24. Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

Daisy

“ T his is the best,” Saphira whispers. “Micah, you are so lucky.”

“I know,” he says. Carter’s Adam's apple bobs up and down.

“So, you loved her first. You weren’t her mate, and you hated seeing them together.” I put pressure on the knife when he doesn’t answer right away.

“Fine,” he snarls. “She liked me until she saw my brother. They fucking couldn’t see anyone else once their eyes met. I heard about the bond, but I didn’t believe anyone could fall so quickly.”

“It pissed you off. So, you swallowed your love and lived in jealousy. When did you decide to kill my dad?” I ease back but keep my knife aimed at his neck, grazing him with every swallow.

“She allowed him to get her pregnant, not once, but twice. She let him touch her. He didn’t like the way I looked at her. I worked for years at that lab, planning my experiment, living in agony that he had her and impregnated her again. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“That’s when you killed him,” I rasp.

“Cooper always got what he wanted,” he spits. “He demanded I leave their lives for good. That I made Iris uncomfortable, and she didn’t want me around my niece and nephew. My parents coddled him, but I always had to be the responsible one. The one who had to always do what I was told. He got the first pick of everything in his life. For once, I wanted to have something just for me.” His face is twisted in hate. “I showed all of them.”

“Where are your parents?” I get a sick feeling in my gut.

“They didn’t approve of my choices. I worked at the lab to better our species. I stole to better us, and I was going to build an empire on blood. They thought it was silly and the tests were pointless.”

“What did you do to them?” I ask, horrified.

“They shouldn’t have gotten between Cooper and me,” he says.

“You killed them,” I whisper. The images of a couple invade my mind. Their role in my life is hard to remember.

“It wasn’t planned,” he says, his eyes glazing over. “Cooper came to my house to demand I stay away from them, and our parents showed up. I was standing over Cooper, his blood soaking into the wood floor and they walked in. Dad tried to cover Cooper’s body with his. Unfortunately, he got in the way of my knife.” He almost sounds sorry.

“One knife wound wouldn’t kill us.”

“I had to finish it. He would have never forgiven me,” he says.

“Your mom?” My stomach rolls.

“She couldn’t live without him. I did her a favor.”

“Holy shit,” Saphira says.

“I can’t imagine,” I say softly. “The pure evil that lives inside you.” I shake my head sadly.

“You don’t understand what I lived with,” he screeches.

“I don’t.” I twist the end of the knife into the base of his throat, slightly nicking the skin. “You took my mom, along with my baby brother, by force and sent me to live with Turner. She tried to take me back.”

“Yes,” he hisses. “But then she made a deal. She wouldn’t fight me if I left you both with Turner. Ultimately, she didn’t hold up her end of the deal.”

“What did you do to her?”

“I tried to show her the love I felt,” he says, grinding his teeth. “I tried to be patient. She wouldn’t accept me, at first.”

“You forced her,” I whisper, horrified.

“She had to accept me,” he shouts. I thrust the knife down, cutting down the center of his shirt.

“You fucking asshole,” I snarl, slashing again, and blood drips down his chest.

“Bitch,” he groans.

“When did you chain her down here?”

“She got out of control,” he says, leaning forward. A low growl echoes around the room as Micah moves closer. “Anytime I got close, she would go wild. She couldn’t see my vision for the future.”

“She was tired of you raping her and fought back,” I shout, and I see the answer in his eyes. “She’s survived hell and is still standing. She survived your unwanted attention for years, and you stand here making excuses. There is no reason I will accept your twisted, sick, pathetic actions.”

“Shut up,” he yells. “She wanted me; she just didn’t want to admit it.” I throw down the knife and grab his throat, forcing his body to hit the wall.

“When a woman cries, begs, fights, and says no,” I growl, my claws digging into his throat. “It means she doesn’t want you to touch her.” His head stretches back, but he can’t escape my rage or the tips of my nails sliding further inside his neck. I ignore the gurgling, leaning close to his ear. “I have the coin. I’m going to give it to my mom and brother. They will heal because they are strong and live the rest of their lives off the money you wanted.” I tilt my head so I can look into his eyes. “You never loved anyone. Love is pure, and you are evil. Love is the reason they are still alive and will live well. My love for them is why you will die.” I hold his eyes a moment longer and then use all my strength to rip out his throat.

“Badass,” Saphira says.

“Yes,” Rowen hisses.

I drop my hand, and blood from his trachea splats on the ground. His eyes flutter, and his body goes limp. He’s not dead yet, but without shifting, he will die soon.

“Daisy,” Turner whimpers as I turn my attention toward him.

“I don’t understand how you could let him hurt your sister,” I say.

“I couldn’t control him,” he says weakly. “The blood was supposed to make her better. He paid me for her sacrifice, with money and you.”

“I look like her,” I say.

“Yes,” he says.

“That’s why you couldn’t go through with killing me,” I assume.

“Yes,” he admits. “I wanted to, but I would look into your eyes, so similar to hers.”

“Weak,” I say. “You were the weak one.”

“Please,” he begs.

“Fuck, I hate this part,” Ryker sighs.

“You didn’t care about Carter’s mission or his desire to enhance our species,” I say, bending down to pick up my knife. “All you cared about was money and coyotes to groom so we could steal. You had to keep him happy, sacrificing my mom, my brother, and your sister.” I slowly step toward him. “I was the best you had ever seen. The possibilities were endless because of it.” Touching his cheek with the flat part of the blade, I coast it down. “You always did underestimate me, though.”

“Fuck, what are you going to do?” he asks with a trembling voice.

“I’m going to make you bleed.” I turn the knife, slicing one cheek and then the other. “I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to wound you just enough so it will take days to die.” I cut from his neck to his stomach. “You will be locked in this room, bleeding and dying.” I slice shallowly across his neck. “It’s not enough punishment. My family lived here for years.” I thrust my knife into his right thigh and then his left. His cries have no effect. “Micah, I want to go home,” I say and turn to him.

“Alright, love,” he says, brushing my hair from my face, the strands stuck to my face with tears. “Give me the knife.” I hold my shaking hand out. I stare at the blood on the knife as he takes it and then passes it to Bash. “I’ll take care of everything,” he says, and I yawn.

“I’m so tired,” I whisper, swaying toward him.

“You can’t leave me here,” Turner barks, pulling at the chains. “I’ll do anything. Don’t do this.”

“Can I stay and play?” Saphira asks.

“Me, too,” Rowen says.

“No,” Bash says.

“Damn,” Saphira whispers. My head feels heavy, and their conversation is muffled.

“Your body is reacting to the shock. Sleep. I’ve got you,” Micah says, picking me up.

“Are you under control?” Ryker asks.

“Yes,” Rowen answers.

“No, no, no,” Turner screams. Micah starts to move, and metal rings out. I drop my head to his shoulder and close my eyes.

“I love you, mate,” I whisper as the tension leaves my body.

My deadly vampire will keep me safe.