Page 27 of Rogue Wolf

CHAPTER 7

Tamaska

Tamaska’s head pounded, stars sparkled in her vision despite her closed eyes. She lay on the floor, trying not to move. Her palms throbbed from where new scabs formed along her cuts from the glass.

She sensed Amdis watching her, hunger radiating from him. It turned her stomach.

The sight of him would make her even sicker, so she kept her eyes closed. The darkness helped to slow the spinning in her head and kept her from watching the sunlight on her floor disappear. The light acted as a timer that crept ever closer to the moment when Amdis would close the last of the distance between them.

Would he sink his teeth into her neck?

Tamaska shivered involuntarily. The adrenalin had worn off, leaving her cold and in shock. She didn’t know why she couldn’t leave, only that every time she thought it or made a move to the door her head wanted to explode.

What if this was her body somehow wanting the offer he made to make her like him? She almost gagged, even as it wound through her, pulling her to go to him. Maybe it would be better, maybe— How could she entertain such sickening thoughts?

It wasn’t so long ago that she was horrified by the sight of the blood-drinking vampires in the nightclub. Now, she was fantasizing about it.

Kodiak, please look at the security footage.

She'd been reluctant to allow the security system installation, but now she was glad to have it. The cameras were her only chance to get out alive.

That is, unless she managed to get control of her aching body. All she had to do was to get up, rush to the door, and get the fuck out of there.

The thumping in her head surged at the thought. The sickening nausea settled only if she didn't move.

But she couldn’t stay. She had to push through the pain and nausea.

Tamaska pressed her palms against the floor, trying to push up from the ground and get on all fours.

“Don’t even think about leaving,” Amdis hissed.

Shivers ran through her, as if thousands of ants had been let loose to carry goosebumps across her skin.

Automatically, she glanced at the sunlight marking the boundary between her and Amdis. It was only just wide enough to keep her safe.

It would only be a matter of minutes before he could get to her.

Tamaska pushed up from the floor again. The room spun, and bile rose to her mouth.

I have to get out.

Kodiak wasn’t coming to save her. He didn’t know she was here. For all she knew the feed back at the clubhouse had been damaged. If she didn’t pull herself together, then she could end up dead—or worse, a vampire.

“Not long now, Tamaska. Then you’ll be mine.”

It sounded so good, like falling asleep, like— No. He was doing this to her, somehow, putting these thoughts in her. Making it almost impossible to leave.

But almost meant there was a possibility of escape, so she focused on that.

“I’ll never be yours.” She collapsed back onto the floor, panting from the exertion. Darkness clouded the edges of her mind, threatening to take her consciousness once more.

She gritted her teeth, forcing her eyes open. She could do this.

“You will be. You're the perfect way to activate the Blood Opal.”

She latched on to that. If she focused on the opal and what it could do maybe she’d learn something and find the strength to run. Tamaska licked her dry lips. “What do you mean?”

“Curious now, are you?” He laughed. “The Blood Opal will rejuvenate my kind, make us stronger. Your blood will enable it.”

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