Page 84 of Rogue Wolf

He waved a hand. “Rule the world, you know, the usual shit.”

“Tell me!” Kodiak said.

“Better yet, I’ll show you. It will be quite the show, when she arrives. I’m really doing you a favor in all of this, you know.”

“Like fucking hell, you are,” said Kodiak.

“No need to be angry, wolf. I’ll take good care of her.” From the distance he put between them he made a show of leaning in, still staying far away from Kodiak. “Really good care. If you know what I mean. Have some fun.”

Torture? He was going to torture his woman? Not while he breathed.“Taking care of her doesn’t mean killing her.”

“Oh, no.” Amdis paused for dramatic effect. “I don’t want to kill her, I just want her blood.”

Kodiak stared, horror shooting through him of different levels because fun might mean—oh God. If this fuck laid one finger on her sweet body he’d— He struggled to get his rage under control and stoke calmly. “Her blood? When have you ever stopped at that?”

“I will. I promise.” Amdis put his hand on his chest, a solemn look spreading over his pale face before he broke into a fit of laughter.

Kodiak yanked impatiently on his chain, then grimaced against the fresh pain that sliced into his skin and reverberated deep in his muscles.

“She won’t come.” Well, Kodiak hoped she wouldn’t. “She’s forgotten all about the Blood Opal.”

“Oh, it’s not the Blood Opal I’ve promised her.”

Kodiak’s chest tightened as he watched Amdis walk the invisible perimeter of the chain. He didn’t want to know what Tamaska had been promised.

But he had to know. “And what’s that?”

“I’ve promised her your freedom.” The vampire took a a couple of steps in as he said this.

Kodiak growled. Ignoring the chain, he leapt forward with hands outstretched and lashed out at Amdis. He clawed the vampire’s face with human fingernails, leaving three bleeding scratches.

Amdis leapt back, right up against the opposite wall,

But that one taste of violence against the fucker wasn’t enough. Kodiak wanted more.

Too bad the coward had moved way out of his reach.

Amdis hissed in response, fangs bared as he touched his face. Sticky blood oozed from the scratches.

“I’m surprised at you, wolf. I thought you’d be more grateful than this. I’ve given you the chance to get out of here, to return to your pack.” Amdis spun away from Kodiak, sending his coattails flying before he strode to the door. Then, he paused and turned back.

“Congratulations, by the way, on becoming alpha. Though you may well be the shortest reigning alpha in Shadow Pack history.”

Amdis slipped through the door before slamming it shut behind him. The echo bounced around Kodiak’s small prison.

He growled, thrashing against the chain with all his strength to go after Amdis. But he wasn’t strong enough. He collapsed on the floor, and not even the cold stone could ease the burning pain in his muscles or where the chains touched him.

He knew in his heart that Tamaska would come and free him. It was the stupidest thing she could do, but she still didn’t understand the world of vampires and shifters. Given her penchant for disobeying instructions, it was inevitable that she would find a way to convince the others to join her or slip away alone to find him.

He loved the little fool for her ridiculous ways. But not this. In this he hoped to the heavens that she’d be smart, get furious and wash her hands on him. He fucking prayed his pack would tie her up and lock her the fuck away until they’d dealt with all this.

But Tamaska was Tamaska. Resourceful, tenacious, the most stubborn and irritating thing he’d ever met. And she got to him like no one else.

She’d come.

He knew it.

Tamaska wouldn’t see the trap coming, and Kodiak had no way to warn her.

---