trust these packs, they’re true to their words, so I’m going to rely on that.” I say, then walk over to the whiskey and pour myself three fingers.

I haven’t fed since last night, and I’m starting to get antsy. Alcohol helps in times like these, and since I prefer to drink straight from the source, I won’t touch refrigerated blood bags either. So, there’s only one thing left to do: find a walking fucking blood bag.

“Let's head to Void,” I say, slamming my glass down. “I need to fuck and feed before I head down to the tomb and rip that hunter in two.”

“Hopefully, Gia will be there so you can forget about your little hunter problem,” Valentine says as if he knows something I don’t; then he grins and gets up, following me out while Church walks ahead.

I am aware of how that sounded, and with the way Katherine makes me lose control when I’m around her, I won’t be going down there while I’m strung out like this.

Gia is my usual fill, and since she’s part Fae, her blood tastes divine. If Gia isn’t there, I’ll get another willing blood bag; fuck knows that there’s plenty of them who would offer me their necks.

Fuck, feed, and then wait five days.

KATHERINE

Idon’t know how long it’s been since I’ve been locked up down here, but the five styrofoam takeout containers and water bottles tell me that my time is up.

Priest hasn’t been back down here since he left me with that bombshell, and when I wake up, there’s already food and water waiting for me.

Yeah, I know that I should probably not have eaten whatever it is that my captors have given me, but the downside to this baobab mixture is that it makes you incredibly thirsty and hungry, especially when it wears off.

I sit down and lean my head against the wall before getting up to resume my pacing. On the first day, I couldn’t sleep knowing that Priest had put me in a tomb with dead Pureblood vampires; I didn’t even switch on the flashlight and stayed rooted in the spot.

How can I know that he’s telling the truth about the color of their eyes? For all I know, he’s stringing me along so I can feel guilty for killing his kind. I must admit that I felt guilty at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it was bullshit.

These creatures kill humans; no matter what Priest says, my reasons are justified.

Gradually the anxiety left me, and my training kicked in. I needed to find a weapon and a way out of here, but judging by the high stone ceilings and damp walls, I knew that this tomb was somewhere underground.

That limits my escape somewhat, but I need to find a way to protect myself when Priest comes.

I can’t allow myself to be violated by him in any way. Not again.

On the upside, I know that if I don’t check in with my father for more than a week, he will send someone to see if I’m okay, so I have to hold out for another few days. Hopefully, my father sticks to this failsafe, or I’m well and truly dead.

I lean back against the damp wall, blow out a sigh, and slide to the floor in exasperation. What does Priest have in store for me? Will he play with me like a cat toys with a mouse before they eventually devour it?

Fuck, this uncertainty has got me going crazy, and I know the second Priest walks through that door, it’s over for me. I don't have a weapon or the strength to fight him off if he has to try something. Not only that, but the baobab has left my system, so I’m entirely at his mercy.

But even as I’m freaking out, I know that I can’t allow him to see that it bothers me.

I jump to my feet when I hear the lock sliding open, and my heart starts to pound in my ears; a cold sweat slips down my back, knowing that this is the end for me.

This vampire I’ve been hunting for years is about to make me his plaything, and there’s nothing I can fucking do about it.

Heavy footfalls and the sound of chains accompany my dread as it approaches, but I blanch when I see the person coming to collect me.

“Hey, Kitty Kat,” it’s the blonde vamp; my supposed informant, who I know now is Valentine, Priest’s most trusted man.

Amusement plays on his face as he takes in my filthy, sweaty form, and I can feel his eyes raking over my body.

“You,” my voice comes out as a croak.

He chuckles. “Me, indeed. Now, if you don’t mind,” he says, then turns his back on me and walks away, causing me to frown. Then he looks back over his shoulder. “Do you seriously want me to throw you over my shoulder like Gabriel did? Sorry, Kitty Kat, no can do.”

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