(DANE POV) Mag walked in and flipped onto the bed like he owned the place. Everyone tensed up. "Well, I figured you four were doing the sun thing. How sad I was when I realized I'd been waiting in the bathroom all day for no reason," he said mockingly. Deirk glared at him. "You're not welcome here." Mag laughed, a sound that grated on my nerves. "Well, I pay for it, so I figure I can come when I want." "No," I said firmly. "Leave. I pay for this, so you have no claim. This is breaking the contract. " Mag shrugged. "No, it isn't. I'm just sitting here. Unless I touch him," he pointed to Deirk, "then I'm not breaking anything... well, I wouldn't say that, but I'm not breaking the contract at least." I stood, ready to enforce the boundaries, but Mag stood with me and said, "Sit down, son. I'm not going to cause trouble unless you do." Jo whispered, "What do you want, Mag?" He looked at her and smiled evilly. "You don't want the answer to that." Jo stood up, her defiance show

Mag making us have sex to stop him from messing with Dane anymore was the lowest blow he could manage. I wanted him dead even more than I had before. While it was happening, all I could think about was how much I actually seemed to enjoy it, and how much I wanted to kill Mag. The enjoyment was probably due to Mag's blood and his twisted thoughts. Maybe he was using me vicariously because he couldn't use Deirk to imagine that, so he used me instead.After it was over, we huddled together on the shattered remains of the bed, all lost, all crying, all panicking. We clung to each other, shaking with sobs and fear. Deirk stood up, grabbing clothes from a random drawer. I noticed what they were... long sleeves and loose pajama bottoms.He tried to do Dane first, but Dane waved him off and said, "Take care of them. I'll be okay."He knelt beside me first, trying to help me into the thick long-sleeved shirt. His hands trembled as he pulled it over my head, his eyes haunted. He was the onl

(DANE POV) The pain in my face was excruciating, like hot needles stabbing into my eye socket and temple. Every movement sent white-hot waves of agony through my head, and it took all my willpower not to let it show. I had to be strong for the others. Seeing the worry and fear in their eyes, I knew I couldn't let them see how much I was truly suffering. They needed reassurance, a rock to hold onto in this storm of terror and pain. Each breath felt like it was tearing through my chest, and my groin throbbed with a deep, aching wound that still bled internally. My vision blurred, and I had to fight to stay conscious for Jo, Deirk, and Percy. But the consequence of everything...the torture, the trauma, the responsibility...was crushing me. I couldn't let go, not yet, not while they still needed me. Finally, the exhaustion took over, and I let myself slip into unconsciousness. The pain was overwhelming, but knowing Jo was still safe in my arms and seeing Deirk's vigilant perch,