could use his help with this and with the team in general. He has the powers of the Verascue vampires running through him, minus their cockiness and sometimes reckless behavior. It’s the best of both worlds. Plus, he loves Cam like family. If he knew he was missing…” Aries shakes his head.
“Irus would destroy anyone in his path to get to him.” Irus may be a calm, quiet, and unassuming male, but that’s part of the reason he’s so deadly. No one would suspect he’s as powerful as he is. And with the contacts he no doubt has, maybe he’s heard something. No, he’s not someone who has a lot of friends, but I’m sure he has plenty of acquaintances he’s met throughout the years.
Bryce and Cassie continue to talk. She’s able to coax him out of my lap with her phone and a game she has on it. Bryce does check every now and then to make sure I’m still here.
“We’ll get him back, Whit,” Aries says.
“We have to. I can’t live without him. My parents…” The words stick in my throat. I can’t lose Cam like I did them. I don’t want to think of a world where Cam isn’t in it.
“We’ll do anything we have to.” Aries glances down at Bryce and smiles.
“What are we going to do with Bryce? He has no family.”
“I think you’re wrong there.”
I stare at Aries. “Huh?”
“Seems to me Bryce has already chosen where he wants to be.”
My eyes widen as I look back over to him. “Me?” Aries nods. “That’s because I was there when Cam traded himself for Bryce. That doesn’t mean anything.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Aries leans down so his words are only heard by me. “We could always ask around the fae community. See if someone would like to adopt him.”
A sharp pain pierces my chest at the thought. “No,” I choke out aloud. And just like that a decision is made. Bryce will stay with us—with Cam and me. I hope once we get Cam back he’s okay with it. And we will get him back. I won’t accept anything less than my mate, alive and in my arms again.
27
Camden
By my calculations, we’ve been here for five days. That’s based on the meals we’ve been given. Just enough to keep us alive and not appear emaciated. Realdo wants to sell us and he can’t do that if we look like we’re barely able to hold our heads up.
Caiden and I have spent a lot of time talking. He’s cried, apologized. I’ve comforted and held him. I love having my brother back, even if it’s in the basement of whatever hell we’re living in. I have to keep the hope alive for both of us that we’ll get out of here. That somewhere out there are my mate and team trying to find us.
The lights in the room are never turned off. It’s hard to sleep but eventually exhaustion wins and Caid and I sleep propped up against each other. It’s the same every day. We’re not sure when night is, simply falling asleep when we’re able.
The bouncing of the door off the wall startles me awake. I immediately put myself in front of Caiden to block whatever is coming our way.
“Good, you’re up,” Realdo says, happier than I’ve heard him before. “I have a buyer coming tonight. Be on your best behavior or I’ll kill your brother.” The threat is said very matter-of-factly. “You think I won’t because you’re more valuable as a set. You’re wrong. I can still fetch a lot of money for you alone. Do as I say or…” He runs his finger over his throat in a motion that says he’ll slit my brother’s throat.
I don’t reply. Simply stare at him with a hard glare. I’ll play his little game for long enough to keep my brother alive, then, when we’re sold and moved, I’ll kill whoever I have to so we’re free.
Caid stirs once the door closes. I knew he was awake by the change of his breathing. He pretended so he didn’t have to deal with Realdo. My brother was never a weak male, but he’s been broken down and had his mind altered to think he was someone he wasn’t. He acted in a way he never would have if given the choice. I hope one day he’ll be okay and be able to get past the trauma he’s been through. Once we’re free, I’ll introduce him to Yvonne. Hopefully, she