12. Calix

Chapter twelve

Calix

A large, sharp rock is jabbing me in the side. I swallow roughly. Where the hell am I? Stemming my panic, I try to think. Memories slowly start trickling in. The last thing I remember was waking up in bed holding my mate. Despite the pain in my side and the throbbing in my head, I want to smile. Only I can’t, because the throbbing pain in the back of my head is excruciating.

I remember walking through the forest, admiring the white glitter of the snowflakes as they floated to the ground. The door to my house was open again, but this time, there was a light on. Someone was inside. I slowly backed away and pulled out my phone. I was about to call Zero for help when I saw him.

Dante.

My heart pounds at the memory. His command not to move. The way I was unable to disobey my sire’s compulsion. The fury raged through me as he walked behind me and knocked me out with something.

“Finally, you’re awake,” Dante snarls, the whites of his eyes bulging.

I blink. There’s something wrong with him. He seems manic… crazed.

“Dante,” I say slowly. “What am I doing here?”

He screeches. The noise pierces a sharp pain through my ears. I attempt to grab my head, but realize I’m tied up. Stealthily, I the ropes and sigh in relief when I find that in Dante’s haste—or carelessness—he did a haphazard job of restraining me. Not to mention, if I work some of it loose, my vampire strength should be able to break through them.

I take a deep breath and try to clear my mind. Focusing on trying to push the pain away, I take in my surroundings. Another moment of relief. We aren’t far from my house, maybe a few miles away. I remember this tiny cave from my hunts through the forest.

Dante mumbles to himself. His movements are disjointed and strange.

“Dante,” I repeat. “What am I doing here? What’s going on?” Did he figure out I killed Helios and he’s captured me to seek revenge?

“I’m here to collect you, my little doll.”

I flinch when I hear his nickname for me, then I see red. Snarling against my bonds, I infuse the red-hot fury into my words. “Don’t ever fucking call me that again.” Using all the rage I can manage, I struggle against the ropes. In the process, I feel one of the knots tighten. Fuck . I probably made it worse.

I let out another slow breath.

Dante laughs. “Little doll, little doll. I’m here to play,” he singsongs. “I am ready to play with my little doll. The one with the beautiful golden hair.”

He plops down next to me and starts tapping his fingers onto his thighs. He hums along a rhythm to a silent song only he can hear. I freeze. He’s completely unhinged. I let myself study Dante for a moment, seeing tattoos and scratches all over his arms.

My eyes widen in understanding. He’s been trying to break through the wards. The magic must be able to detect what he wants to do to me. I shudder. It must be really bad if the wards are affecting him from outside the town’s limits.

As I continue working on trying to untie the ropes, Dante keeps humming to himself eerily. When I don’t have much success, I close my eyes and concentrate on the magical bond between Zero and me. A hollow gnawing pain rolls through my stomach and I still.

I’m ravenous.

My mouth falls open and I can feel my fangs completely extended outward. I’m unable to retract my fangs.

Fuck. I’m literally starving to death.

Dante continues to hum as he rocks back and forth, scratching at his tattoos.

How long have I been in this cave?