Knives, hooks, whips…
My insides shrank and a shiver shook me as I watched the dagger pass hands. The leaf shaped blade protruded from a plain brown leather hilt and tapered to a sharp gleaming edge.
Luckard rolled it in his hands as he brought it closer to me. “Rabbit is such a pretty name.” The blade flipped over his thumb and the hilt followed, then reappeared to land in his palm again.
He wanted me to watch the knife.
I drew in a deep breath. I’d been holding it without knowing. My throat constricted so I could only whisper. “What do you want? I don’t have secrets.” The blade had my full attention, I didn’t want it coming any closer.
Luckard twisted my wrist already in his grasp and swung his body around to brace my shoulder under his armpit. My hand extended in front of him and trapped behind his back, I couldn’t move my arm in his hold.
The point of the dagger stabbed into the fleshy under-part of my forearm.
My scream vibrated in the room and I beat on his back with my fist as he cut into my skin and parted the flesh toward my elbow.
I struggled and tugged and kicked and punched. His broad back blocked my view and I didn’t know if not seeing made it worse. Blood warmed my hand as it flowed from the wound. He cut deep and it stung to the bone. Screeched words such as help and stop changed to animal noises as he cut closer to the tendons.
He released me and I retreated to the door. I cradled my injured arm to my chest and pressed against the wound to slow the bleeding. It throbbed in time to my racing heartbeat. My gaze slid to the equipment on the table beside Al. They planned to hurt me more. I sobbed once and swallowed the others that threatened to follow.
Luckard never moved. He watched Tane, who grinned at all of us.
“Eric lied to you. I felt none of her pain.” Tane retorted.
How was Tane’s lover involved in this? I’d met him twice. Reserved and cold, with death in his eyes, Eric was far from cute and cuddly, but they were meant for each other.
He told Luckard about a possible blood bond between me and Tane? Why? Then I remembered the murderous jealousy Eric showed toward Colby when Tane showed some interest.
“No, I think you’re the one lying. I doubt this sweet little piece of flesh can tolerate much pain.” My assailant glanced at me over his shoulder. “She’s the link I need to break you.”
“Look, she’s not even healing. Any of my blood-bound slaves would be able to repair such a scratch. Why would I let her travel with Rurik if she belonged to me?”
“I don’t know these answers and don’t care.” He stepped closer to my demon. “Let’s see if she can mask the pain as well as you do if we turn the tables around.”
It was all the warning I got.
Luckard shoved the blade hilt deep into Tane’s flank and twisted the blade.
Sharp piercing pain exploded in my side. The world blacked out as I squeezed my eyes shut and fell to the floor. I wanted to make it better, but had no dagger to pull out of my flesh. Only agony existed.
Deep laughter rumbled from Luckard. “They are bound. Chain her up.”
Hands slid under my arms and lifted me. Face first, I was pressed to the wall spread eagle, manacles applied to my ankles and wrists.
“This didn’t work when you tortured Eric,” Tane chewed out. “Why do you think it will work with her?”
“Because she didn’t betray you. I don’t think she even realizes she was bound to you.” Fingers ran over my curls. “Poor thing is going to suffer and without healing abilities she won’t last long, not like Eric.”
I shook my head and threw his hand off my hair. “I’m not bound to him, asshole.”
“Then tell me, Rabbit, how come you feel his pain?”
“He’s projecting it on me. Using his powers to fake it.” I tugged on the manacle. The hand with blood slid a little out but not enough to escape.
“For what reason.”
“He hates me. Probably snickering right now while he watches.”
I heard Luckard turn. “How did you bind her without her knowledge?”
“We are not bound!” I pronounced each word loud and clear.
“Al, stab him again.”
The pain jabbed into my left thigh. A cry welled up in my chest. I bit my lip to keep it inside. The salty, warm taste of my blood triggered my hunger beast to awaken more.
Searing pain coursed up my leg to my spine. Was it true? Were we bound?
“How interesting,” Luckard whispered in my ear. “You’re trying to hide it. Whatever he did to place you in such denial will pale in comparison to what I’m about to do.”
“Can I have her before you start, master?” Blondie asked.
“No.”
“She’ll be nothing but pulp once you’re done. Just like the other one.”
“No, not yet.” A hand trailed along the skin of my bare back. “It is a shame to mar such soft skin.”
I closed my eyes. Things were bad. I’d survived terrible things before, nothing of this caliber, though. Think, think, think. Trapped in chains with a room full of vampires. My only hope left behind in some alley.
Rurik.
If we were linked, he should hear my mental call. With effort, I tried to let down my mental shields. The walls were slow to crumble, each stone stubborn to disappear, but with a push and a shove it cleared away. I cried out to him and listened for a response, but heard nothing, so I tried again.
A stinging bite broke my concentration. It started between my shoulder blades and the burn fanned out. Shock made me shout in surprise.
With another clack, someone struck me again.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Luckard welded a short length whip. “Who is the source of your drug, Tane?” He clacked it to snap at the untouched part of my lower back.
Things tumbled together in my brain. The damn drug. We’d used it on Dragos to kill him in Budapest over a year ago. It was the only thing I knew of that affected vampire abilities, made them slower, weaker, unable to use their mental skills.
I groaned—from both pain and the dazed expression on Tane’s face. They’d given him his own drug. That’s how they imprisoned him.
Tane remained silent.
I tensed, my muscles quivered and the lash fell again, picking another untouched part. Tears spilled from eyes unchecked. I leaned my forehead on the cool wall. Dear God, help me.
“This is boring. Pass me the cat-o-nine-tales.”
Nine? Oh shit. “Why-why are you hurting me? He doesn’t care about me.” My voice broke and cracked from the abuse of my screams.
“Each lash you get he feels too. I sense something there as well, I think he does care.
You might try to hide it, Tane, but eventually your mind will crumble and I will know all.”
The first touch of the cat-o-nine-tales bit deep. Blinding, white-hot torment flashed through me as little metal barbs snagged my skin. My flesh ruptured more than cut. I arched my back and couldn’t breathe.
“Where do you get the drug?”
My knees gave out and I hung from the chains. “Tell him, Tane, please tell him.”
“She’s right, I don’t care. If I didn’t speak when you tortured Eric then I won’t now.”
“But you kept this one a secret. Suit yourself.”
They tortured Eric, Tane’s lover, to get this information. I didn’t stand a chance. The next lashes made me cry out and I didn’t have any strength left. I could only hope they ended it soon. Blood dripped from my back and made a sticky puddle at my feet. My only consolation was that the dead felt no pain.