Darker (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6)(26)

“You’re out of your mind. This isn’t you, Kale.” I tested his hold on my hands, but he held tight. “It’s this place and these people. There’s something evil here.”

In response to my words, the small desk lamp flickered a few times. The murky sensation of the basement dweller was stifling. It was influencing Kale as it had Arys, as it had tried to do to me. From what I’d seen, vampires were more susceptible to it. Good for me earlier. Bad for me now.

“There are many evil things here. Including you and I.” He sucked at my sensitive skin, his fangs scraping over the fount of blood beneath the surface.

A pulse of dizzying energy caught me in his trap. Despite my growing fear, my body responded to him, betraying my mind and confusing my heart.

“Please, don’t do this.” Inwardly, I cringed. Begging would only feed his fire, yet as my panic rose, my rationale failed me.

His head snapped up, and his eyes blazed with wicked hunger. “I’m not ready for you to beg yet. But, I’d love to hear you scream.”

His free hand slid around my throat, tightening just enough to limit my air intake. “Pain?” Kale taunted with a vicious grin. “Or pleasure?”

Before I could feel relieved that he so quickly released my throat, he slid a hand between my legs. A fresh flood of adrenaline hit me. I wouldn’t have thought I had any left to spare, but the uncharacteristic action had me ready to fight.

I bared fangs, and a snarl slipped from my lips. This couldn’t be happening. Not like this. Not with him.

“Don’t worry, Alexa.” He oozed mesmerizing charm. “I’d never force you. I don’t have to. Because you want it.”

“Like hell I do. Stop this now before you do something you’ll regret later. I can help you, Kale.” Even as I spoke, my will was being manipulated.

The alluring draw of his heady vampire essence stirred my desire for him to life. I always wanted him but not like this, as his victim. As hard as I fought, I was falling under his spell. My will faded fast. With little more than clothing between us, his teasing fingers coaxed forth a groan.

“You said once that you never wanted it to happen like this,” I accused. I was running out of time.

“That was before you abused your power and made me your bitch.” Bitterness colored his words. He stroked my sweet spot, smiling when I gasped.

Kale was high on the thrill of the hunt. I couldn’t get through to him. It was just a game, one he would inevitably win. What would Arys think when it was Kale who killed me?

The warm rush of arousal chased away what little remained of my resolve. Kale had five centuries of seduction and bloodshed driving his careful strategy. We had shared one hurried, wild rain swept encounter, yet he had never touched me intimately like this. I longed for him to devour my body and blood.

With a sudden fright, I realized how strong his influence was. A final surge of desperation forced me to act. I brought a leg up between us and shoved my foot into his midsection. I shoved with all the strength I could muster, launching Kale across the room. His grip on my cuffed hands slipped but pulled me forward in the process. I caught myself before falling. With hands clenched into fists, I braced for his retaliation.

Kale wasn’t put off for long. He picked himself up and eyed me with a spark of malevolent glee.

“Alright then. Pain it is.”

Shit. I didn’t wait for him to come at me, not after a comment like that. As awkward as it was with my wrists attached, I succeeded in landing a blow that left my knuckles hurting. After landing a few more, it dawned on me that he was allowing it. Never a good sign.

I backed off, putting as much space between us as possible. Kale swiped at a dribble of blood dripping from his bottom lip. Then, he laughed, a sound so tainted with evil it made my skin crawl.

“Last chance to change your mind,” he offered, taking slow steady steps toward me.

“Here’s an idea. How about you change your mind, and instead of trying to kill me, you help me find a way out of here.”

“Tempting. Though honestly, I’ve spent weeks locked in this hole thinking about what I would do if I ever got my hands on you again.”

He threw me before I saw it coming. I crashed into the desk and hit the concrete floor. It skinned the palms of my hands and caused the cuffs to dig into my flesh. I did a quick check to see if I was bleeding but didn’t think so. Blood would be very bad.

On my knees, my hair in disarray around my face, I peered up at him. No semblance of anything that had ever been human looked back at me. Kale was all vampire. I was going to die in here with him. The FPA had gotten what they wanted all along: me at their mercy. I should never have come here. I could almost hear Arys in my head scolding me for such a dumbass move.

No sooner had I thought of him than I felt his presence in my mind. The waves of his worry reached me and guilt struck.

‘Where the hell are you? I’m looking for you.’ Arys’s annoyance translated just fine through our mental connection.

Instead of trying to form a coherent thought, I allowed him to see through my eyes. Together, we watched as Kale dragged me to my feet.

“He’s here, isn’t he?” Kale asked, holding me tight. “I can feel him. Good. He can watch.”

I fought to get away, but he was stronger than I was. My power gave me an edge over Kale. Without it, I was a flailing, panicking mess.