Feral

Lake

~“How could you, Lake?”~ a voice echoes. ~“How could you just leave me here to suffer like this?”~

I wake to the sounds of birds chirping and a lively forest. The fire has gone out as well. My head is pounding profusely for some reason.

I sit up and take in my surroundings. The world last night was so dark and untouched by the sun. This morning, though, everything is teeming with life.

The distant sounds of squirrels digging, birds building nests, and the tiniest ants marching ring in my ears. I’ve never been this in tune with my senses before; it’s a bit overwhelming.

I glance down at the tracking crystal around my neck. It’s cool to the touch and glowing a faint blue, meaning my mate is further away than he’s ever been from me.

Unfortunately, it’s going to be cold for a while.

“Kjarni.” I look over to see Sylas sitting beside me, a mischievous smile on his face. My cheeks flush when I realize how close together we are.

“Wh-why are you… H-how did you—” I let out a groan of frustration when I’m unable to find the words.

“You’re the one who pulled me down here.” Sylas chuckles, his smile only growing wider. “I had no choice. I was your captive.”

I remember having a dream that Derrick and Sylas were fighting, and me hugging them was the only thing that calmed them down.

~I actually did that?! Ugh! Someone kill me now!~

I press my palms to my forehead as the pulsing intensifies, the noise around me building and banging against my eardrums. Sylas leans over and inspects my face.

“What’s the matter?” he asks.

“Noise,” I mutter. “My senses are in overdrive.”

Sylas holds me in his arms as the noise gets louder and louder. He puts his wrist to my mouth, and for a second, the noise dulls.

“Drink,” Sylas says against my temple. “It will give you something else to focus on.”

I willingly sink my teeth into his vein and make a point to drink slowly. I’m not thirsty, so I don’t feel the need to rush. As a result, the act feels far more intimate than the other times.

“Kjarni,” Sylas breathes. So, vampyres find this enjoyable if done at this pace—duly noted.

Once the noise dies down, I release Sylas and wipe my chin. His blood is the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. We share eye contact for a moment before standing and getting our day started.

My bone itches to run as my wolf today, but Lynne is still absent in my mind. I’ve searched for her in every corner that I know we share, but still, there’s nothing.

Being separated from her mate for so long must be taking its toll for her to retreat so completely to her own room in our shared mind. Somewhere that I can’t enter without my wolf’s permission.

“Lynne,” I mutter.

“Who?” Sylas asks.

“My wolf,” I reply. “She’s been absent since leaving my grandfather’s territory. I thought she’d be more of a protestor to our intimacy, but nothing.”

“Has she done this before?”

“There was a time before I turned rogue that she went silent, but that was only for a day. It’s been nearly a week.”

Sylas thinks for a moment. “The serum couldn’t have been given to you—the subjects I observed never lost their wolf. The two consciousnesses merged to the point where the person was nothing more than what the pack called a Feral.”

My eyes widen. “Would you describe them as primal?”

“Yes, I suppose. They gave into the animal side completely, even mauling their mates when ordered.”

My heart begins to beat faster as the realization hits me. Anxiety pulses through my nerves.

Sylas detects my distress. “Kjarni, what’s wrong?”

My hands instinctively move to the crystal over my neck. It’s severely cold to the touch now. An ache I hadn’t noticed until now comes over my heart. Like a wound healing or fading.

Full of dread, I glance down at my mating mark. The once dark, protruding canine mark my mate left on my body so long ago is a shade or two lighter.

“They’re not holding him hostage, Sylas.” I begin to cry. “They’re turning Derrick into a Feral!”

***

Derrick

“Please move to the wall, 247,” the intercom announces. “If compliance is not given, you will receive a shock.”

I slowly walk to the wall and absently rub my forehead against it. The cool surface makes my skin hum in relief. I’ve been so hot that moving has been difficult.

“Thank you for your cooperation, 247. You may now eat.”

I limp over to the tray. The same thing as before, and the time before that. A raw steak, steaming mashed potatoes, and that dark liquid inside the water bottle.

The woman who’s been serving me food stands on the other side of the glass, staring at me. We share a moment of eye contact before she turns and walks out of my view.

I slowly eat the steak and mashed potatoes. My muscles contract with the small shock sent to my body through the collar. They expect me to refuse the liquid again, but I’ve given up on fighting them.

I struggle to open the bottle, but end up downing it as soon as it hits my lips. My body relaxes when the drink hits my stomach and begins making its way through my system.

I wipe my mouth and accidentally hit something draped around my neck. I look down and take it in my hand. The large, diamond-shaped crystal is cold and glowing a light blue color.

What is this thing?

“Why do you call me Firefly?”

I whirl around, looking for the source of the voice. “Who’s there?”

There’s no one in the room with me. Still, my mind is haunted by a pair of green eyes.

“I love you.”

Those eyes again, accompanied by a hauntingly familiar face. Her porcelain skin and long brown hair are mesmerizing.

“You’re such a weirdo,” she laughs. “But I guess you’re my weirdo, right?”

Goddess, her smile is everything to me. My heart clenches as I realize that she’s the one who’s been visiting my cell.

Then I remember Clayton’s words about my mate. How he gave Evin information about how to find her.

My worst fears have been realized. Like me, Lake has been captured.