Page 52 of Mindeater

He nods to himself and opens the tent flaps. “You know what to do.”

Two alphas enter the tent, and I back as far away as I can. The bigger of the two has a large scar cutting through the left side of his face, starting at the temple and hooking below his jaw. He has the rope. The other is smaller, but no less imposing. He has a gun.

“You move, he shoots,” the voice I recognize as Kane's says.

“Ryx!” I bellow. He’s leaving again. “Get back here, you coward!”

Kane’s partner cocks the gun. I go very still, slamming my lips shut. “Word to the wise,” Kane whispers conspiratorially, “he doesn’t like being given a nickname.”

The cage is unlocked, and Kane gestures for my hands. I don’t want to be tied up. I don’t want to go wherever they’re taking me. Patryn’s letter is like a bell ringing in my head. None of this was supposed to happen. I was meant to save Ryx, not become his fucking prisoner!

But what he didn’t account for was this. Ryx morphing into a man with more hatred in his eyes than even Matthias is capable of. I swallow hard.

“Come on,” the other man growls.

“You can let me go. I…please,” I try for a more civil approach. “I won’t hurt you.”

“No can do, mindeater. Let’s go. Hands.” Kane reaches for me, and I jerk.

His warm, calloused fingers grab my wrists easily. All the strength is zapped from my limbs. With quick movements, he gets them tied together and hauls me out. When he tosses me over his shoulder, I put up as much fight as I can, which isn’t very much. I holler and buck. It’s no use. I’m carried out of the tent and into bright daylight. The chill is worse outside, soft, powdery snow falling from the sky and swirling with the wind.

I try to see where we are, but everything is white, and the blood is rushing to my face. After a few seconds of fighting, I go limp. Too tired to put in any more effort.

“Seems too easy.”

“Eh. Boss has been working on a new formula.”

“What did he give me?” I croak.

“Something to keep you out of our heads,” Kane tells me casually, like this is all completely normal and not barbaric.

“So a drug, then.”

“Stop talking to it,” the other man hisses.

“Come on, Danny boy. He doesn’t have much time left. Might as well answer his questions.”

I gasp. “Let me go. Let me go.”

“Give the man what he wants, and I’ll make sure he kills you quick.”

The whimper is shameful.

***

Kane and Danny boy take me to an old warehouse built into the mountainside. I’m tossed onto cracked concrete with zero mercy. Sharp and instant pain radiates through my bones as my face smacks against the floor. Even though I know it’s pointless, I still try to crawl away. That’s all I can do at this point.

And to think humans have to live this way.

No mastery to protect them from the wicked.

If I weren’t so terrified for my own fate, I’d be riddled with guilt.

“Nice try,” Kane chides before grabbing my ankle and sliding me back to my original spot.

A giant hook attached to a thick chain dangles from his right hand. He loops it through my bound wrists and nods to Danny. Next thing I know, I’m suspended in the air, my shoulders screaming in protest. It’s then my bladder gives up. Warm liquid trickles down my pant leg, dripping past my foot and onto the ground. I bite my lip so I don’t cry.

“Ew.” Kane grimaces and steps away quickly.