Darker (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6)(27)

‘Oh, hell no.’ Arys’s sudden fury burned inside me as if it were my own. ‘He’s a dead man.’

Arys’s intent to come for me had my panic going into overdrive. ‘You can’t come in here,’ I told him. ‘You know what it does to you.’

Kale shoved me down on the bed. The squeak of springs was loud, and his weight atop me was suffocating. I thrashed violently, doing all I could to escape. He pinned me easily. Pressing his groin against mine, Kale shoved my hair aside and bit into my neck with a vicious snap of fangs.

It hurt dreadfully. I screamed, unable to hold it back. Blood poured from the wound. Kale swirled his tongue over the bites, making a strangled sound of pleasure as he did so. He was getting off on the fact that Arys was present for this.

I felt Kale grow hard against me, and my heart leaped into my throat. The more I fought, the more persistent he was. He jerked my pants down, taking my underwear along as well. The muggy basement air caressed my exposed flesh, and for a moment, I thought I heard disembodied laughter. This place thrived on such acts of terror and violation.

‘Fight him, Alexa. You have to.’ Arys wasn’t able to hide his panic.

“Kale, please,” I shouted, my voice bordered on hysteria. “Don’t do this. It’s not you. I know it’s not you. Please.”

When he looked into my eyes again, I fell silent. His delicious energy rolled over me, trying to drag me back under. I saw my way out, and I took it. Kale forced two fingers inside me. With a soft moan, I allowed it to happen. I invited it. Playing the wanton victim wasn’t hard.

Arys was a silent witness. What he saw, what he felt through our connection, repulsed him, not because of what Kale was doing to me, but because I was allowing it and even enjoying it.

“Kale,” I purred like a sex hungry seductress. “Kiss me.”

Without hesitation, he pressed his lips to mine. I drank in the scent of him and the taste of my blood in his mouth. It mingled with the blood coming from his cut lip. It was bittersweet. As our blood taunted my lust for him, our violent reality crushed that secret dream where Kale and I made sweet love the way we never would. Arys’s presence gave me the strength to resist Kale’s vampiric charms. It was both a blessing and a curse. I clung to our twin flame connection, seeing it for the rare and wondrous thing it was.

Kale’s attention returned to my bleeding neck. He sucked at the bloody bite while exploring me with his fingers. Though I was faking the glamoured victim act, I couldn’t deny the pleasure he stirred within me. That was real.

I counted to three and brought my knee up into his groin as hard as I could. He cried out in pain and rolled onto his side. I grabbed the lamp from the desk and smashed it over his head. It slowed him but didn’t put him down like I’d hoped, so I went for the chair next. It was heavy and wooden, slamming into his skull with a sickening thud.

I held it ready to bring down again, but Kale didn’t move. I nudged him just to be sure he wasn’t trying to fake me out. I set the chair down but kept it close while I fixed my clothing. Thank God for having gotten my hands in front of me. I wouldn’t have stood a chance with them behind me.

‘I really don’t give you enough credit,’ came Arys’s relieved thought.

‘Isn’t that what I’ve been saying for a while now?’

I pressed a hand to my neck. Blood streamed through my fingers to drip on the floor. Kale hadn’t taken it easy with that bite. This could be bad.

‘You need to get out of there. I’m coming for you.’ His insistence was worrisome. This place would eat him alive.

‘Don’t be an idiot, Arys. This place will kick your ass. Again. If the FPA don’t do it first.’ I glanced around the dimly lit room. The lamp base had shattered, but the bulb remained lit.

I didn’t think Kale would be out for long. I went to the door and stood on my tiptoes to look out the window. I saw only the door across from me. A faint light glowed beyond, but I couldn’t see the occupant.

I banged on the window a few times, fearful of rousing Kale. If he started to move, I might have to hit him with the chair again. I banged again, adding a shout along with it. It was futile I knew. If anyone heard me, it would likely be Agent Asshole and his pitiful excuse for a partner.

‘Don’t come here, Arys. Get a hold of Juliet. Tell her I’m here. And, find Jez if you can. I need to know her and Willow made it out.’

‘Of course, you had accomplices.’ His disdain was evident.

A shadow moved in the hallway. Someone was approaching. I tensed. The surprises kept coming. It was Bianca, and she was in a hurry.

I backed away from the door and grabbed the chair. I’d let Kale kill me before I let Shaz’s lover lay a hand on me. She opened the door and slipped inside, closing it fast.

“I’m here to get you out,” she said in a rush, eyeing the chair in my grip and Kale’s prone form on the bed. “We have to hurry.”

“Are you kidding me? I don’t trust you.”

“I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t trust me either, but you’ve got to believe me; I’m sorry for what happened with Shaz. I respect you, and not just because you kicked my ass.” She glanced furtively toward the door. “But, we really don’t have time for this now.”

“I can’t leave without Kale. He’s the reason I’m here.” The prospect of freedom was promising. However, the thought of leaving this building for the second time without Kale was crushing.