The Tainted Read online

  “What’s that?” she murmured, finally glancing in Remy’s direction. She already knew the answer, but she couldn’t help but ask.

  “Our destination.”

  That’s what she feared. This was no ragtag group of people, but a well-operated machine. Once she entered the compound, it would swallow her up forever. “Will they kill me?”

  Remy jerked, her brows furrowing. “No.” A pause. “Unless you give them a reason to. Hazel…”

  “Yes?”

  Her captor licked her lips. “Don’t give them any trouble. Things will go easier for you.”

  Remy was warning her? Too little, too late. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied, staring again at the compound looming ahead of them. A shiver worked through her, whether from the cold or fear, she didn’t know. Grit. She had grit. This wouldn’t be the end of her. She was a survivor.

  Remy jerked the ATV to the side, whipping Hazel around. Her fingers dug into the seat and she glared at the back of her captor’s head. “You’re driving like a crazy person. I almost fell out.”

  “It’s about to get worse.”

  Remy whipped the vehicle from side to side, causing her to slide back and forth in her seat. Hazel’s head started spinning and she slapped a hand over her mouth. The bumps were bad enough, but with the swerving…

  Her captor glanced at her in the rearview mirror and stepped on the gas. “We’re being followed. Hold on tight. We can’t enter the town until they’re eliminated.”

  She grasped the seat in front of her and glanced behind her. Lobos. It was the mutant wolves. “Not them again,” she moaned. “Stupid lobos.”

  “Wraiths.”

  “Wraiths?” she yelled over the wind.

  “We call them wraiths, because they move like shadows and smoke. They’re dangerous this time of year. Hunting in packs gives them such an advantage.”

  That it did. She still remembered how they appeared out of thin air beneath her tree. No sound, no warning. She locked eyes with one of the beasts and she swore it picked up speed.

  “Remy,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “They’re catching up.”

  “I know. The avions will take care of them.”

  Hazel whipped around and planted herself firmly in the seat as Remy continued her mad driving. Movement on top of the wall caught her eye.

  Holy. Bananas.

  Giant sets of wings flared against the fading pink sunset and launched into the air. “W-w-what is that?” she stuttered. Some kind of giant bird monster?

  “The avions.”

  Terror and awe filled her as the avions sped toward them. What would it be like to have beasts like that to protect Harbor? An aerial assault was almost unheard of these days, but it would be useful for protection. They had a few ancient drones, but they didn’t do much.

  A yip and motion near her side tore her eyes from the sky. It wasn’t just one group of lobos. Another pack of three raced toward them from her right. “Remy…” her voice rose.

  “I know.”

  “There’s more.” Closer now.

  “I know!”

  “Remy!” she yelled as one closed in with huge loping steps. There wasn’t anywhere for her to run. If she let go of the bar above her, she’d be thrown from the vehicle.

  “Ohcrapcrapcrapcrapcrap!” she yelled as it loped closer. The wraith was so close, she saw slobber dripping from its jowls. She screamed as its hind quarters bunched and it lunged for her.

  Her scream cut off when something slammed into the beast from above, pinning it to the ground.

  Hazel swiveled around and gasped as an avion dropped from the sky and onto the wraiths. Ice trickled into her veins as she got a good look at one. It wasn’t a beast. “Tainted,” she whispered.

  One of the avions swiveled like he’d heard her, and their gazes locked. She felt frozen. His midnight eyes pierced her. She thought she understood terror, but it was nothing compared to the cold, empty gaze that promised death and destruction. The spell broke when he turned from her and launched into the air, his stark wings blending into the sky.

  “Oh, God,” she whispered, watching the surrounding destruction. Her gaze skipped back to the chain-link fence that had slid open. Remy slowed, and all she could focus on was that she’d be caged with these monsters. Would they tear her open like they did to the wraiths? What had Remy led her to?

  She gauged the speed and Remy’s attention. If she planned it right, she could run for the trees. It was dark enough that no one would see her. She blew out a breath and steadied herself, counting her heartbeats while watching Remy out of the corner of her eye. Her captor was waving at someone near the first fence. It was now or never.

  Hazel slid from the ATV and stumbled, crashing to one knee, her right hand steadying her. Pain ran up and down her legs, but she could handle it. She pushed herself to her feet and crouched low, running as fast as possible without attracting attention. Her skin pebbled as she waited for the alarm. Once someone noticed she was gone, she had to give it her all. One, two, three, four, five…

  A shout, and commotion.

  That’s all she needed. Straightening, she burst into a sprint. Her feet pounded against the earth in rhythm with her breathing. Her lungs and legs burned, but she didn’t slow. If she made it to the tree line, she’d make it. The forest was dense enough to provide cover from the monsters in the air. Her legs trembled, but they held steady.

  Thirty feet, twenty feet, ten…

  Whooshing filled her ears; an arm wrapped around her waist, halting her. Hazel screamed and kicked her feet out to throw her attacker’s balance off. It did nothing except knock the wind out of her.

  “Going somewhere?” a deep, dangerous voice drawled.

  “Let me go, you bastard!” She raked her fingernails along the muscular arm wrapped below her chest.

  “Wrong answer, blondie.”

  She sucked in one breath, then blinding agony seared along her nerves and the ground fell away. If she could have screamed, it would have been a blessing. His arms had wrapped around her broken one, pinning it to her body. The pain and terror built and built until Hazel didn’t exist anymore, only the ravenous pain ravaging her body.

  Make it stop. For the love of all that’s holy. Make. It. Stop.

  Her nails dug into the bands of steel wrapped around her waist in an attempt to ground herself, but it did nothing. The world tilted and blurred, but the pain kept on burning. When her feet finally touched the ground, she hardly noticed. Her body collapsed on itself and she trembled against the ground. Blurred shapes moved around her like a live watercolor painting.

  A dark blur leaned in, its clawed hands reaching for her. A whimper passed her cracked lips, and she wanted to move away, to run, but her body wouldn’t cooperate. She wasn’t in control of it. Never in control…

  Terror caused her to tremble harder as the claws brushed her hair from her face. It didn’t hurt. The fingers were gentle, soft as they offered her comfort.

  “Hazel?” The voice was familiar, but her lips wouldn’t form the words to reply. Remy.

  Someone whistled. “You found an Untouched?”

  “I think that’s apparent,” Remy snarled. “It’s okay, Hazel. Everything will be okay.”

  Nothing was okay. She had a demon inside her, hell bent on burning her alive.

  “She’s in shock,” a man said.

  “Aren’t you the brilliant one?” Remy snarked. “Of course she’s in shock, Jameson! Our fearless leader caused it.”

  “She fled. She couldn’t be allowed to escape,” said a deep voice. “She was already bleeding. I didn’t cause that.”

  It sent skitters of fear, and something else she couldn’t name, down Hazel’s spine. It was the kind of voice that, in the deep of night, sent longing or terror through you. Danger and sin.

  All thoughts of danger and sin fled her mind when clawed fingertips brushed her broken arm. Hazel jerked and cried out. Couldn’t they tell the pain was eating her fr
om the inside? That each touch was a torture of its own?

  An inky shadow knelt near her broken arm. Something wild and spicy teased her nose.

  “I didn’t know her arm was broken.” A growled curse. “I need to reset it.”

  “Nooooooo,” she moaned, eyelids squeezing shut. No more pain.

  Searing agony shot up her arm, causing her back to arch. Would her suffering ever end?

  “Shhhhh…” Remy crooned, humming a little song. It was achingly familiar. One her mama used to sing. “She needs medical attention.”

  “And you think she deserves it?” the dark voice asked.

  Silence.

  “She deserves a chance … and she’s way too valuable to lose to injuries and infection.”

  Hazel wanted to scoff. Once the fire stopped burning inside her, there would be nothing left to heal. Someone scooped her up, angering the vengeful beast inside of her, and nestled her against a broad, warm chest. She sighed and cuddled closer to the warmth and let herself fall into the gentle swaying. The arms around her stiffened and the gentle sway stopped. Why did it stop? Please don’t stop.

  A heavy sniff, and the body holding hers stiffened completely.

  “Are you serious?” Remy demanded.

  The swaying began again, pulling a sigh from her. It was exquisite torture to be held in such a sweet way while in agony. Sweet agony. She never knew the meaning until now.

  “Noah?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” His voice vibrated her cheek, holding an edge.

  “If you think so, then you’re in for a world of hurt,” Remy said softly.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” another male burst out. “How long have you been waiting?”

  “Not another word, Jameson.” The arms shifted her. “Let Doc know that we have a new patient.”

  “Where do you want him to meet us?” the other male asked.

  “The prison.”

  Voices rose around her. Prison? She hoped it had a roof. There were monsters outside. Flying monsters. Her fingers clenched the shirt underneath her cheek.

  “Please,” she croaked. “Please don’t let the monsters get me.”

  The voices quieted.

  She tightened her grip. “Please,” she begged.

  “I won’t,” he said hesitantly.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  A prick.

  She knew that feeling well. Maybe the fourth time was a charm.

  Thirteen

  Hazel

  Hazel blinked her eyes open, staring at the red stone ceiling above her. For a moment, her life was normal, her mind wiped free of memory.

  Someone shifted, and she turned her head, confused. Then, she saw the monster lounging against the wall across from the foot of her bed.

  She screamed.

  There was nothing—nothing—more monstrous than the obsidian eyes pinning her to her spot. A shudder worked through her as she eyed the black scales dusting his high cheekbones and strong jaw line. It was only when his black leather wings rising above his shoulders flared slightly that Hazel jerked back. It took her a second to process that her good arm was cuffed to the bed—the monsters had cuffed her to the bed. Blinding terror moved through her veins, causing her to shake.

  Outrunning the wraiths. Flying monsters. Being captured. Agony. Voices. Drugs.

  She gasped at the memory, her ragged breathing the only sound in the room. It seemed impossible that she was alive. She had been sure there’d be nothing left of her once the demon inside had burned everything to ash.

  “I survived,” she whispered through trembling, cracked lips.

  “So it seems,” the dark monster replied from where he reclined against the wall, looking for all the world like a predator—sleek, deadly, powerful.

  She glanced around the room for something, anything to defend herself with. There was nothing. It was a glorified cave with smooth curving walls, presumably in the fortress she had seen in the distance.

  Her hand clenched around the chain cuffing her to the old medical bed, and she yanked. She had to get out. It didn’t budge. Her gaze flickered to the monster still watching her, then back to the chain. Another yank. Her hand slipped, and pain bloomed around her wrist.

  If they didn’t let her die, then what did they plan on doing to her? Dread filled her belly.

  “Do you really think you can get away?”

  Hazel yelped and scooted back as far as the chain would let her. Despite the hard gleam in his eyes, his wicked lips curved in a cruel smile, one that said he was laughing at her, enjoying her fear. Cool air caressed her collarbone, causing her to freeze. She glanced down at herself. Her shirt and bra were gone. Her legs tensed, the homespun sheets teasing her skin.

  Naked. Someone had stripped her and seen her naked. Her eyes slid to the silent monster assessing her with a frown. What did he want with her? What had Remy led her to? Her death, or something much worse?

  Noticing her attention, he arched a brow and crossed his scaled forearms across his broad chest.

  Hazel dropped her eyes to her heaving chest and stared. Her arm had been bandaged and put into a proper sling. She wiggled her toes and felt cloth digging into the skin of her arches.

  Had the monster tended to her? Her blood beneath her skin began to burn with horror and embarrassment. What else had he done?

  She sucked in a shaky inhale and forced herself to meet the eyes of her silent captor. She opened her mouth and hesitated. Grit, Hazel. Dig deep for your grit.

  “Who did this?” The words lingered in the air. He cocked his head, shiny black hair sliding over his proud brow. Her skin prickled as he just stared. She almost expected him not to answer.

  “Doc.” One word. Lovely.

  “Pass along my thanks,” she said. A kind word went a long way to paving the road for civility. And boy, did she need civility.

  “It wasn’t done for your benefit.”

  His words cut like a whip. Hazel forced herself not to cower at the way he threw the vehement words at her. Predators liked it when their prey cowered or ran. She needed to show herself not to be prey.

  “Let me go.” Her words were soft but strong. Her voice never wavered.

  “You’re going to make demands of me?” The words were barely a whisper but held an edge of steel.

  “I’ve done nothing wrong. You have no reason to hold me.”

  “You’re no innocent,” he scoffed. “I have every reason to hold you.”

  “I’ve done nothing to your people. I wish to go home,” she pleaded. “Please let me go home.”

  Anger seemed to gather around him like a storm. He stepped closer, causing her heart to pound in her chest. “Step any closer and I’ll scream,” she said. There had to be someone nearby who would help her or step in.

  His smile exposed two slightly long canines, but they had nothing on Remy’s fangs. “You think they’ll help you?” His voice slithered along her nerves, ratcheting up her terror. “You are very far from home, Untouched.” She cringed away as he moved around the bed, his midnight wing grazing her leg. Everything inside her stilled and her eyes widened when he leaned over her. “No one will help a killer.”

  Up close he was even more terrifying. She wasn’t sure if she should look him in his fathomless eyes or stare at the scales on his cheeks. “I’ve never killed anyone,” she mumbled through numb lips, terror making it hard to form words.

  His lips curled back over his teeth as he eyed her. “Why are you here?”

  “Because you forced me to be,” she whispered.

  He held up a finger, tipped with a short, pointed black nail. “That is lie number one. Your time is short. I suggest you choose your words wisely, or they may be your last.”

  A spark of anger caught in her gut. She’d told the truth from the beginning. It wasn’t her fault she was here. “I am telling the truth,” she forced out through clenched teeth.

  He lifted his hand toward her face, and she jolted. A smirk curled the
corners of his mouth as she strained against the chains and turned her face away. Her pulse went into overdrive as a sharp claw traced her jaw.

  “You’re so plain. No wonder you came out of the wilds unscathed. You’d hardly be worth anything at the market.”

  Market? Like hell. Hazel turned toward him and spit right in his face. She blinked, and horror washed over her as her saliva dipped down his face.

  He lifted an arm and wiped his face before meeting her gaze with a savage grin. “There’s the hatred I was looking for. It’s easy to spot if you know which buttons to push.”

  “You’re disgusting.”

  “Backatcha, blondie.” He placed his hands on the bed near her hips and stared her down. “Who sent you?”

  “No one sent me.”

  “That’s lie number two,” he said.

  “I’m not lying,” she stuttered.

  “I wonder if they pick you just for your innocent look. No one would guess you a viper.”

  A hysterical laugh slipped from her. This monster was as crazy as Remy. “No one is a viper here, except the one you use to kidnap innocent people like myself.”

  A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest. Hazel scowled as goosebumps erupted on her arms. He leaned into her space again, his nose almost touching hers.

  “You’re good. No wonder Remy is all out of sorts,” he said, his words whispering across her skin. “I wonder how you would hold up under … other interrogation methods.” His claws skittered across her sheet—the only thing covering her.

  Other interrogation methods … understanding dawned. Hazel’s finger’s curled into the sheet. “I’d die first before I’d let you touch me, you tainted monster.”

  Something flashed through his gaze, but it was gone before she could decipher its meaning. He gave her a satisfied smile and stepped away, the air cooling around her immediately. She gaped at his wings as he strode toward the door, the tips almost touching the floor. He pounded his fist against the metal door three times quickly.

  “Remember, I gave you a chance,” he said.

  That was a joke. She was a logical person and knew what he was up to. “No, you didn’t. You ignored everything I said, and that’s on you,” she called as the door opened. “Stop pretending you’re trying to help me. We both know you wish me to burn.”