Page 3 of Hitched to the Vampire King
Only when they closed the door and the echo of their footsteps faded away did I glance at Gabriel. I knew from my time spent here that the vampires would pay us a visit in a few hours to give him his next dose. As they would three more times before sunrise hit. Understandably, I didn’t rest much at night. And the constant shifting back and forth was wearing on me, especially without the proper sustenance to replenish my energy. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could do this. I needed to get us outnow. I just didn’t know how.
Desperate to check on Gabriel, I pushed my wolf back into the darkest recesses of my mind and shifted back into human form. It took longer than normal, and my broken rib screamed in protest, but I didn’t so much as whimper. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.
I quickly threw my filthy clothes back on, then hurried toward the side of my cage butted up against Gabriel’s. I lay down and reached through the bars,hopingto touch him, stretching as far as I could. My fingertips barely grazed his hand. His skin was so cold—too cold, even for a vampire.
“Gabriel,” I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath. I didn’t want the guards overhearing anything I had to say. These words were for my mate’s ears only. “I’m here. I’m right here beside you.”
He didn’t move, but I had to believe he could hear me. I brushed the top of his hand once more and imagined pouring all my love and strength into him. Anything to help him beat this.
“I’m going to get us out of here,” I continued. “I don’t know how yet, but I promise I will. I won’t let Adrian hurt you anymore.”
I paused, swallowing the lump building in my throat. “Remember our last night together? Before all this? You told me you loved me. That you’d give up everything to be with me. Hold on to that, Gabriel. Hold on tous. Don’t let them destroy what we have.”
I stayed there, touching his hand, talking to him, whispering encouragements, until my body couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to be a light for him, to guide him out of whatever darkness held him trapped. His complete lack of response hurt, even though I tried not to let it get to me. More than anything, I needed him too—I needed to hear his voice, feel his touch.
Sniffling, I pulled my arm back into my cage. Then I gave myself back to my wolf. I couldn’t be in human form when the vampires arrived.
Afterward, I curled up next to the bars closest to Gabriel, eyes closed but mind alert. I needed to stay focused and ready for the moment Adrian’s guards returned.
ChapterTwo
The momentI caught the sound of approaching footsteps, I ignored the ache in my side and snapped to attention. Still in wolf form, I rose to my feet and waited for the inevitable moment when the door opened. It didn’t take long. A few seconds at most.
Light flooded the entryway, but it wasn’t the familiar silhouette of the guards. My ears twitched as my new visitor stepped inside, but it was their scent that had me snarling and backing deeper into the cage. I only knew of one person who stunk of old blood and rich cologne.
Adrian.
A lump formed in my throat, and my breath hitched. He hadn’t once come to visit since locking us in here, always sending his minions to do his dirty work. Until tonight.
I pressed my furred body against the cold, unyielding bars behind me, my eyes tracking his every step. He strode into the room at a leisurely pace, as though nothing in the world could hurry him, and I had to clamp my jaw to keep from snarling. Every bone in my body yearned to rip this asshole to shreds, to unleash every ounce of pent-up rage and frustration on him, to make him pay for what he’d done to us. For what he was currently doing to Gabriel. But deep down, I knew any sort of outburst would cost me dearly. I couldn’t give him any reason to punish Gabriel on my behalf.
Adrian strode into the room, an arrogant grin curling his lips. His gaze fell on Gabriel, and that damn grin grew. The sight nearly broke me, and a growl slipped past my lips.
The bastard’s focus swung toward me, amusement pulling one corner of his mouth higher. “Good evening, Maddie.” He turned away from Gabriel’s cage and approached mine, his eyes coldly assessing me. “My apologies for waiting so long to visit. There’s been a lot going on, which I’m sure you’ve already guessed. Preparations to handle and people to talk to.”
I clenched my teeth.
“I must say, I truly had no idea what to expect from you. When I heard myson”—he spat the word out, then glanced at Gabriel with such disdain—“took a werewolf for a mate, I expected to find some little pup following around at his heels. Not…you.” He waved a hand in my direction.
Oh, I was far from a pup, and I was dying to prove that to him.
“It’s a shame my wife is dead,” he said, the words muttered darkly. “She had this talent for making werewolves see things her way. Bending them to her will. She would have had you begging for belly rubs and whining for treats with little more than a look.”
Yes, I’d heard of the dead vampire queen’s ability to command werewolves. It was because of her, and her orders to kill Lucy, that my sister had even become a werewolf in the first place. Thanks to our father’s genes, Lucy had survived the attack, and become the alpha of the Mississippi Pack. Strange to think how all this was connected.
“But she’s gone now. Because ofhim,” Adrian continued, his eyes narrowed as he glared daggers at his son. “He killed her. His own mother. Just to protect his friends.”
The urge to give Adrian a piece of my mind had me instantly shifting back into human form. I’d promised myself I would remain in wolf form, but I just couldn’t keep quiet about this.
Once back on two legs, I snatched my clothes and growled a dark response while quickly dressing. “She wasnothis mother.”
Fury rippled across Adrian’s face. “How little you know.”
“I knoweverything,” I barked. I stalked closer, my hands clenched at my sides. “The two of you stole him from an abbey when he was just a kid.”
“We raised him! We loved him,” Adrian shouted, his fangs flashing at me. “We gave him the gift of eternal life. And how did he repay us? He killed the only woman he’d ever known as a mother.”
Rage on Gabriel’s behalf had me staggering a step forward and pointing a finger at Adrian. “He killed her because he had no choice. You want someone to blame? How about you blame your wife?Shewas the one terrorizing your people.Shewas the one burning down establishments and holding people’s loved ones hostage in order to make them obey.Shewas the one who ordered a werewolf to kill my sister! Andshewas the one who tried to murder Anna. Gabriel did what he did, not because he wanted to, but because she left him no other choice. Maybe ask yourself whereyouwere during all this. You should have been there to help him, to rein your wife back in, but last I heard, you were too busy sticking your cock where it didn’t belong to know what was happening.”
