Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
I throw my head back and howl.
“What the fuck is that?” Palgrave yells, putting his hands over his ears.
I open myself and am flooded with him.
A couple minutes more, Kaj. I love you, baby.
I feel his intent. He heard my call and opened himself, too. He might not understand the formality of the call, but he recognizes the meaning behind it.
Fight, Kaj. Fight.
I pull my strength around me and charge the cage. The bars shake but hold. I snarl and bark at my captors. I might not be able to get out of this cage, but I can buy Dante time and give him the edge of surprise.
“She’s gone fucking insane. Do you think she has rabies?” Palgrave takes a long step back. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small device. When he flicks it on, a little charge pulses through the room and a blue light flashes. “This is a sonic blade, you dumb bitch. Do you know what it can do to you?”
“I think she understands quite well what we’re planning on doing to her. You see, this is why using animals without reasoning skills is better. This one understands English. She’s not going to be distracted by a treat when she understands we’re going to remove one of her limbs for study.” White Coat shakes his head. “I can get her to stop that infernal howling. If this kills her, at least we’ll have some quiet.”
He flips the switch, and a howl sticks in my throat. The pain is even worse, but Dante’s voice is there, comforting me, sharing the pain. I feel him. He is close, so close. The connection between us is a strong rope tethering me to the plane. I feel my heart beating too fast, but then it slows, as Dante takes the pain for me.
Play dead, Kaj. Hurry. I can’t hold out much longer.
I drop to my belly and let my eyes go blurry and unfocused. The pain wracks through me, but it is less now. No matter how bad it gets, I will not move because Dante needs me. I think about closing the connection again but feel a low growl roll across my skin. It does not come from me. Dante sent it. It is a warning to obey him.
If I do not, I will get the worst spanking. I stop breathing.
It is time.
The machine flicks off. It takes every bit of my concentration to keep still.
“Gods be damned, Doc. I didn’t want the bitch dead.” Palgrave still holds his knife. I can hear it humming.
“Bah, she’s better dead. None of my techs would have been willing to get close to her. She’s too dangerous. Now I can perform an autopsy and get everything I need.”
There is a loud crash, and I open my eyes.
He is here.
Dante falls from a hole in the ceiling. He lands on his feet and stares at me. I can feel his rage. He understood that I was in a cage, but seeing it seems to have opened something volcanic inside him. His eyes become orbs of pure forest green, and his claws are far longer than before.
“What the fuck?” Palgrave quickly yells for security.
“Did you think you could take my consort and I would let her go?” Dante’s voice is deep, his words clipped.
“I thought you would run around trying to figure out why that fucker Torin had your consort.”
Another body falls from the ceiling. I immediately recognize him as the mercenary who took Dante and Meg. He is out of breath, but he has a weapon in his hand. It is reassuring since he seems to be working with Dante, not against him.
“I’m afraid I have a new friend, Palgrave.” Dante is not out of breath. He stands there, a solid figure casting his shadow across the room. Roan moves to stand next to him. Neither one seems to notice White Coat behind them. He is moving quietly, the needle in his hand.
I bark a warning, but Dante is already in motion. He moves fluidly, his body twisting around. Before White Coat can raise the needle, Dante’s hand is around his throat and he squeezes. His claws sink into White Coat’s throat. Dante picks the smaller man up. White Coat’s feet dangle, kicking out uselessly. After a moment, the man stops moving, his face blue, his throat a mottled mess of blood and tissue.
Dante tosses him away like a rag doll.
“Whatever you’re on, Dellacourt, it’s some good shit.” Roan watches him with obvious appreciation.
Dante ignores him, preferring to look at Palgrave, who now has the backing of three security guards. Each holds a sonic Taser unit in his hand.
“I really should have come more prepared,” Roan says. “I feel naked without my kit, but I can still take out the two on the left.”