Chapter 10
ADELINE
One Hour Earlier
1 could count the number of bad decisions I’d made in my life. Letting revenge fuel me had been the first, leading to my agreement to Nicholas’s. proposal. Signing that contract was the second, though it hadn’t exactly been a choice.
And this? This felt like it might become the third:
“Come on!” Nicole shouted over the music, her voice barely audible above die pounding bass. She handed me a glass filled with something dark and suspiciously strong. “You’re being so stiff! just drink a little. It can’t be easy putting up with a man as cold as Nicholas Knight”
I couldn’t help but laugh, but I didn’t take the glass from her. “I don’t know. I just have a weird feeling about tonight, I admitted, hesitating before adding. “I don’t really drink.”
Nicole rolled her eyes dramatically, throwing her head back in exaggerated exasperation “Fine. Be boring. But seriously, what then sit here and brood?”
you want to do,
What “mdid I want to do! I stared down at the bar, my fingers tracing idle patterns on the cool surface. The truth was, I hadn’t known what I wanted Fince Devon died. Losing him–loving him and then watching him betray me with Rose of all people–had broken something in me. And now! Now I was tethered to Nicholas, a man colder than winter, in a life that felt like it wasn’t even mine anymore.
I sighed and glanced at the dance floor, where people swayed and laughed under the pulsing red lights
“You know what! Screw it. I grabbed the glass from Nicole and downed its contents in one gulp. The liquid burned all the way down, leaving a biner aftertaste, but I ignored it “I want to dance.”
Nicole let out a whoop of triumph. “Now that’s the spirit!”
Before I could second–guess myself, she grabbed my hand and dragged me onto the dance floor. The music thumped through my veins as I began moving my body, slowly at first, letting the rhythm guide me. The red lights overhead painted everything in a surreal glow, and for the first time in weeks, I let myself forger Forget the deal. Forget Nicholas. Forget the tangled mess my life had become.
Nicole spun beside me, laughing and carefree. Her energy was infectious, and I found myself smiling.
Then I felt it a pair of hands on my waist
I froze for a moment before stepping away, turning to face the man who had invaded my space. He was tall, with a greasy smile that made my skin crawl.
“Not interested,” I said firmly, my voice cutting through the music.
But instead of backing off, he leaned in, his breath hot against my ear. “Come on, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice dripping with sleaze. “Don’t play hard to g
My wolf stirred uneasily, a low growl rumbling in the back of my mind. I turned to glare at him, my voice colder this time. “I said, I’m not interested
The man’s simile widened, his eyes gleaming with something dark. “Feisty, huh? I like that.”
Before I could react, Nicole appeared at my side, her expression sharp. “Didn’t you hear her the Best time?” she snapped, stepping prote
closer to me.
The man glanced between us, his smile turning into a leer. “Well, well. Two of your Looks like my night just got a whole lot better.”
Nicole and I exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between us.
We turned back to him, our eyes darkening in unison. The faint flicker of our wolves shimmered in the depths of our gazes as we spoke together. our voices low and deadly.
“Step away
The man’s song expression faltered, his eyes going wide with fear. He stumbled back, tripping over his own feet. “What the.. what are you people?”
Jar stammered.
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and bolted, disappearing into the crowd
Nicole and I burst out laughing, the sound a release of tension. “I knew I was going to like you,” she said, still chuckling
Chapter 10
I rolled my eyes, glancing arosmal to make sure no one else had noticed. The crowd was too absorbed in the music to care, and as for the man we’d just scared off? Nonne would believe him.
“Serves him right,” I muttered. “Maybe now Filthink twice before he messes with someone
Nicode grined and threw her hands in the air, spinning back into the music. Her spirit was magnetic, and for a moment, Lenvied her freedom.
“T’as going to the restroom.” Hold her, stepping away.
“Don’t be long she called after me, lier laughter following me as I weaved through the crowil.
al twist. It made me feel lightheaded, but I shook it off
The bar’s theme was intense, the red lighting casting eerie shadows that seemed to stretch anul t and posted into the restroom.
The sudden quiet was a reliel. I quickly did my business and moved to the sink, washing my hands and splashing cool water on my
That’s when I brand the door open.
I didn’t think much of it at first, assuming it was just another woman. But as I glanced up at the mirror, my heart skipped a beat.
I wasn’t a woman.
A man stood in the doorway, his figure tall and insposing. He didn’t look drunk–be looked deliberate,
Frowning, I turned to face him, forcing a polite smile. “I think you’ve got the wrong restroom.”
He didn’t move.
“Hey,” I said, my voice firmer now. “You’re in the wrong place. You should-
“I’m exactly where I need to be,” he interrupted, his voice low and inenacing
A clull ran down my spine as I realized he wasn’t here by accident, Something about him felt wrong–preilatory. My wolf growled in warning, her presence bristling at the edge of my mind,
“What do you want!” I asked, my voice steady despite the fear creeping, into my chest.
The man smiled, a slow, unsending curve of his lips just as the door opened and another min stepped in. I didn’t even have time to react
Claws slashed through the air, sharp and lethal, like something ripped froin a nightmare. My wolf surged forward in a desperate attempt to shield mr. but she wasn’t fast enough. Pain exploded in my hand, a fiery slash that made me cry out. Then came the words that froze the blood in my
“The said she isn’t to be killed yet. Get her in the car. We’ll do the handover at toidnight.”
The world spun, my visionswimming with red. Darkness clawed at the edges of my consciousness as the palu swallowed me whole.
When I came to, my headuhrobbed violently, each pulse like à lamuner against my skull Light seared through my half–closed eyes, and instinctively tried to shield my face, only to feel the coll, unyielding bite of chains sligging into my wrisis.
Panar flared as I blinked fully awake, menuries crashing back with sickening clarity.
I tried to move, but the chains raided with cruel finality, Glancing around, my heart dropped further
“Nicolet” I rasped, my thucap dry and raw. She was slumped nearby, bound just like me, her head tilted umuturally to the side. Her face was pale. and she wasn’t moving-
“Nicole, can you hear me?” I called again, my voice cracking
“Save your voice
The cold, macking voice made my head snap tip. The man from the baibroom stood a few feet away, leaning casually against the wall like we were having a friendly chat. His smile was just as cruel, just as unsettling.
“She won’t be waking up anytime soon,” he continued, his tone almost conversational. “Her kind is stronger. Takes a more potent poison to keep
Hage and terror warred inside me as I began thrashing against the chains, ignoring the pain that shat through my wrists. “Let us go!” I shouted, my- voice trembling but defiant
The man chuckled, the sound low and dark. “Let you go?” He stepped closer, his presence looming over me. “Oh no, sweetheart but don’t worry, he will nuke it quick. Painless, event. No, count your seconds because by midnight, you’ll be dead”
