Footsteps echoed in the sparse chamber, punctuated by a steady beep. The air held a chill, like that of a hospital. The blankets were thin and coarse and the bed no better than the floor I’d spent the last fifteen years on. I don’t know which of these had roused me, or if it had been a combination of the unpleasant sensations. I allowed consciousness to creep back into my body; I didn’t move or even open my eyes for fear of what would greet me when I did. “She’s waking up,” I heard a voice say but refused to acknowledge the statement. I heard bustling footsteps as things were moved and rearranged. I felt as though I was coming up for air from a deep plunge when everything hit me at once. I groaned utterly surrounded by strangers. My fingers dug themselves into my hair. and grabbed my head. My body curled in on itself as shudders wracked my frame. I gasped for air. My chest felt tight. I forced my eyes open. I was “Administering .02 of Nembutal.” A voice said from beside me. Ice rush

“Please,” Loren scoffed as he held Tamsyn’s wet body to his side. “You were hardly kidnapped. If anything you were sold to Lou in exchange for our protection.” I stepped back as though I’d been slapped. I clutched my towel to keep it from falling. I refused to be as blasé as the other girls with my body. Tamsyn gently grabbed Loren’s face and turned his attention to her as she said, “There’s no need to be cruel, love.” “Loren, why don’t you and Tamsyn enjoy each other’s company? I can handle this.” Eskal interjected. He placed himself between the pair and me. Tamsyn nodded as she slipped her clothes back on and lead Loren from the room. I stood, my towel clutched in my hands tight enough to turn my knuckles white. My wrist ached from the tension in my body. “Emilia-“ He turned to face me, his expression held a forced gentleness that didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t” I snapped as I backed away from him. “I don’t want to talk to you.” “I figured as much,” the blond persisted; “Since y

My eyes widened at Izak’s announcement. I looked at him, my silent question hung in the air between us as Izak straightened. He nodded to himself as if he’d told me the best-kept secret of the century.“Alpha Lucas is the product of a vampire and a werewolf.” Izak explained, “His father was the alpha of the Anatllontos Fengri pack and his mother was the matroness of the Peftastri roost. Nobody expected it would be possible for Thea to be Reed’s mate, but because she was they were able to bring peace to the two domains and raise one of the most powerful men to have lived.”“You make our leader sound like an action figure,” Eskal stated as he approached us. I ducked behind Izak as the blond drew near. It had been comforting to be near a werewolf in this strange place. Their mannerisms were much warmer than the vampires, and while I’d been lonely growing up, I’d never felt as isolated as I did now. Izak had been a warm ray of sun in this dismal place.“That’s because he’s amazing!” Izak

I felt my head loll against Eskal’s chest as he lifted me. The cool weight of the collar was returned to my neck. The room span as we moved, though Lucas must have been close by as I heard him speak in a hushed tone. I struggled to make out the words at first but found if I allowed myself to relax the out-of-body feeling wasn’t as intense.“Take her back for me Eskal.”“But, Lucas, you should be the one who-“ Eskal protested. He was silent for a moment before he added, “She’s yours, the others will find it strange if you don’t return her to the den.”“They will know I’m busy,” Lucas responded. I could hear papers shuffle as he spoke.“Why claim possession of her then? Is it truly as we’ve told her, that this is simply an honor for saving your life during the equinox?” Eskal challenged, the sound of a book spine break was his only response. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked Lucas; from the moment we entered the Midnachtsinne pack. I sought her out. I arranged for her to be the one to

I awoke to a slight pressure on the bed beside me. I lay still as I felt the intruder’s weight shift. The room was only dimly lit from the hallway as there were no windows. It was much too dark to make out who had come to my room at such an odd hour. My heart began to race as he hovered over me, a hand planted on either side of my prone form. I took a shuddering breath as he brushed my hair from my face. “Emi,” he said in a hushed whisper. I turned to look at him, his eyes resembled molten gold in the darkness. Our lips nearly brushed as he shifted over me; his hair created an inky curtain around us as it fell over his shoulders. Chills ran down my spine as he sighed against my skin, “I’ve missed you.” “Ah-ah-I’ve mmmmm-mmmi-mi-mi-missed you t-t-t-too.” I breathed without thinking as I raised my arms to wind them around his neck. These past weeks had been lonely. I hadn’t realized how isolated I was until Tamsyn and Nisha had left the den to return with Loren. After a week the bored