red. His unnatural eyes floated bac

curiosity buzzing through me. "I can't sit very straight, but I can be still," I offer, trying to s

at could freeze water in

to keep myself from asking whethe

I distracted you," I added quickly, unable to help myself. "But I have a mouth, and I love

ed the vial and carefully poured half of the glowing liquid onto the cuff around my left ankle. I watched in awe

ssly, the potion eating through the metal like it was made of paper. As the last remnants dissolved, a strange lightness wash

through me. It felt surreal, like I could finally

His stormy gaze softened just a fraction, but his voice remained as sharp as ever

k

latched onto me for what felt like forever, were finally gone. My wrists still bore the raw, irritated skin where they'd once dug in, a reminde

e hungry wolves, the witches scheming from their shadows, and whatever else was thrown into this mix of ch

hope. The cuffs were gone. The chains were broken. Maybe

across my face, wild and fierce. "Cool." I looked up at Jason, the ever-stoic vampire. "You

et in that hard line. "Not yet," he said grimly, a

stomach twisted. "Why the hell not? The cuff

de you," he interrupted, voic

" I asked, my voice rising in pitch. Panic bloomed in my chest, my mind scrambling t

urless smirk. "I'll take it out,

f pain." I frowned, though my heart raced faster. "I just hope it's not in my stomach.

you are one weird woman," Jason cut me off, his tone

ten used to obeying orders, my body reacting before my mind could catch

ask what he planned to do, he tore my sleeve open, exposing the pale skin un

ght in my throat as I stared at them, knowing what was coming. I had no time to brace myself. One of his

a hot, steady stream. The pain was sharp, searing, and im

ocus entirely on the wound he'd made as he worked his claw deeper, searching. I felt the metal tip scrape against something foreign under

rist, he pulled it free. My breath hitched as he held it up to the dim light-

h a look of pure disgust, his lip curling

s so small, so insignificant, yet it had been used to control me, to track me like I was nothing more th

y voice trembling with fury. "Thos

sion remained unreadable. "And now it's gone. But d

corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I had no tim

as steadier now, stronger. "I'll make

cked out. He was all about controlling me ev

k J

device and grou

" Jason said, his claw slash

my nostrils, and my eyes brightened. But fuc

d harshly before holding my arm and

hat I could heal fast, but the vampire king's

ck with him, at l

d away, completely ignoring my bright smile, and stepped out of the

hell out of here, Ol

ot Oll

ate