her body slumping forward in my peripheral vision.
I was a monster, she had that right, but I would no longer be the monster she wanted me to be.
I suddenly fell forward, my body leaning on my fists as I fought to breathe. My body sweated and shook with the reality hitting home—she was dead. Our torturer, mine and Inessa’s captor, was dead.
Then pain filled every cell of my body as I thought of my sister. Adrenaline surged through my body. But I staggered to my feet, only to see Luka and his guards staring at me. I glanced behind to see Zaal staring at me, too, his green eyes tracking my every move. And I saw my Zoya in his arms.
Luka moved forward, reaching out his hand, but I snarled, “No!” and wrenched my arm free. Running to the wall of screens. My hands searched the counter until I found the remote control Mistress always used. Panting for breath, I randomly hit at the buttons until the screens turned on. I searched for Inessa. Then on the far right screen I saw her huddled in the corner of a cage, writhing on the floor with her hands between her legs, her dark hair damp as the pain took its hold. Then a male walked into the room, and I shook my head. “No,” I hissed under my breath.
“Master,” I whispered, and watched as he approached my sister. Inessa’s naked body arched on the floor, and Master dropped before her, crawling over her body. I watched, helpless, as he spread her legs and in one hard thrust slammed himself into her.
Inessa screamed out in relief. I had to avert my eyes. Emptiness and failure spread through my heart. Inessa was already in Georgia. She was already back in the Blood Pit.
My head stayed bowed until I heard the sound of my voice coming from one of the screens, followed by the crackle of my picana and a scream from her throat. “Tell me your name.” My voice sounded cold and unfeeling.
My heart tore when I heard Zoya’s timid voice reply, “Elene Melua. Kazrati, Georgia.”
I heard Zaal. I heard his heavy uncontrolled breathing from behind me. His strong arm hooked around my neck. Zaal Kostava, Lideri of the Kostava Clan, promised, “I am going to kill you, you lying fuck!”
I didn’t fight back. As Zaal threw me to the ground and straddled my chest, I searched for my Zoya. Luka Tolstoi stood in the corner with her in his arms and watched with seething eyes as Zaal began to punch my face. Blood filled my mouth, but I didn’t feel the pain.
“You fucking hurt her!” Zaal roared, and tore at the flesh of my chest with the tip of his sai. As I never took my eyes off Zoya in Tolstoi’s arms, my body began to turn cold. I vaguely saw someone pull Kostava from my body, but by that point it was too late.
Darkness closed in; the last thing I saw was Zoya’s limp arm hanging loose from the blanket.
And I smiled.
I smiled knowing she was safe.
Knowing that she was back where she belonged—with her family and her blood.
But as I stared at her hand I wished I could hold it in mine.
Hold her hand as I finally passed.
Just one last time.
20
ZOYA
I woke, an incredible heat setting my body alight. Deep confusion and a thick fog clogged my mind. My heart raced as I tried to think where I was. Opening my eyes, I was met with near darkness; the only illumination came from a lightly draped window at the far side of the room.
I tried to push myself from the plush soft bed in which I lay, but as I did my teeth gritted together at the aching in my limbs. I exhaled a long breath through my nostrils as I racked my brain. Where was I? What had happened? No matter how hard I tried, the fog wouldn’t clear.
Panting through my discomfort, I managed to slide to the end of the bed and swing my feet over the side. Hardwood floor; I jumped at the cold feeling. My hair hung over my shoulders and I ran my fingers through the silky strands. I frowned. My hair smelled of coconut. It was soft to the touch like it had been washed and carefully dried.
As I stared down at my body, I saw I was dressed in a long black nightdress. I couldn’t remember if this was mine, but as my