Chapter 45
RAINE
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The vampireâs words kept ringing in my ears; âcarrying the royal heirâ. How did he know when I was self not aware of it? Could it be possible? The thought both terrified and excited me. I had to find a way out of here. No one has harmed me yet, but it didnât mean they wouldnât.
I ate some of the food the women brought. From their scent I knew they were werewolves. Why were they here? Were they kidnapped like me?
âCan you help me?â I moved towards them as far as the chain around my ankle would allow. Three pairs of eyes stared vacantly at me. Of course, they had to be under compulsion. No werewolf in their right mind would want to be here in the vampire realm.
I waved my hand in front of their faces. âHey, snap out if it! We must to get out of this place.â No reaction from them.
There were faded bite marks on their bodies I noticed on closer inspection. The clothes they wore were so flimsy, it was nearly see-through, and I could only guess how they were being used by these bloodsucking leeches. It angered me so much that I wanted to shake them out of their trance, but! doubt it would work.
A shiver ran through my body at the thought of what might happen to me. The vampire king made no effort to disguise his desire for my blood and probably more. I wanted to scream.
âPlease, Amaris⦠find me!â I sent my thoughts out into the universe. Now more than ever I longed for him. He would be so happy to
I had conceived. I could only imagine his dark eyes shining
with joy and love.
know th
Our future. I pressed both hands against my flat stomach, trying to imagine our child sleeping safely in my womb.
The length of the chain allowed me access to the small ensuite bathroom where I could relieve myself
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and wash as best I could. I was worried. Tasha hadnât woken up yet and I feared what the long-term effect of the wolfsbane would have on us. I couldnât bear it if I lost this pup. It would kill me.
âI do apologize for chaining you up like this, Raine.â Athanâs voice startled me.
When I swung around, he blocked the doorway. Da mn vampire! So stealthy.
âHow long have you been standing there?â The idea that heâd been watching me partially undress to clean myself had my hair standing on end.
âOh, quite some time.â He examined his long, tapered fingernails. I noticed he had a large ring on his middle finger with a ruby set in its center. âYou have a nice body.â
I was right, he was a p erv ert. âI need my privacy.â
âA luxury I cannot afford you to have. Shall we?â He held his hand out for me to take as if he was leading me to a banquet or a dance.
I did not take his hand but waited for him to move. Eventually he did, sneering slightly.
âWhat do you want, Athan?â I noticed the three girls had left, not that they would have stopped him from harming me, but I still didnât like being alone with him.
I
âHmm⦠What do I wantâ¦â He sauntered around the room, tapping his chin thoughtfully. âInteresting you should ask.â
One minute he was staring out of the window into the endless dusk, the next he had me in his arms. I yelled out my alarm. Couldnât move in his steely grip. My legs dangled in the air as he brought my body up so that we were face to face. I didnât want
to look into those strange eyes. His fangs protruded over his pale lips as he smirked at me. My heart tried to escape my throat, the veins throbbing in my neck as he brought his mouth nearer.
âDonât!â I had no idea how I got the word out. It felt like it was forced out of me from the depths of my gut. He dropped me onto the stone floor and sta gg ered back.
I looked up to see his dark brows knitted together. âAgain, you puzzle me, Raine.â He scrutinized me, stepping around me like I was some strange insect on display. âYour blood is so enticing; it calls to me
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â
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and yet⦠I cannot drink from you without your consent. How is that possible?â
I didnât know how it worked, only that I was grateful for the tiniest control I had.
âI cannot compel you, nor can I drink from you. You are an enigma.â
I rolled my eyes at him. âThen I am useless to you. Send me back then.â
He laughed until blo ody tears spilled down his pale cheeks. âOh, no, no. I cannot do that.â He sat down on the edge of the cot, picking imaginary lint off his grey pants. âBut I have news for you. Poor Amaris has apparently lost his mind because he cannot find you. His brother ordered him to be locked up and removed from the throne. Temporarily, of course.â
âHow do you know this?â Locked up! Removed from the throne! No, no this canât be happening. That meant he wouldnât be coming for me. Was this their plan all along?
âI have my means.â He winked at me. âIs that desperation Iâm sensing?â He sniffed in my direction, half closing his eyes. âDeliciousâ¦â
âI refuse to believe you.â I hugged my arms close to my body where I sat on the floor, not daring to get up because I had no strength in my legs.
He got up from the cot with a shrug. âBelieve what you want, little wolf. No one is coming for you.â He moved towards the door. âI have all the time in the world. Being eternal has its advantages.â His smile sent chills through my body. âUnlike you, Precious. The sooner you accept your fate and submit to me, Raine, the better for you.â
âSubmit to you? I am mated to Amaris.â I would never belong to anyone else.
âBonds are broken all the time.â and with those words he left.
âTasha, please wake up, please!â Repeatedly I tried to communicate with her and just as I was about to give up, I felt her stir.
âOh, thank the goddess. I thought you were dead.â I cried with relief.
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Chapter 45
âWhy do I feel so weak?â She could scarcely lift her head.
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âThey sedated us with wolfsbane, I think.â I got up off the floor and went to the window where the
curtains were drawn back to reveal the endless dusk outside.
The vampire realm was shrouded in darkness, the sun never able to penetrate the dense mists swirling around the castle. The height was dazzling from the tower window when I looked down to the jagged
rocks looming underneath the mists. Jumping out of the window would be suicide.
âWe have to find a way out, Tasha. Amaris needs us. Even if I have to use Athan to make my escape.
âBe careful, Raine. Vampires canât be trusted.â Tasha sighed and rolled herself into a ball to sleep.
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