by K Loraine
“Time for another session, pet,” Anne said, her voice making my chest tighten with absolute terror. She arrived and brought pain as her companion. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been here, drained and replenished over and over, tortured with needles and knives, and above all, with Logan.
Her pale face was what I saw first in the dim light of the large pillar candle Logan had placed in the corner. It was my only judge of time. So far there had been ten.
“No more, please,” I begged. I wasn’t above it now. Not after she showed me what she could bring my way.
The apathy coloring her expression wasn’t unexpected, but it made my heart sink just the same.
“How long are you going to keep me here?” I asked.
“Until I’m sure that traitorous son of my husband’s didn’t put a baby in your belly. Then, you have a date with the first of many patrons.”
I shuddered. I had to get out of here before she could make this plan a reality. “Where is he?” I asked.
She didn’t answer. Instead, she opened the cell door and stepped inside, her tiny frame seeming so innocuous, but I knew the truth. She was vicious. A shark. “I see we’ve been neglecting you, though. You don’t look the part of a whore. You look more like a street urchin. We’ll have to remedy that.”
Her finger trailed over my breast, up to my collarbone, then over the scar on my throat from Logan’s terrible attack. I trembled. “Leave me alone.”
“Oh, you poor little creature. You’ve lost your claws now that Cashel isn’t around to give you strength.”
“Where is he?” I asked again. This was how our conversations went. She taunted, I begged for information. She never gave me the satisfaction of an answer, though. But still, I asked. I wanted something to hold onto. Something to fight for.
A dark chuckle spilled from her as she drew closer. “Don’t you know, Olivia? Your precious prince is dead.”
My stomach turned to a pit of stone. “No. He can’t—” I began, but she interrupted me with a wave of her hand.
“He was brave and fought until the bitter end for you. That should at least provide you some comfort.”
“What did you do to him?”
Her eyes went wide with feigned shock. “Me?” She placed her palm to her chest, a gesture of pure indignation. “Why, I didn’t hurt him. That was entirely the fault of Eliana’s jealous rage. Poor misguided thing that she was. Why the council chose a made vampire to join their ranks, I’ll never understand. Unpredictable, impulsive creatures.”
“But…he…he should have healed. I saw him healing before I blacked out.”
“We can’t survive everything. Eliana nearly decapitated him. There’s no coming back from that without a massive blood donation. You were…occupied at the time. He simply couldn’t sustain himself.”
“Occupied?” I said on a bitter laugh. “You mean having my throat ripped out by the man you ruined.”
“Are you still sensitive about that?”
“Of course I am. You turned him into a monster, then Eliana trapped us together so he’d kill me.”
She sighed and glanced off in the distance. “It was rather poetic, don’t you agree? But don’t worry, your hunter will be safe here with me. I’ll make him the best vampire he can be.” She turned her head and looked over her shoulder. “Speaking of Logan.” Her lips spread in a wide smile. “Come here and help get our pet ready for another donation.”
My heart began racing, fluttering like a caged bird, and I fought the urge to cry. I couldn’t get out. I couldn’t move, and they were going to hurt me again. This was what being in the hands of Blackthorne vampires really was. Cashel had shown me something else, something that now seemed like a distant fantasy. Evil stood in front of me, her wickedness destroying Logan piece by piece.
“Logan, stop! You don’t want to do this. You don’t want to hurt me again.” My voice broke as he stepped into the cell and stared at me with dead eyes.
“He does, pet. He wants to hurt you just like you did him. But your scars will remain on the outside for everyone to see.”
Then Logan pulled out a razor blade and reached for my wrist, just above the cuff. He dragged it slowly across my skin, prolonging the pain as the metal bit deep into my flesh. I cried out, but didn’t move. It hurt worse when I moved.
A stainless steel basin sat on the stone floor, catching the first few drops, which then turned into a steady stream. I could hear the liquid running into the bowl. The one thing that had kept me alive through all of this had become the instrument of my torment.
“Cashel,” I whispered, heart breaking for him, knowing I’d never see him again, never touch him.
A low growl rumbled from Logan, and he locked eyes with me. Rage was behind those irises, rage and pain. “Always him,” he muttered.
“Yes. Always.” I narrowed my eyes even though my vision had already begun to grow hazy.
“Wrong choice,” he said. His palm flew at my face, the force of his blow causing white-hot agony to blossom across my cheek and sending me spiraling into blissful unconsciousness once again.
I never thought I would be the person who stopped fighting. But here I was, bound and chained, unable to escape, and drained of more than just my blood. I was drained of my will, my sense of self, and every ounce of strength I had possessed.
My face ached from the blow Logan had dealt me only a few short days ago. At least, I think it was only a day or two. The candle had burned to nearly nothing. He’d be here soon to replace it. To take from me again.
They had broken me. Something Cashel never truly tried to do. But now I was so much less. I wasn’t a person anymore. I never was to them. Now I was just a thing. A shell of who I’d been. I was a blood slave, through and through. Each time one of them came to me, my heart raced, my skin prickled with awareness, and I wondered if this would be the time they went too far, and I died. At least then, I might see Cashel again. They had taken everything from me, every bit of support I had was gone. First it was my mother, then it was my freedom, then everyone I loved.
I didn’t have the strength to tug on my chains any longer, or scream, or even flinch away when they came for me.
“It’s time for you to serve your purpose.” Anne’s words were saccharine sweet and turned my stomach.
She knew what might happen here and now, when she gave a vampire time with me unsupervised. He would take me, however he wanted, and I would be completely unable to fight him. I knew it, she knew it, and she didn’t care. I was sure he’d paid a pretty penny, because why else would she sell time with me?
“Logan took too much last time. I won’t survive this,” I said, my voice paper thin.
“That’s why I’ve brought a gift for you. Just a token, really, a small thing in the grand scheme of it all, but something to ensure your survival.”
Reaching into the bodice of her gown, she pulled out a small vial filled with red liquid. My stomach curled in on itself.
“What is that?”
She held the vial up and grinned, her teeth flashing in a wicked smile. “This is what sustained you through all your injuries. Blackthorne blood, stored and ready in case of an emergency. My husband was always paranoid. He took stores of all of our blood, hid them deep underground. You see, he knew that one day one or more of us would rebel. He thought he could control us if he had this.”
“Cashel,” I whispered, my thoughts returning to the man I lost.
“He may be dead, but his blood healed you, and it will continue to do so until I don’t need you anymore.”
“Why not just give me yours?”
She sneered. “You don’t deserve my blood. You may be worth a fortune, but I’ll never stain my line by giving you a drop of my life force.” A cruel smile twisted her lips. “I will however, make you serve me in every way possible. Until there’s nothing left.”
My heart ached for the future I’d lost. “You’re worse than Elias.”
A laugh fell from her. “Oh, darli
ng, of course I am.” Then she glanced behind her. “Logan, prepare her for her first customer.”
2
Olivia
My heart was nothing more than a cold shell by the time Logan was done preparing me. He’d washed and dressed me like the toy they thought I was. But there was no denying the truth. I was nothing more than a blood slave to them. I had lost all my fight. And before long, I’d be of no use to them, because the first chance I had, I’d make sure my blood was gone.
Walking behind Logan as he led me up the stairs and into Blackthorne Manor, I fought my body’s instinct to shiver. I blocked my thoughts, my fear, my weakness. Anne stood at the foot of the grand staircase, a serene smile on her face.
“Ah, there she is. My little pet. You’ve done well, darling, but the time has come for a change. With our Cashel dead, we have no one to carry on the Blackthorne bloodline or make the hybrid blood I so desired. McKinley has offered a veritable fortune for that opportunity, so I’ve accepted. I have to get something more out of you.”
I gritted my teeth and took a tight breath. “You can’t force me. I’ll end it before that happens.”
She laughed and shook her head. “No wonder Cashel was so taken with you.” Then she held out a hand, and Logan shoved me toward her. “I’d much prefer a Blackthorne hybrid, but McKinley will do. He’s loyal. His blood is pure and strong.”
In my periphery I caught sight of the only possible ally I had in all this. Lucas Blackthorne stood in the doorway, his cocky smirk sending apprehension through me. Maybe he wasn’t on my side after all.
“Now, Mummy Dearest, I think you’re forgetting all about me. I may be a bastard, but I’m still my father’s son.” He walked toward us, holding out both arms in a magnanimous gesture. He looked like a naughty saint, an angel with a halo held up by horns.
Anne snorted. “The wanderer returns. Where have you been, Lucas? We’ve had quite the eventful few weeks.”
“You released me from all obligations and royal duties.” He shrugged. “I went on holiday.”
I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes. I was an idiot if I thought he’d do anything to save me from this situation. My stomach churned as my skin flashed hot and cold. I needed to sit down. Rest. Anne may have been giving me small amounts of Cashel’s blood to help with the healing, but I wasn’t well by any stretch of the imagination. “Of course you did.”
“Oh, Olivia, you have no idea.” He clapped his hands and rubbed his palms together. “Now, what sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?” He glanced around the space. “Surely Cashel won’t have abandoned you to this plight. Where is he?”
My throat constricted. He didn’t know? Where had he been that he’d missed it all? Word would have spread that the vampire prince was killed.
“Cashel is dead.” Anne’s voice held no hint of empathy for the fact that Lucas’ brother had been killed.
I watched Lucas fall apart and collect himself almost instantaneously. He cleared his throat with a sharp cough. “How? What happened?”
“He took on a council member and lost. Unfortunately we have no recourse. Eliana was within her rights to end him during their fight.”
His brows furrowed, and his expression darkened to fury. “Eliana. Where is she now?”
“They killed each other. His end was merciful though. The council would have drawn it out, made him suffer, and there would have been nothing I could have done to spare him this time. Not after what happened with your father.”
Lucas’ frown deepened. “So you’re willing to just sell Olivia off now? Cashel is gone so she’s no longer…what? A problem, perhaps?”
“She’s still an asset. But one of these nights, she’ll lose too much blood and die. We’ve got a large supply now from all of her generous donations, but it’s time to expand our horizons.”
My head spun at the memory of exactly how generous my donations had been. Pain, fear, heartbreak. Those were the only emotions flooding me.
“By whoring her out? The first one to get inside her will feed and kill her. She’s too tempting. I’m surprised Logan hasn’t killed her yet.”
Anne laughed. “Logan is under my compulsion. He can’t. But you may be right. The others aren’t used to her. They won’t have the control we need in order to extend the bloodline.”
Lucas stared hard at me, and I could feel myself sinking into the depths of the prison I’d created to protect my mind as he began speaking.
“She’s more useful if she’s loyal to us, Anne. Give her to me. End my exile and bring me back into the fold. I’ll make sure you get your hybrid.”
My heart lurched at his offer. What was he saying?
Anne laughed. “Why would I do that?”
“Because you said it yourself, you don’t have any other Blackthornes to help support your claim on the crown, and that terrifies you. I know what you need.”
I hated this. The constant plotting and the twists and turns of royal intrigue left my head spinning.
“Lucas, I don’t want—”
His eyes were daggers pointed straight at me. “You’ll take what I offer, darling.”
“And what is that, exactly? I’m not a breeding bitch.”
“I’m the rightful Blackthorne heir. As much as Anne doesn’t want it to be true, my father was King and my brothers the princes. I was acknowledged as legitimate before my father died. You’ll find the documents in order, Anne. All I have to do is challenge your claim. I don’t owe you anything. Unfortunately, my brother couldn’t say the same.”
“You don’t have the balls to challenge me.” Anne’s eyes went hard as flint.
Everything in me clenched as fear took hold. Tension practically crackled in the air around us.
“Try me.”
For a moment, I thought I may see a true fight between the two of them, but Anne sighed and cocked her hip. “What do you want?”
“Olivia. I want to claim her.”
Hope lit inside me. I’d much rather be in his hands than Anne’s.
“You’ll get your turn.”
“No. I want her as mine. No other can touch her.” His gaze shot to mine, a silent plea in the depths of his irises. “I want her to be my wife. If she’s to bear a Blackthorne heir, she’ll become a Blackthorne herself.”
My breath caught in my throat. Marry him. Lucas wanted me to vow to be with him for the rest of my life.
“You want to marry her?”
“Yes. It’s the best way to ensure no one touches her. And, if she’s a Blackthorne, there will be no question the hybrid is ours.”
Anne looked me over, a faint sneer on her lips. “McKinley won’t be happy about this. He’s already put down a payment for her.”
He shrugged. “Send someone else. It’s not my problem.”
She toyed with the red diamond necklace around her throat. “I suppose a wedding, combined with your vow of loyalty to me, would make for a spectacular show. It would be the event of the year. And then, when we have the child…”
Lucas strode to my side, taking my hand and tugging me close. “Make the arrangements, I want to be married as soon as possible.”
Anne grinned. “Of course, you understand what tradition dictates for royal weddings, Lucas?”
He stilled for just a moment, then locked gazes with me. “Yes.”
“And the bloodletting. Before witnesses?”
I swallowed back the fear crawling up my throat. “Witnesses?” The word was so faint they wouldn’t have heard it if they weren’t vampires.
“Poor thing, she has no idea what being yours will do. The council will attend, pet. They’ll watch everything to ensure this isn’t a sham.”
Lucas didn’t take his focus off me. “It couldn’t be farther from a sham. I’ve been drawn to her since we first met. With Cashel gone, I can finally have her.”
I wanted to fight, to tell him he couldn’t have me, but I didn’t have the will. My entire being hurt, down to my soul.
> “Take her to Lucas’ quarters. We’ll make the arrangements and the wedding will take place at the first available date.” Anne looked behind me as she spoke, and a chill skittered across my skin at the knowledge she was putting me in Logan’s hands again. Was she trying to kill me before Lucas could have me? Doubtful. I still hadn’t done my job. She needed one last thing from me.
Logan closed his hand around my bicep. Pain radiated deep in my arm from the force of his grip, but I didn’t make a sound. I wouldn’t give Anne the satisfaction.
Lucas trained his gaze on Logan and snarled, “Don’t get any ideas, hunter.” Then his focus came back to me. “I’ll be right there, Olivia. You don’t have to worry.”
But I did worry, about everything. I’d just been sold and bargained for like a prize mare. Ready to be bred by a stallion until I was no longer useful.
3
Olivia
Logan’s grip didn’t loosen after we got inside Lucas’ rooms. In fact, it grew tighter.
“Logan, you’re hurting me.
He grimaced. “You’re nothing more than the Blackthorne’s whore. That’s not what I wanted for you, Liv.”
His utterance of my nickname made my chest squeeze. He hadn’t called me that since just before he tried to kill me. “Logan,” I whispered.
He stared at me with abject despair covering his features. “I…don’t know how long I have until she realizes her hold on me is broken, Liv. We have to get you out of here. God, I’m so sorry about everything.”
“You can’t get me away from them, Logan. They’ll find me. At least this way, I’ll be safe. Lucas won’t hurt me.”
His jaw clenched and I backed away, remembering all too clearly his teeth in my throat. His lips draining me.
“I won’t be able to help you again. This is all I have.”
I rested my palm on his chest. “I know. Go. Get away if you can. Anne is insane. Get out from under her control.”
He took my hand, nostrils flaring, eyes darkening with hunger. “You smell…so good. Stay here—in this room. I’m afraid you won’t survive long with so many of us on the grounds.”