ot's

ill there. Linger

sciousness, Katherine was defiant. Her face, though marred by faint bruises, held an eerie sense of peace. As if she ha

aw cl

human bodies were weak-pathetic. And yet, despite her fragility, she was unlike any h

had been searching for, the flavor that no ot

e would

and fall of her chest. "How long until she wakes?" I

s in a few days, my Lord," one o

at was too long. I didn't

e like a haunting melody. Her face, the way her body had gone limp in my

me. She would submit. An

erine

ng was da

usness and nothingness, my body feel

I d

N

neck. The sensation of something cold brushing against my skin. Slow

as a

I hat

e burning pain. Elliot's piercing gaze. His fangs. The

The room I was in was unfamiliar, sterile, and cold. Thi

but my body was sluggish. Weak. Before I cou

fro

here h

iot

killed me. The man who had drai

tly tailored, not a hair out of place, his sharp eyes

nt, neither

, deliberate ste

mused, his voice smo

ng myself to hold his ga

r and blood surrounding him like an invisible c

eyes. "And what

tudying a rare, peculiar cre

ugh, despite the pain

r your disobedience. Fo

hipped me. You bit me. A

Something dangerous. He moved so fast I barely registered it before his cold fingers

urmured, his voice almost tende

y fists. I wo

against my skin. "You're a weak little human

it," I c

e was no real pressure. No true intent to har

r very brave o

oth," I s

kened. He did

ing I wasn't worth the effort. But I saw it-the flicker of something

nning a hand through his hair before

s stationed outside. "T

th hitch

. Even they seemed su

my Lord?" one of th

kered with irritati

guard quickly respon

Why?" I demanded, trying to

ossibly arrogant. "Because, little

stopped. "You c

far too pleased. "Since you refuse to

at him with all the hatred I c

'll find that I'm not so

gging me toward the door. I struggled, but my body was still we

you," I spat, kic

You will. Or you'll su

d, and I stumbled, b

osed behind me, I heard

o my world,

hat, my fat