Chapter One
Kara paced the cramped,
windowless shoebox they’d stuck her in a little more than a week ago, right
after she’d squeezed through the bars on the window of the last room they’d
placed her in. When Henry Carter and his minions had brought her here—wherever
the hell here was—they’d placed her in a cage only big enough for a small
child. They’d also kept her under some kind of spell, or laced her food with
something that interfered with her magic to shift into her black cat form. A
few months ago, she’d shifted in her sleep, which led her to believe it was a
potion they’d given her, and that her system had somehow built up immunity to
it. Once she realized she could shift again, she didn’t think twice about
escaping from the cage.
Did they really think they could
keep a shapeshifting cat contained for long? They were idiots if they did. Cats
were great escape artists. Kara was no exception.
She fisted her hands as she wore
a track in the center of the burnt-orange carpet. Or was that blood-saturated
carpet? She shuddered, not wanting to think about how many other people Henry
had killed in his lifetime. Her capturer wouldn’t get away with murdering her
best friend’s parents and then kidnapping Kara to keep her quiet. One way or
another, she would get out of here, and Henry Carter would pay.
A sound from outside the door
drew her attention. Coming to a stop in the middle of the room, she listened
then growled. Anxiety and annoyance fueled her need to escape. Plus, the walls
seemed like they were closing in on her.
She’d find another way out.
She had to. For Nyna. She’d do
anything to protect her and give her the closure she deserved.
The sound of a door handle
turning refocused her thoughts. When the door opened, she let out a low snarl
as Dumbass One entered. That’s what she called her guards, Dumbass, with the
number of the order she’d met them over the last eighteen months.
“Easy, kitty.”
“Get bent, asshole.” She tracked
him with her eyes as he carried a tray to the small rectangular table against
the far wall.
His brown hair fell over his face
as he set the tray down. “I see I’ve been promoted.” He turned and smirked at
her. She hissed at him, wanting to claw out his eyes. “Or is that a demotion?”
Smartass. “Bastard.” She eased to the table, lifted the cover from
the plate, and sniffed. The aroma of garlic, butter, and red meat drifted up,
filling her senses. Her mouth watered and her stomach grumbled. “Steak? Is this
my last meal or something?”
Dumbass One laughed, bitter and all
too fake. “Don’t we all wish. No, the boss wants you alive.”
For what, she didn’t know. Kara
had a theory that Henry wanted to use her as insurance in case Nyna—his
niece—found out that he’d killed her parents. His own brother and
sister-in-law. The fear that rose with that thought fueled Kara’s rage even
more. Nyna had a right to know, and to have closure so she could move on with
her life. Kara had to be there to protect her from her bastard uncle.
Studying the guard, Kara stepped
closer to him. He raised a brow but didn’t move. Brave man. Or, he really was
an idiot. She batted her lashes and gave him her best attempt at a sensual
smile. “I could make it worth your while if you just…I don’t know, forget to
lock the door when you leave.”
His lips twitched as if amused.
Desire flashed in his gaze briefly, telling her that he considered it for a
moment. With a quickness she hadn’t expected from the human, he gripped her
upper arms and yanked her into him, their clothed bodies meshing together.
Holding down the bile that threatened to surface, Kara wrapped her arms around
his waist and allowed her tiny fangs to lower. “What do you say?”
He shoved her away and shook his
head. Without another word, he left the room, slamming the door behind him. The
click of the lock was her answer.
She laughed. Never underestimate a desperate female.
She opened her hand and grinned.
A single key
rested in her palm.
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