Page 34 of The October Trials

His gentle praise is a lie. Because when I finally reach him, he fists my hair at the nape, yanking me to my feet. He leans down until his mask nearly brushes my temple, his next words scraping against my ear in a low, husky rasp.

“You were going to give him your virginity, huh? You were going to give him my blood?”

I cry out as his grip tightens, searing my scalp. “N-no! I promise, I promise.”

A lie.

“Tell him.” He shoves me forward, grip never leaving my hair.

I stumble, swallowing hard as I ease my gaze to Parker. I open my mouth, but the words lodge somewhere behind my ribs. That is, until the cold tip of Cage’s knife kisses the center of my back.

“Tell. Him.”

“I wasn’t going to give you my virginity,” I rush out, hissing at the end as the knife digs into my back. When the blade retreats, I breathe out.

“Run, little bird. I’ll give you a head start. Consider it mercy, because it’s all you’re getting tonight.”

Parker’s hand shoots out, grabbing my wrist.

“Unless you want your fucking hand cut off, I suggest you remove it from my property,” Cage growls.

Parker does as he’s told but still holds his gaze on me. “Blair, don’t—” he stutters, voice cracking.

I realize it then. Parker isn’t trying to protect me. He’s terrified of being left here with Cage and his wrath. He’s only trying to save himself.

That’s all it’s ever been with him, isn’t it?

Nothing he’s done tonight has ever been for me. Not even a week ago, when he convinced me all of this was for my mother.

I whip my head toward Parker one last time.

And I run—because if he can worry about saving himself, I need to start doing the same.

GOD, I NEED to exercise more often.

My lungs are on fire, and I’m barely holding on.

Branches whip across my face and arms, leaving stinging cuts that I barely feel from the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Every snap of a twig behind me sounds like death creeping closer.

Run. Just keep running.

Cage’s voice cuts through the trees. “That’s it. Stretch those pretty legs for me. I want you exhausted by the time I catch you.”

Asshole.

I use every morsel of strength I have left in my body to keep going.

Risking a glance over my shoulder, I almost scream when I see it. He’s right there—mask pushed up, gray eyes gleaming with pure predatory instinct. He isn’t even breathing hard, and here I am sounding like a dying seal.

“Getting tired?” he taunts. “I can almost smell your fear from here. You know what that does to me?”

“Fuck off!” I scream over my shoulder.

I veer left, ducking under a low tree branch, but the same way Parker caught me, he does too. His gloved hand grips the back of my shirt and yanks. I go down hard, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. Before I can even think to scramble up, he’s on me, flipping me onto my back and pinning my wrists above my head with one hand.

“There she is,” he murmurs. “And so fucking beautiful like this.” His other hand drags down the front of my body, running over my torn clothes, my bruises. “Now it’s time I collect my prize.”

I thrash and kick and fight, but it’s useless. He hauls me up like I weigh nothing and starts dragging me by the hair deeper into the woods.