Blood Lands (Savage Lands #5)(49)

“I-I don’t know...” Karl was right there, checking vitals and my drip, fiddling uselessly around me.

“Did she already go through the sedative?” Istvan stomped closer.

“She shouldn’t have.” Dr. Karl’s voice pitched up. “I gave her double the dosage, and it took her much longer yesterday to burn through it. It’s only been ten minutes.”

Istvan waved in my direction. “Well, something is wrong.”

“Kovacs.” Warwick stood over me. The grip of his fingers on my face instantly stilled me. His presence was calming, but the pain did not relent. If anything, it amplified. Slicing the connection between us. Shredding my power from me.

It was why I was burning through the sedative faster, why it felt something was ripping me from the inside out. After last night, the bond between us had become stronger. There was more to cut, to shred from me, our link layered like generations of wallpaper glued to a wall. It felt as if someone was trying to rip it away with their fingers, coming off in strips and pieces.

Warwick’s adrenaline pumped through my system, fighting with me, but I could feel him waning, being shredded away from me, like peeling my skin right off my body.

“Hold the fuck on, princess,” Warwick growled, his shadow flickering, before the tie between us was snuffed out.

“Noooo!” I belted, my back arching off the gurney, thudding back down in a crash of metal and cries.

I would not lose Warwick. Nothing would survive if it got in my way.

A guttural scream bellowed from the man next to me, instantly stopping my flailing as he thrashed. His body jackknifed with horrendous wails, blood spewing from his lips.

“What the fuck is going on? What is happening?” Istvan snapped. His default when he got scared was anger.

Red liquid pooled from the young man’s eyes, his body convulsing.

Oh, gods, no. It was happening again.

Dr. Karl pranced between us.

“Do something!” Istvan yelled.

Dr. Karl ripped the tube from his arm, my blood splashing onto the floor in a sea of red. I knew in my gut it was too late.

Crimson gurgled and foamed from his mouth, and the man’s eyes widened, a guttural, terrified noise building inside his chest. It was the sound of someone who knew he was going to die. He let out a howl then stopped, his body going limp. Motionless. His eyes staring blankly above.

His spirit slipped away, just as the girl did yesterday, leaving his shell vacant.

Dr. Karl pumped at his chest, pressing defibrillators above his ribs. It all was for show. He knew it too, but I could see the palpable terror he had of admitting another fail to Istvan.

“I’m sorry, sir,” he fumbled, talking quickly. “I am so sorry. I don’t know what happened. It should have worked.”

Istvan’s jaw tightened to the point that veins popped in his neck.

“Get another one,” Istvan commanded the guards at the door. “And take this one away.”

“What?” Dr. Karl swung to him, eyes wide, while Blondie unlatched the dead body, dragging it off the table.

“We do this again until we get it right. This time no sedative. I don’t want anything affecting the results.”

“But—”

“I don’t care if you go through the entire Savage Lands population. We don’t stop until it works. Everything is riding on this,” Istvan shouted, stomping up to Karl. “Get this right. Today. Do you understand me?”

“Ye-ye-yes, sir.” Dr. Karl nodded, his skin sweaty and pallid.

The door burst open, Brown Curls bringing in the next test subject. My attention went to him and then to the figure next to him—terror carved through my gut, my chest cracking.

He had a girl of maybe ten.

“Noooooooo!” I screamed, writhing against the manacles holding me down.

“Put her here.” Istvan pointed at the now empty gurney. Blood still pooled on the floor around it. The little girl started to cry, wanting her mommy.

“You sick fucking monster!” I seethed, my nails curling into my palms at my sides. “What the hell is wrong with you? Do you have any soul left?”

Istvan’s chin flicked up, his mouth pressed. “I don’t expect you to understand.”

“Understand? She’s a child!”

“Research has shown they are a lot more resilient. Their bodies bounce back.” He defended his actions. “It’s how we evolve, Brexley. Learn. Grow. Wouldn’t you rather know you helped save thousands of lives? Helped cure diseases, take away suffering? I do... so who’s the one here with no soul?”

A strangled noise scratched my throat, my arms and legs kicking and knocking against the restraints. The little girl cried harder, running to Istvan as though he was the one who would protect her from me. I was the monster.

I tried to calm down but then Istvan pushed her back to the officer. He put her on the bed, strapping her tiny ankles and arms down.

“It’s okay.” Lie. “It’s going to be okay.” I forced my tone into a calm, soothing timbre. Her whimpers were knife cuts to my gut. “Hey... look at me.”

It took more coaxing before she lifted her brown eyes to me. She was the same age as the little fae girl I promised I would get out of here. I failed my promise to her.

“What’s your name?” I tried to distract her from what Dr. Karl was doing, the large syringe in his hand.