Tyrant (Scars of the Wraiths #2)(94)

I really didn’t care at the moment, so I ignored what he said. “It’s Kilter. He’s hurt. Please, don’t let him die. Promise me you won’t let him die or all I’ve done is for nothing.”

“What have you done, Rayne?” Waleron’s tone was hard.

I ignored him and continued, “He’s in the alley behind a condo building on Queen West. Across from the park.”

Waleron’s voice grew stronger and deeper. “Jedrik and Delara are on their way. Where are you, Rayne?”

I didn’t honestly know. I was concentrating on speaking telepathically and we were moving fast through the city streets.

“Rayne, we never leave one of our own behind. Where are you?”

“Then you don’t have to worry—I’m not one of you,” I replied. “But Kilter is. Save him. He needs to trust, Waleron. He lost it and he needs it again.” I lowered the shields on my mind and wrapped my arms around myself.

Jedrik and Delara would help him. He’d be okay.

A tear slipped onto my lap and made a small wet mark on my jeans. No matter what happened to me, I knew the Scars would look out for Kilter.

I knew with every part of my soul that I loved him. I loved how he walked in a room as if he owned it. I loved how he could be angry, but gentle at the same time. I loved how he was honest, even if his words might hurt. I trusted him because of that.

I knew what he was searching. Salvation from the one thing he’d lost—trust from those he loved. But he had mine. He had all of me.

“Babe.” I tensed, eyes widening as Kilter’s voice penetrated my shield. “Love you, too. Coming… for… you.”

More tears rolled down my cheeks.

“Never give up on me.”

I wasn’t. I wouldn’t. I’d given up once in my life already, and I’d never do it again. But the bitch Lilac didn’t know that.

I turned to look at Jasmine. “Why do you want me? What makes you think I have any value to anyone?”

She smiled and glanced at me briefly before back to the road. “You don’t give yourself credit, my dear.”

“If you plan to use me against the Scars, it won’t work.”

She sighed, her long red fingernails tapping on the edge of the steering wheel. “You were never Anton’s. Did you know that?” I lifted my chin and didn’t say anything as our eyes met in the rearview mirror. “You’ve always been mine. Right from the beginning.” She licked her lips. “Anton was just a minion. He was pitiful actually, but he kept you alive. He could do whatever he wanted as long as you stayed alive until I needed you.”

“What do you mean?” My stomach twisted. What the hell was she talking about?

“I made a mistake a long time ago. One.” Her voice was crass and harsh, while her hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Now I will correct it. He will pay for escaping me.”

“Who?” I had no idea what the hell this woman was talking about.

The car pulled into a circular drive of a large condo building. She shut off the engine and turned to look over her shoulder at me.

Some of my confidence wavered when I met her thin-lipped smile. Shivers ran down my spine. This woman had no remorse, no soul, and for some reason, she thought she owned me.

“He will come back to me or he will live with the knowledge that I have you. I was planning on waiting a while longer, until your husband managed to produce a Scar offspring out of you, but—” she shrugged “—things change. Now, it’s time for him to know the truth.”

“Who?” I asked. “Who are you talking about?” Was Jasmine from Kilter’s past? Had she helped his brother torture him? What did she mean Anton was her minion? What was going on?

Her brows rose. “You’ve been like a child to me, Rayne. I’ve watched you grow. Helped nurture you. Who do you think paid for all your private tutors? You’re well educated because of me. I was very disappointed when you lost all that weight.” Oh, my God, how did she know all that? “I must confess, I was concerned you may die.” She paused and smiled. “Do you know it was me who encouraged your husband to breed you with Roarke?”

Oh, my God. She was responsible.

She shrugged. “Roarke refused. A grave mistake on his part. It took little convincing when I told him, if he didn’t, then Ben would.” Holy shit, they blackmailed Roarke. She turned back around and opened her car door. “Come. We have some negotiating to do.”

A vampire emerged from the glass doors of the building. He escorted us to a private elevator that he accessed with a keycard and it took us to the top floor—the penthouse.

Liam. This had to be Liam’s place the Scars had talked about.

Jasmine led me through an elaborate mirrored foyer into a dark room with several spotlights on the abstract painting hanging on the white walls. Vibrant red throw pillows scattered across the white suede furniture. An iron spiral staircase led up to the second floor that overlooked the living room.

In the center of the room was a floor-to-ceiling gray stone hearth with a gas fireplace. A woman sat on a loveseat in front of it, and there was someone lying on her lap. She lifted her head and hissed.

I held in my gasp when I saw the blood smeared on her face.

My eyes darted to the person in her lap, realizing she’d been feeding on them.