Chapter 38

The scent of cedar and winter air met Thalia’s nose as she began to stir from the depths of slumber. Her head thrummed with pain, shooting through the depths of her brain and into her eyes and temples. The intensity had her stomach roiling in protest at the thought of opening her eyes and getting up. She thought of asking Kade to get her some painkillers but something about that thought had a flash of panic scuttling like a spider through her. A memory glimmered in the darkness promising enlightenment and yet at the same time Thalia didn't want to pick at that particular wound.

"Rise and shine, little wolf."

The familiar voice had Thalia's eyes snapping open, ice cold dread leaking into her veins. It took barely a second for the memory of that night to come back to her with shocking clarity. Her eyes found the man only to widen in horror. Instantly she was scrambling to put more space between herself and Dante despite there being nowhere to go. Instead she found herself pressing against the headboard of the bed she found herself in, her fingers clutching the sheet to herself as if it was a shield.

Thalia let out a growl. "Stay away from me."

"Now is that any way to greet the father of your children?" Dante raised a sharp eyebrow, his head tilting slightly as icy blue eyes bore into Thalia. "Now I suggest you get dressed into something more suitable. We are due a visit from the doctor."

"I'm not going anywhere with you, Dante."

"Well lucky for you, you'll not be leaving this room until you go into labour." Dante smirked and stood from his seat. "Now get dressed."

Thalia had to swallow down the acidic ball of fear that stuck in the bottom of her throat. She didn't want to get dressed, she didn't want to see the doctor. What she wanted was for this nightmare to be over. She wanted to know if Kade was alive. She couldn't feel him through the mate-bond but then it felt more like a block had been put in place. She couldn't feel anything. It was as if the mate bond never existed. She only hoped that it was something Dante done to her and not what he had done to Kade that was causing this horrible empty feeling. Already its presence was gnawing at her like a festering wound. It didn't hurt as such, it was just there or rather, it wasn't there and in its place was a gaping hole.

"What did you do to me?" Thalia snarled.

"You're wasting time, Thalia." Dante sounded like he was scolding a naughty child.

"Tell me!" She barked, eyes blazing with her own and her wolf's rage. "You have done something. I can't feel him anymore! I can't feel the mate bond! So what did you do to me!"

"I blocked it." Dante replied. "To spare you the pain that comes with the death of your mate. It could affect the children and I can't allow that."

"He's not dead." Thalia prided herself on sounding strong but inside she was crumbling under the doubt. "He's stronger than you know. He will find me."

"He's dead, Thalia." Dante moved to the door. "Now get dressed."

Thalia didn't move until Dante left and the door shut behind him. She was smart enough not to bother with trying the door. It would only give Dante some type of affirmation that he had Thalia exactly where he wanted her. Instead she forced herself off the bed, shuffling to the one of two doors aside from the door Dante left through. The first one was a small closet with a few articles of clothing. It was nothing like the lavish items that Dante had arranged for her the first time and the clothing very much reinforced the notion that she would not be leaving the room anytime soon. Thalia didn’t care though. Dante could shove his riches and nice clothing up his arse along with his arrogance as far as Thalia was concerned.

Grabbing a set of clothing and some clean underwear, Thalia tried the other door, relieved to find a bathroom with a shower, toilet and wash basin. At least she wouldn’t have to beg to be let out any time she needed to pee or wanted a wash. Though, again it suggested once more that Thalia wouldn’t be leaving the room for quite some time. Shoving the depressing thought away to pick apart at another time, Thalia wasted little time, washing and dressing in the clean clothing. At first she was reluctant to head back out to the main room so quickly but she feared that Dante would just barge in here and drag her back out if he lost his patience so, with great reluctance, Thalia headed back into the main room.

Unsurprisingly, Dante had returned but this time he came with two guards and of course, doctor Mckinley who looked as nervous and fidgety as the last time Thalia had seen him. Their eyes met and Thalia noticed the doctor’s eyes widened in shock before they darkened with a mixture of sadness and disappointment. Apparently Mckinley had been happy that Thalia escaped. Perhaps he could help again. If only Thalia could get out of this damn room.

“Ah perfect timing, Thalia. You remember Dr Mckinley, don’t you?” Dante made a gesture towards the older man who shifted uncomfortably under the demon’s scrutiny,

Thalia just nodded, her eyes watching Dante’s every move closely.

“I thought so. After all, he was taking care of you when I bought you. He made sure you were fit and healthy even at the beginning of your pregnancy. I hear you even formed a bit of a friendship.” Dante paced slowly like a predator waiting for the right moment to attack.

The question was, who was the prey?

"Hardly." Thalia growled.

"Really?" Dante raised an eyebrow but despite the words implying he was surprised it was obvious Dante was far from it.

An uncomfortable silence fell and the hairs on the back of Thalia's neck stood on end. She watched the demon as he prowled, blue eyes passing between the doctor and the she-wolf. The guards gave nothing away. Their faces were blank, eyes staring ahead and unflinching despite the fact the air crackled with tension.

"I find that hard to believe, Thalia." Dante finally spoke.

"Mr Connaught, I really should get on with Thalia's examination. Perhaps you could wait outside?"

"Why? So you can suggest other ways for Thalia to escape?" Dante sneered. "Perhaps this time you could try smuggling her out under your lab coat."

Both McKinley and Thalia froze. Thalia felt her heart drop into her stomach while Mckinley seemed to resemble some kind of fish, his eyes wide from being caught off guard and his mouth opening and shutting. No noises left him though, he was rendered speechless not only by his surprise that Dante had figured him out but also the sheer terror that had to be building in him because he had been caught.

“He didn’t help me.” Thalia finally spoke up now she had control of her voice but the lie didn’t sound as convincing as she would have liked and she cringed inwardly.

“Really? Because one of the girls saw you. You hardly tried to hide what you were talking about.” Dante replied easily, his ice cold eyes boring into Mckinley as if Thalia was not a culprit in this supposed crime.

Thalia had admittedly forgotten about the girls since the night of her escape. She hadn’t even been sure if they had survived. Thalia felt shame and guilt flood her. How could she have been so uncaring and selfish? But then Dante mentioned one of them had overhead Thalia and the doctor which suggested that at least one of them was alive. Was it possible that they had all survived?

She shook the concern from her head. Now wasn’t the time to be worrying about that. She didn’t like the look on Dante’s face as he glared at the doctor. Her gut twisted, her whole body wanting to run away and yet she was frozen to the spot, unable to look away from the scene.

“You have betrayed me Doctor Mckinley,” Dante spoke in a low and dangerous tone and for a moment Thalia could have sworn his eyes turned red like blood. “After all I have given you. You would be rotting in some prison if it weren’t for me. Did you bother to mention to Thalia why you are in my service? Did you enlighten her with why you owe me your loyalty?”

"Mr. Connaught, please forgive--"

"Silence."

Thalia couldn't help but flinch at the sound of Dante's voice. It echoed like thunder with just as much malice but there was something inhuman about the sound. It was like multiple voices talking at the same time as venom dripped from the words.

"I will not tolerate betrayal." Dante spoke again but his voice was back to it's more human-self even if his words were barbed. "Doctor McKinley, your services are no longer required. You will be relieved of your duties effective immediately."

That didn't seem so bad and yet Thalia couldn't help but think this wasn't the end of the matter. Her eyes watched Dante for a moment trying to work out what he was thinking but he was like a marble statue; his features giving away nothing. So she looked to the doctor, shocked to see that rather than disappointment filling McKinley's features, he seemed relieved, his shoulder slumping a little. Thalia was still looking at him when movement in the corner of her vision caught her attention. However, it was too late by then to react.

One moment Dante was standing between them and the next, he was behind the doctor, a murderous look in his eye. He raised his hand, something blinking wickedly in the light. As it moved towards McKinley. It only took a fraction of a second for Thalia to realise it was a dagger of some sort, a scream escaping her lips as the blade moved quickly. It sliced through the doctor's neck like a hot knife through butter, a dark red line suddenly blooming in the wake of the dagger. It all happened so quickly that Mckinley was still processing Dante's words. His eyes suddenly widened as his throat filled with blood. It spewed forth and down his front, saturating the white shirt he had been wearing. Shock and panic painted his features, hands flailing to try and stem the bleeding but it was useless. The doctor fell to his knees as the very life in him drained away, his eyes growing dull before he fell forward, sprawling across the blood soaked floor.

"What did you do?" Thalia screamed.

"What I had to do." Dante snarled, motioning for the guards who stepped forward to pick up the body.

Thalia felt her stomach turn as blood continued to spread out and stain the cream coloured carpeting even as the two men lifted McKinley's limp body. She flinched when Dante stalked towards but he made no attempt to harm her. Instead, he peered down at her with dark eyes.

"Let this be a warning, Thalia " He murmured. "You are mine and anyone who tries to take you from me will die."

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