1. Kali

My eyelids fluttered open, and I groaned as I rolled to my side. It only took a moment to remember where I was, even though I couldn't see anything in the darkness. It was the same place I'd been for the last three days, ever since Zan had dragged me out of the cabin. I bit my tongue, even as my body relaxed into the mattress. I would never admit it out loud, but this bed was the most comfortable place I'd ever slept. It felt like I was sleeping on a cloud.

I hated that I slept so well when I was in Zan's bed.

He'd made himself scarce in the three days I'd been back. I guessed he was sleeping on the couch, since he hadn't been in here. We'd barely spoken a word to each other, and even though Pax had told me that I was free to go anywhere in their apartment, I didn't leave Zan's room. He had a bathroom, and that was all I needed. Pax brought me food every day, and I spent hours reliving what happened at the cabin.

How I'd never see Warner again. That the Clovers saw me as an enemy. There was a heavy hopelessness that I couldn't shake. I was trapped here with Zan and the vampires when I had no idea what they wanted. Zan had tried to talk to me once, but when I asked questions, he didn't want to answer and would walk away. I was angry with him for forcing me here. Even though I knew he was the only reason I was still alive.

If he'd never come, the Clovers would have used me and then killed me. And Warner. I should be grateful, but I still didn't trust him. He had too many secrets. He was a vampire. A Kane. I let him into my heart, and it was a mistake. One I refused to make again. If I wanted to survive—to escape—I needed to remain focused.

I sighed as I shifted again, only to freeze when my foot grazed something. I slowly moved my leg, brushing up against something solid. It was then that I heard his even breaths, proving I wasn't alone in bed. My heart jolted, and it took everything not to leap out of the bed. If I woke him up, then I'd have to talk to him.

My skin prickled from being so close to him, and no matter how hard I tried to see, it was impossible in the dark. Holding my breath, I slowly lifted the blanket off me, suddenly needing space. The memory of the last time we shared a bed flashed through my head, and I clenched my teeth. After everything, thinking about what we did should repulse me. But it didn't.

I sat up, about to scoot off the mattress, when an arm banded around my waist, dragging me back. I let out a yell of surprise, my body going stiff when my back was suddenly pressed against his chest. His arm stayed locked around me, making my struggles to free myself useless.

"Where're you going, Kali?" Zan murmured near my ear, his voice gruff from sleep.

"Let me go," I demanded. "What the hell are you doing in here?"

"It's my room. My bed."

"You haven't been in here in the last three days."

"I know. I gave you time. Gave you space. But it's been long enough." His words had my stomach knotting. "You're not going to spend your days holed up in my room."

"I have nowhere else to be," I gritted out.

"This is your new life. You should learn to embrace it."

"No thanks," I snarked. "I was perfectly happy being by myself."

"Too bad."

I blew out a breath, squirming in his tight hold. "If you're going to sleep in here, I'll go to the couch."

"No."

His one-word answer had hot rage sliding down my limbs, and I elbowed him in the ribs, only to hear him chuckle.

"I know you have questions," he said, making me go still. "I thought you wanted answers."

"I do," I said slowly.

"I'll give them to you." His lips were so close to my ear that a shiver ran through me when his warm breath hit my skin, and my anger only rose. He shouldn't affect me like this. But he did, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

"All the answers I want?" I questioned, not believing him.

"Sure. I only want one thing in return."

And there it was."What?"

"I want you to put my necklace back on."

"No," I snapped, the words out of my mouth in an instant. "I'm not yours to control."

"Fine," he mused. "Let me know when you change your mind."

"I won't."

"Then you don't get the answers you want."

I fought against the internal pull to do what he wanted. It was just a necklace. His answers were worth so much more. Like why he had black blood. Or the reason he could walk in the sun. But in this moment, every part of me refused to give into his demands. I was trapped here; I didn't want to be known as his again like the first time I was here.

"Warner is fine," he said in a low voice. "We got word a couple hours ago. He's with the Clovers a few hours away. They believed the story that he and Matt told. They'll both live."

Pain lashed in my chest, tears filling my eyes. But there was a slice of relief too. Warner might not have his memories, and he might hate me, but at least he'd survive.

Zan's arm suddenly loosened, and I instantly slipped away from him, my legs getting tangled in the blanket as I tried to get off the bed. I let out a curse as fingers wrapped around my wrist, keeping me from falling off the mattress face-first. His sudden move reminded me of how well he could see in the dark. To me, he might be invisible, but he could see every detail of me.

"I'm going to the couch," I mumbled, pulling my hand from his grip and getting to my feet.

"I don't think you want to go out there."

"Why?"

"Trust me, Kali. Get back in bed."

I scoffed. "Trust you?"

Silence fell over the room, and I could sense his annoyance growing even when I couldn't see his face. Before he could come after me again, I whirled around, blindly making my way to his door. The second I found the knob, I twisted it and slipped into the darkened hall. Noises hit my ears, reminding me that Zan's bedroom was soundproof. After closing the door behind me, I froze when a new noise cut through the air.

I tiptoed toward the living room, stopping abruptly in my tracks when I spotted where the noise was coming from. Heat crawled up the back of my neck, my eyes staying glued to them even though I shouldn't be looking.

Dee was sprawled on the small table they had near the couch, completely naked. Her head was hanging off the edge, and if her eyes were open, she'd be looking right at me. But they were closed tightly, pleasure written all over her face. Viggo was on his knees, his face buried between her spread legs.

"Yes," Dee shrieked, her palms slapping on the table. "Don't stop."

I was frozen in place, not moving a muscle as Viggo brought Dee over the edge. She screamed loudly, her body shuddering as she orgasmed. Viggo didn't raise his head until she finally stilled, her chest heaving. His eyes immediately locked on mine, not looking the least bit surprised that I was witnessing this. He licked his glistening lips before shooting me a grin.

"Hey, Kali," he greeted casually. "You enjoy watching?"

"I—uh, no," I stammered out, my cheeks burning. "I was going to sleep on the couch."

Dee let out a moan when Viggo slid a finger inside her. She peeked her eyes open, giving me a dazed smile as she looked at me, her head still hanging off the table. "You're more than welcome to join if you don't want to watch."

Viggo laughed. "Nope, not happening. I'd rather my little brother didn't try to kill me tonight. The couch is free, but I'm not sure you'll get much sleep. We're nowhere near finished out here."

His taunting had me bristling. "You have a bedroom. Why don't you go in there?"

"Because I finally got Zan off the couch," he tossed back with a mischievous grin. "He's been cranky ever since we got back. Probably not getting enough sleep since the couch sucks."

His pointed stare made it clear that he didn't think Zan's attitude was from lack of sleep. I crossed my arms, trying to keep my gaze on Viggo's face when Dee started moaning from whatever his fingers were doing.

"I'm not sleeping in the same bed as him," I bit out. "Can I go into your room?"

"No. It's locked."

I let out a frustrated groan. "Viggo, please. Just go into your room so I can sleep out here in peace."

He snorted. "Peace? There hasn't been peace since one little human stepped foot in our city and got my brother's heart all tangled up. You two need to talk. Go do it."

"He brought me here against my will. I have nothing to say to him."

"You have a lot to say." He shrugged. "But feel free to stay out here."

There was no way I could sleep on the couch with these two, and from the wicked gleam in Viggo's eye, he knew it. I shot him a glare before spinning around and going back to Zan's room. I silently closed the door behind me, grateful that I couldn't hear Dee's screams in here.

With a huff, I slowly moved across the dark room until I bumped into the mattress. I climbed into the bed, staying close to the edge to keep from touching Zan.

"I told you that you wouldn't want to go out there," he said in the darkness, his voice laced with amusement.

"Yeah, well, your brother is an asshole. Must run in the family."

"Go back to bed. We'll talk when you wake up."

"I'm not putting the necklace back on."

"Good night, Kali."