males of the same bloodline. One with vampire powers. The other a powerful shifter. Yes, my love, they’ll do just fine.”
She pulls me back and spits in my face then laughs as she takes the hand Realdo offers her. Turning my head, I wipe as much as I can away on my shoulder then bring the bottom of my shirt up to get the rest. The two of them walk through the door, leaving the room. Once it’s closed, I note the distinct sound of a lock engaging as magic prickles my skin.
Caiden groans from the floor. I drop down beside him and cradle his hands in my mine as best I can with the handcuffs on. The skin on his wrist is red and angry looking as it sits at a weird angle.
“Camden,” he murmurs in a pained voice. “You shouldn’t have done that. You shouldn’t have traded yourself. He’s going to kill us both.”
“We’re worth more alive than dead.”
“Unless he can’t find a buyer.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
His eyes slowly blink open and latch on to mine. “Don’t you realize what’s going on? There’s no saving us. This is it. We’re going to be sold if he can and kept where no one can find us.”
“Whit will.”
“Maybe when we’re with a buyer. I have no doubt they will lay a trap to get him as well.”
“Don’t underestimate him and the others. They’re powerful and won’t stop until we’re found.”
Caid shakes his head. “It’s going to be a bloodbath.”
I bite my bottom lip to keep from saying any more. One of us has to stay positive, even if it’s not my normal way of thinking. Fate put me here for a reason. I have to stay alive and get out of here. I’m meant to be with Whit and for longer than the short time we’ve had together. I have to hold on to that. It’s what I’ll need to give me hope.
Caid rolls to his back and groans in pain again. I wish I could do something to take it away. To remove the handcuffs so he could heal.
“I’m sorry,” he says when he finally relaxes slightly. “I didn’t know what I was doing. That’s not entirely true. I was aware but I had no control over it. Like a part of me was shoved to the back and I was a spectator along for the ride, helpless to do anything to stop it. That wasn’t me, Cam. You have to understand that. I would never want to hurt you or others. I don’t believe shifters are inferior.”
Reaching out, I stroke Caid’s hair back from his face. “I know.”
His eyes find mine and search as if he’s trying to locate the truth in my words. “How can you so easily believe me? How do you know I’m not lying to get on your good side?”
“How did you get captured?”
His eyebrows draw together. “By Realdo?” I nod. “I was at the home of another seller and was looking over the inventory he had. Realdo appeared with Mya. He thought I was part of those for sale. When I informed him I wasn’t, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. The male whose home I was at teleported behind me and held me until Realdo got a good look at me. He used his vampire ability to break down the wall in my mind. It was like everything changed once he did. He and Mya both grinned at me and I gave in to the sale of myself. After what happened… What I did… What I said… I didn’t deserve to live and since I wasn’t in a position to end my life, I let them take me.”
“You were compliant and that made you more appealing.” Caid swallows and nods. “Fate. If I’d been there when Andre and Sadie showed up, none of this would have happened.”
“There’s no way to know that. You could have been put under their spell as well and then what? You wouldn’t have met your mate or the pack.”
I close my eyes and shake my head. He’s right, but I’m still angry I wasn’t there for Caiden. I’m his brother. The one who’s supposed to protect him, and I didn’t. What does that say about me? I failed my family when they needed me most.
“Cam, look at me.” I hesitantly do. “It’s not your fault. This was the path fate wanted me on. It’s one I regret deeply. But there’s nothing