Unleashed: The Cursed Trilogy, Book Two by Betty Legend (acx book reading txt) 📕

jaw tighten and the pain in his eyes grow.

“Get Phoenix out of there,” he orders.

One of the vampires examines the computer, then after a couple of minutes, the cell door opens. I run back to it, but Killian takes hold of me, keeping me away from the door.

“Wait, sweetheart. Let us enter first.”

The bright wires around the cell go out, then Griffin and Cyrus enter, followed by the two vampires in black. When they touch Phoenix, he barely seems to register it. His weak limbs dangle in their arms.

“He needs blood,” One of the vampires says. “A lot of it, now.”

“He can have mine. He’ll heal faster,” I tell them.

Kristo gives an approving nod. Griffin frowns, his forehead wrinkling.

“I’ll give him blood first.”

“No,” Kristo demands. “He needs her blood.”

They lay Phoenix down on his back. One of the vampires raises his lip to examine his fangs. Above the sharp pointed teeth, his gums are a purplish-black.

“He’s dying. There’s no time to argue.”

Dropping down, I put out my wrist. The vampire takes hold of it, bites into it, then holds it over Phoenix’s lips and squeezes. I grimace from the small amount of pain, but I’m far more anxious for Phoenix to recover. The blood dribbles over his lips, onto his teeth and tongue, reaching his throat.

“Drink,” the vampire demands.

Phoenix blinks, his Adam’s apple bobbing. The vampire squeezes out more blood, and Phoenix groans, his hand rising slowly to take hold of my wrist. At first, his grip is frail, but after bringing my wrist to his lips and sucking, his grip grows stronger, his skin less snow-like. The wounds on his arms begin to heal, the skin losing its blisters and forming fresh skin. Gripping my arm in a strong hold, he keeps me held to him, his sucking now feverish.

“Phoenix,” I cry out.

Grabbing me by the neck, he pulls me down to him, but Killian growls behind me, yanking me from Phoenix’s hold. Phoenix lunges for me, but Killian slams his hand on Phoenix’s, leaving claw marks.

“Enough,” Killian snarls.

“Never enough,” Phoenix snaps, his eyes wild.

Griffin releases his magic, holding Phoenix from reaching us. Phoenix appears healed on the outside, but his mind is seemingly lost. Attacking, his eyes dead-locked on me and snarling, Phoenix fails to pierce Griffin’s magical barrier.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s been starved for too long. The bloodlust has driven him mad.” Kristo shares, his lips pressing tight into a grimace. “He’ll need time to recover. I’ll take him to my home.”

The vampire who bit into my arm withdraws a syringe from inside his vest. He looks to Kristo for approval.

“Lower the barrier,” Kristo orders Griffin.

“What are you doing?” I ask, clutching my aching wrist.

Griffin releases the magic barrier, and Phoenix lunges. Killian thrusts an arm out, grasping Phoenix by the throat as the vampire stabs the needle into Phoenix’s shoulder. His eyes roll back, and he collapses into the vampire’s arms.

“We’ll take it from here,” Kristo assures us. “Go home. Get some rest. We’ll be in touch.”

“I don’t want to leave him.” My racing heartbeat aches in my chest. “We just got him back.”

Kristo tilts his chin, and the vampires gather Phoenix and Leo’s bodies.

“If I let him go with you, he might kill you.” Kristo caresses my cheek, his expression empathetic. “What good is that when you’re meant to bond with one another?”

“Selene,” Killian’s voice breaks through my internal struggle. “Let him go for now.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

PHOENIX

The constant thirst is too much. In and out of sleep, I yearn for more of her blood. Each time my lids close, her image fills my mind—my cock deep inside her as I drain her of her rich, decadent lifeblood. Snapping out of my latest dream, my skin is tight and dry, my urge to feed dragging me from bed. In a new cage within the walls of Kristo’s home, I growl as I wait for my daily feeding. Like a caged animal, they keep me against my will, feeding me in numbered portions throughout the day. My body yearns for more, but it’s never enough—it’s not hers.

The click of the locks sound outside the metal door. Three vampires enter, with Kristo following behind. The moment they hand me the warm glass of blood, my lips cover the rim, and drink until it’s empty.

“How many days have you kept me in here?”

“It’s been three weeks.”

Time has elapsed in a fuzzy blur of pain and thirst.

“Have you spoken to her?”

Kristo motions for them to lock the door. The three of them stand guard as Kristo takes watchful steps to one of the black and teal chairs.

“Sit,” he orders me.

With a grimace, I join him, sitting in an identical chair next to his. In front of me, I set the empty glass on the small, wooden coffee table.

“She asks about you often, so I give her frequent reports.”

Glancing down, the odor of my clothing reaches my nostrils and my lip curls. I’m in desperate need of a shower.

“What have you told her?”

“That you’re healing.”

“That’s a lie.”

“It’s all in the perspective.” Kristo splays his fingers in the air. “You’re no longer pacing the room like a rabid, caged beast. You’re having a civil conversation with me, aren’t you?”

“Begrudgingly.”

Kristo’s thin mouth curls. “You’re still tempered and hungry?”

“Yes.”

“Can you control yourself to feed from a human without killing them?”

I lick my lips at the thought of piercing flesh and having the warmth of fresh blood on my tongue.

“Yes.”

“Mmm.” Kristo’s gaze narrows. “I’m not convinced, but we’ll try. I have a woman downstairs for you.” He points to his vampire security team. “After you shower and change, they’ll escort you into the entertainment room. Try your best to withdraw when she cries out.”

Kristo stands, and I eagerly do the same. I’m already on my way to the connected bathroom as he exits the windowless room. A hot shower and soap remove the stench from my body but being alone in the bathroom returns my thoughts to Selene. My cock aches and my