My head felt like it had been stuffed with hot coals. Every breath I took was a battle, shallow and ragged, as though the air itself had turned to smoke. I'd been in and out of consciousness for days, wrapped up in a fever that burned hotter than any bonfire. My skin felt too tight for my body, slick with sweat, and every movement sent fire shooting through my stomach. The silver had done its job. Trinity had buried herself deep, retreating to a place I couldn't reach, and I could barely feel her presence anymore. I'd never felt so alone.
I'd been stupid. Arrogant, even. I'd convinced myself that I could take whatever Cale threw at me. After all the punishments, I'd thought I'd grown numb to it. Pain was pain—sharp, dull, burning, aching. I'd felt them all. But silver… silver was different. Silver clung to you, ate away at you, and left you hollow. I'd underestimated it. I'd underestimated him.
"I'm sorry, Trinity," I mumbled, barely able to move my lips. My voice was hoarse, cracked from thirst and fever. "I didn't know… I didn't know it'd be like this. I'm so sorry." The words spilled out like a broken record, over and over again, as I hovered in that strange space between sleep and waking.
"It's okay, ma'am," a voice said softly. It was close. A warmth I didn't recognize at first. "You're going to be okay. Just rest." The voice was familiar, but in my haze, I couldn't place it. I tried to open my eyes, but the world was a blur of colors and shadows. My head lolled to the side, and sleep claimed me again.
When I woke, the fever had broken. My body was sore and stiff, but the blinding heat had dulled to an ache. My eyes cracked open slowly, adjusting to the dim light of the room. I blinked a few times, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The smell of herbs and the faint hint of antiseptic hung in the air. The soft splashing of water drew my attention to the corner of the room.
A girl stood there, her back to me, pouring warm water into a bowl. Her movements were methodical, almost too calm for a place like this. Her hair… it looked so familiar. My heart thudded once, hard, against my ribs.
No. It couldn't be.
She turned, bowl in hand, and my breath left me in a rush. "Kimmy?!" I hissed, my voice sharp despite the dryness in my throat.
Her eyes went wide, and she rushed forward, finger pressed to her lips. "Shh!" She pointed toward the door, glancing over her shoulder. "Casey's outside," she whispered, leaning in close.
I rolled my eyes and pulled her into a hug anyway, ignoring the sharp tug of pain in my abdomen. I'd never been so happy to see someone in my life. Relief washed over me so hard it almost made me dizzy. But then reality hit just as fast. "What the hell are you doing here, Kimmy?" I muttered, gripping her arms tightly. "You shouldn't be here. It's dangerous."
"You think I don't know that?" she shot back, eyes narrowing with that familiar stubborn glint. "Luca sent me."
I blinked. "Luca?"
"Yeah, apparently, there's a "need" for more girls to join the pack. Cale's looking to marry off omegas to form alliances. I'm strong, so I'm useful. Got through the trials, proved myself, and next thing I know, they're telling me to look after you." She shrugged like it was nothing, but I saw the shift in her eyes. It wasn't nothing. "You're stuck with me now, Luna."
"You're insane, you know that, right?" I whispered, my eyes scanning her face. "You could've said no."
Her grin was sharp, mischievous. "Try saying no to Luca," she said with a raised brow.
I snorted, my smile small but real. "Yeah, fair point." We shared a brief moment of silence before reality crashed back in. "Do you know how Derek is?" I asked quietly.
"The beta?" she said, tilting her head. "Yeah, he's fine. Got roughed up pretty bad, but he's healing. Cale let him off with a warning, apparently. He's back on duty, but he's got a partner now."
"Who?" I asked, heart sinking with dread.
"Me," Kimmy said, tilting her head like it was obvious.
My mouth fell open. "Are you serious?"
She nodded. "Cale's paying me a fortune to be loyal and to keep an eye on you." Her eyes darted toward the door. "Don't worry. I'm on your side, but we've gotta be smart about this."
"How did you manage that in a couple of days?" I asked, staring at her like she'd grown a second head.
Her smile was wicked. "Took down every wolf in the trials, except for Casey. She's a slippery one, but I'll get her next time."
Before I could respond, the door swung open. My heart stopped.
Cale strode in, his presence filling the room with a cold, suffocating weight. His eyes swept the room, his gaze sharp and predatory, locking onto me first. Then, slowly, he turned his attention to Kimmy. His eyes narrowed, his lip curling into something between a smirk and a snarl.
"How's our Luna today?" he asked, his voice smooth as silk but twice as deadly.
"Better than you'd like," I shot back, forcing myself to sit straighter, ignoring the ache in my side.
He chuckled, taking a slow, deliberate step forward. Kimmy moved closer to me, like she'd block him if she had to. Brave, but foolish. Cale's eyes flicked to her, amusement dancing in them.
"Bold," he said, his gaze lingering on Kimmy. "You got some defiance. I like it so I'll have to keep an eye on you." He glanced back at me. "My dear Luna. I'm glad to see you finally awake. Don't get too comfortable though. Now you know you're not untouchable." He leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. "Don't defy me again my beauty. Because next time, I'll make sure you feel it for a long, long time."
He gave me a kiss on the cheek and left as quickly as he'd come, his presence still clinging to the room like the stench of blood. I let out a shaky breath I didn't know I'd been holding. Kimmy's eyes met mine, wide and full of questions I didn't have answers for.
"I am in deeper than I thought," I muttered, pressing a hand to my side.
Kimmy's gaze hardened. "Then we dig you a way out."