The Empath : The Alterealm Series Book 3

I paused outside the building I had arranged to meet Lou at. It was a restaurant, and not in a bad part of town, as I thought it might be. I’d actually worried it would be in the orange alley Crissy had seen. Biting my lip, I checked my pocket again for the device, making sure, for the fifth time, I had it. I was going to put it on my wrist but thought they may know what it looked like and recognize it.

I wasn’t entirely sure I should have called him, but the brothers hadn’t taken the card, and I wanted answers. The idea of having to live with a bodyguard or be afraid to leave my apartment didn’t sit well with me. I had been alive these many years without someone dictating what I could or couldn’t do.

My plan was simple; speak to the man, find out why people were following me and make a graceful exit. If I found out more to help bring those to justice for harming Crissy, it was a double win. In this case justice meant Victor, literally, so no one could get upset if I helped.

Simple.

Yet I was still seriously apprehensive about this meeting. Taking a deep breath, I willed my feet to carry me into the restaurant.

As soon as I stepped inside, I saw where Lou was sitting. I motioned to him as I went past the hostess. I was a bit surprised that team bad not only handed out business cards but dined in fine restaurants as well.

Lou nodded to me as I sat down. He was dressed very differently from when I had seen him in the club, now wearing casual clothes to suit this establishment. He still looked intimidating, regardless of what he was wearing.

“I was surprised you called me.”

“Wasn’t that the purpose of giving me the card?” He only nodded. “I was intrigued by what you said.” I shook my head when a waiter came over and offered to pour some wine.

Lou waved him away.

I gave him a polite, but cold smile. “I’m also curious as to why you have people following me.”

The expression on his face told me two things. He was surprised I brought it up, and that I had realized I was being followed. I felt better knowing that he under-estimated me.

“For your safety, I assure you.”

I studied him for a moment, trying to figure out what his place was in this war, he wasn’t a leader that much I knew, his face gave away too much. “Oh? From whom?” I raised an eyebrow, trying to appear more nonchalant than I was feeling. “Until you started following me, no one ever paid me any notice.”

He played with his wine glass as he studied me, between glancing around the room. “You left with a red-headed woman…”

They had been watching me longer than I’d realized. “You mean the crazy little one? She was completely freaked out over something, I left with her because I was concerned for her well-being. I lost her in the alley. She accosted me a second time at the club to tell me you were following me… and she was right. I haven’t seen that red head since.” Which was the complete truth, Crissy had dyed her hair, and it was no longer red.

“As far as we know she’s dead.” He told me sounding sure of his information.

I wasn’t about to tell him otherwise, but I would be passing that information along. “Oh, that’s disheartening.” I sat there and looked at him for a moment more. “So, you have people following me because a street waif accosted me in the club? I hardly perceive that as a threat.”

He cleared his throat. “No. Much more than that, but it’s too complicated and not something I can get into presently.” He glanced around at the patrons in the restaurant.

“I see. Well, I am quite capable of looking after myself, but thank you for your concern. Your men are not required.” I started to stand up.

“Wait.” He leaned forward. “Please.” He added hastily.

I sat back down and waited. I couldn’t get a read on his emotions, but he was very nervous, which confirmed my earlier thought that he was someone’s lackey in this.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, “it’s been very tense lately. Hard to tell who to trust since Marcus was taken.”

I gave him a blank look. “And Marcus is?” I honestly didn’t know that answer as no one had explained that to me, only mentioned it in passing.

“Very important in all of this.” He said looking stressed.

Clasping my hands in my lap, I tried to look relaxed. “And where was he taken?”

The stress on his face grew. “As far as we can tell, to the cells, along with many others.”

Shaking my head, I looked at him hoping I was portraying boredom in my expression. “All of this tells me precisely nothing.”

He took a deep breath and let it out in a loud whoosh. “Would you like to meet others like you?” He smirked, “okay, they’re not exactly like you—as you have something extra special, but I can tell you when working with us, you will never have to hide who, or what, you are again.”

I squinted at him. “I’ll admit, I’m curious.”

Lou’s round face lit up in a smile. He raised a finger at me. “Are you claustrophobic?”

I couldn’t suppress the look of shock on my face.

He shook his head. “Like tunnels. Do you have a fear of being underground?”

I gave him a skeptical look. “Not that I’ve ever found, but I can honestly say I’ve never really been in an underground tunnel before.”

He sat back and I could see he was thinking something through. “It’s easier to travel and stay off the radar using the tunnels.”

“Oh, I see.” I just sat there, not sure what to do next. It wasn’t as if I could ask him to tell me the location.

Nodding, he waved to the waiter. “I’m going to take you there.”

The entire time he was paying for whatever he’d had, I was wondering if I should go with this man. Briefly, very fleetingly I considered texting Chase about what I was doing, but something told me he wouldn’t approve.

When he motioned for me to follow him, I was surprised when we left out the back of the restaurant into the narrow delivery street behind it. I followed him, having more doubts with each step. If it weren’t for the nervous emotion pouring from him, I would have turned around and gone home.

“We need to take a cab back across the bridge,” he said over his shoulder, “there are no tunnels under the river.”

For that I was thankful. The idea of being under the river was concerning. Getting into a vehicle with this man was however, not going to happen. “I’m not comfortable riding in a cab with you.” I told him, leaving no room for argument in my tone. “I don’t get close to people I don’t know.” It was the truth, I hadn’t been close to anyone, nor gotten to know a single soul in the last twenty years.

He stopped and looked at me for a moment and then nodded. “I understand.” Turning, he looked toward the river. “I will wait at the café where the road splits before the bridge.” He gave me a look. “Five minutes, then I’m gone.”

Giving him a slight nod, I watching as he hailed a cab. Once it pulled away I motioned for the next one. The fact that he had agreed surprised me, and made me nervous. He seemed willing to agree to anything to get me to go with him.

As the car drove over the bridge, I opened the screen on my phone to text Chase, deciding that someone knowing where I was may be useful… should I have need of assistance in a hurry.

I sent him. I called Lou. He’s taking me to the tunnels to meet others.

Exiting the screen, I checked that the volume of the phone was off and put it back in my pocket. Receiving messages from one of the Alterealm Kings would probably not win me any brownie points where I was going.

Paying the driver, I got out and had no problems seeing Lou’s large form waiting for me beside the café.

He smiled when I walked toward him. “I really thought that was a line you had used to dump me.”

Offering a polite smile, I tried to look shocked. “A girl can’t be too careful around strangers.”

Making no further comments, he turned and walked into the narrow alley. Stopping, he motioned to what looked like a cellar door. “I asked if you were claustrophobic because we’ve had a few people freak out before we could get them to the location.” Lifting the door, he stood there waiting.

I looked down worn cement steps that led into darkness.

“There are lights after the first thirty feet. I’ll use my phone so we can see until then.”

There was no way I was walking down there into the blackness with a strange man behind me. “I’ll follow you.” I told him. I was seriously debating on listening to the voice inside my head, the one that was telling me this was a bad idea. Unfortunately, unless I wanted them to keep following me, I didn’t see any other option.

I stood at the bottom in the dark while he closed the door. “How far are we going in these tunnels?”

The light from the phone didn’t illuminate a large area. “All the way.” He said as he walked by me.

I had no choice but to follow closely if I wanted to see where I was going.

“These tunnels are endless under the old part of the city. It’s allowed us to move around freely with many exits to get us where we need to go.”

I avoided getting too close to the walls. “There’s a lot of you then?” He didn’t shine the light anywhere but where we needed to step, and I was all right with that, knowing there would be spider webs and rodents in this dismal space. I’d had my share of living in places with those.

“Around three hundred, give or take.”

I stepped on something that wasn’t stone and cringed. “Really? There are that many like us?”

He led me around a corner and I was pleased to see better lighting, so I wouldn’t have to stay too close to him.

“They’re not all like us, we have many humans that work for our cause as well.”

I watched a rodent scurry into a crack in the wall and was wishing for less light again. “I’m sorry, but wouldn’t they be putting themselves at risk… to be fed on?”

He paused so fast, I almost walked into him. “We have very strict rules, no feeding off the humans with us—unless they offer.” His brows furrowed. “Which isn’t very often, unfortunately.” He started walking again. “We had a feeding co-op” he chuckled, “for lack of a better way to describe it. Somehow the royals found it though, so we’re trying to set up a new one now.”

I remembered I was supposed to be clueless. “The royals?” The tunnel we were now in had that old, musky odor and I tried to inhale through my nose as little as possible.

“The royal brothers from the other side. We have no idea how they keep finding our locations.” He grinned at me over his shoulder. “Which is why we spread out, so they can’t find all of us.”

I tried to look impressed. “That seems wise.” I stumbled over stones protruding from the floor, catching my balance, I thought of something to keep him talking. “Did you say the other side? As in opponents against your objective?”

He stopped suddenly again. “You really don’t know do you?” Making a noise in the back of his throat, he started walking again. “I can’t believe how many we’ve found that didn’t know.” He snorted. “So much for their strict transport polices.”

I could hear water trickling and wondered if we were near an underground river. I hoped it was a river and not sewer drainage. “How much further? This odor is not pleasant.”

“Almost there.” He said, but kept moving. “It’s not so dank once we get there. The witches have cleansed it.”

I stopped. “Witches?”

He chuckled again. “You have a lot to learn.”

Checking behind me, I started walking again. “So it would seem.”

When he stopped, I looked around his large frame to see an old wooden door. “Don’t wander away, there are many areas only specific people are allowed to go.”

I nodded. “I wouldn’t care to get lost down here.”

He opened the door, on the other side was another long set of stairs leading down. “It opens up into chambers once we reach the bottom.” When he realized I wasn’t going to go first, he turned and started down the stairs.

“I had no idea all of this was under the streets.” I said as I watched where I placed my feet.

“Not many do, which makes it perfect for us.” He looked around at me. “We won’t have to hide for much longer.”

“I can say that may be a good thing, being down here is somewhat confined.” I mumbled.

“We’re almost there, then it’s more open.”

I didn’t reply, focusing on the steps and avoiding the many cracks and divots in them.

Once to the bottom, we went through another old door and I was shocked to see we were in a large chamber with several doors around it, some open, some not. “This is surprising.”

He grinned. “Isn’t it? I don’t know what this was used for way back when, but there are rooms off this that are perfect for what we need now. Motioning for me to follow him, he walked by a few other beings sitting along one wall.

I wasn’t able to pick up many emotions from them, so they couldn’t have been human. We went by one door and I glanced in to see a few people working on something at a roughly made wooden bench.

“Lou.”

I turned to see a man coming out of another doorway. He was tall, like the brothers, and I was taken back when he looked at me with eyes reflecting purple in the low lighting. Something Crissy said to me about avoiding purple eyes came back to me. and I had to force myself to stand there and act like I didn’t have a care in the world, otherwise I’d be running up the stairs we’d just come down.

“Excuse me.” Lou said, looking apprehensive.

I nodded. “Not to worry I’m not going to go anywhere on my own.” I stood there looking around, trying to see what was behind the other doors, while listening in on their not so quiet conversation. They may have been close to whispering it, but in the soundless space it may have well be shouting.

“What are you doing?” The man hissed at him.

“Marcus told me we had to have her with us,” Lou looked over to me, I smiled. “I had to be straight with her, she’s smart.”

The man took his arm and turned him so his back was to me. “Did Marcus say why?”

“No, Davis, and I didn’t ask.” Lou sounded nervous now.

They moved a few more feet away from me, probably thinking they couldn’t be overheard. I studied the old stonework, trying to appear as if it fascinated me.

“Where are we with production?” Lou asked.

I knew then, he wasn’t as clueless as he led me to believe.

“We’re out of parts, we can’t get them on this side. Our contact inside has vanished, so I’m guessing he’s cooling his heels in a cell.” Davis told him in a very hushed tone. “But we have a plan in place to get Marcus and Erin back.”

“We have someone on the inside there?”

Davis made a noise that more or less implied Lou was an idiot. “No. None of ours could work in there. We’re going to offer them a trade they can’t refuse.”

Lou leaned down closer to him. “Who do we have they’d want that badly?”

I was distracted when three children came running out one door and into the door beside it. There were children down here? With them? I focused to hear more.

“No one yet, but we will soon.” Davis said, sounding very happy.

Lou straightened up. “What do I do with her until we know why Marcus wanted her with us?”

I glanced away when Davis looked at me.

“Show her around I guess, don’t pressure her. Just don’t let her see too much for now.” Davis turned back to the room he’d come out of.

“Got it.” Lou told him and then turned back to me and motioned me over.

I went over. “Is everything all right?” I asked hoping I wasn’t as nervous as I felt.

Lou nodded. “Yeah, just business.”

I smiled and then glanced to the door the children had gone in. “There are children down here.”

“Yes.” He smiled. “Human and otherwise.” He motioned to the door they had gone in. “They won’t grow up not knowing what’s going on.”

My heart was jumping around in my chest, just thinking how that would have been. “They’re very lucky then.” I followed him to see the door led to another hallway. “Are their parents here as well?”

“Some are. Some we traced their parentage, so they could turn out to be human or like us… we’ll have to wait and see.” Stopping he opened another door and motioned me in.

I followed quickly, feeling anxious and not sure why. We stepped into a large chamber that was set up like a huge dining hall. A rough wooden table went down the center of it with fifty chairs, I guessed, around it. At the one end sat seven individuals. Quite large men and a quick look told me they were in fact not ordinary humans. They had no problems with showing the color of their eyes. Three had red eyes, two were yellow and to my surprise one had white eyes and one had eyes that were green. I had no idea what the last two could do, but wouldn’t be getting close enough to find out.

“Hey, Lou. Who have you brought us?” The one at the end of the table asked him, while leering at me.

Lou straightened to his full height, sending them a cold look. “This is Isabell. I’m just showing her around today.”

I had to look to the floor when I realized he didn’t know my real name. Small blessings where I could take them, I decided.

“Don’t be shy, darlin’, come join us. We’re waiting for the others to arrive, so we have time.” The one with green eyes said with an inviting smile.

I discovered one thing, not all that were like me could shield their emotions. I was picking up several different emotions now, and not of one of them were one I welcomed. “Perhaps another time. I’m sure Lou has more to discuss with me.”

There was a few chuckled.

“I’m sure he does, darlin’.” The man replied.

With a move of his large hand, Lou motioned to the door. I didn’t pause as I quickly moved back out through it.

“Sorry about that. I didn’t know they would be there.” He mumbled.

I was still trying to rid myself of the emotions I’d picked up. “That’s fine.”

He turned and headed through another doorway into a long tunnel. “There are areas down here that will be much quieter. I can see if one of the women are around, to help fill in some blanks for you.”

Before I could reply, a large group of men began to fill the tunnel. I couldn’t count how many there were, only that they were all large as they passed by us. Malevolent emotions hit me so hard, I almost stumbled. I tried to keep walking, get out of this closed-in space. Darkness clouded my head, filling every recess of my mind. Feelings so pitted with violence and malicious desires flooded into me. They just kept coming, one after the other. I kept my head down, trying to focus on the stones and try to build the barrier up inside my mind to stop any more of them intruding. My stomach was feeling queasy.

“Isabell?”

I realized I had stopped walking and looked up at Lou. “I’m sorry, the walls just closed in on me suddenly.” It wasn’t a lie, they had done that and more. I could still hear the men but didn’t turn to see if they were exiting.

“It happens sometimes.” Lou told me.

The barriers weren’t working. It was stupid of me to come into an unknown situation and think I would be fine. “I need some air, I believe.” I took deep breaths, trying to breathe though the darkness filling me. Why did good emotions disappear in seconds, but anything bad clung on for what seemed like hours?

I felt Lou take my elbow and start leading me somewhere, and I didn’t have the strength to stop him.

“There’s stairs up to an alley just ahead.”

I had to get away from him and out of this place, was all I knew. I stumbled before I realized we were going up stairs, and focused as hard as I could on lifting my feet so he wouldn’t have to drag me up them.

“Just a few more.” I heard Lou say. Suddenly there was brightness, and the musty odor was gone.

“Just breathe deeply.” I heard him say, much closer to me than I would have preferred.

Straightening, even though I couldn’t actually see him, I tried for a smile. “I will be fine in a moment.”

He chuckled. “I get it. Took me months to go down and stay down there. You’ll get used to it, gradually.”

“Yes.” I said, and silently prayed he’d go away. “I’m sorry about that, I really wanted to know more.” I heard a phone ring.

“There will be time for that.” He grabbed my elbow again. “Let’s just get you in a cab, and we’ll pick this up later on.”

“Lovely.” Was the only thing I managed to say. I took another deep breath and tried to look around, the nausea grew worse before I managed to see a sign that was very familiar. It was the gallery I’d gotten my painting from. I needed to get away from this man, now.

He stopped walking.

I stood there, trying not to sway on unsteady legs.

“Here’s a cab.” I felt him lead me down the curb. “Take her where she tells you.” He told the driver. “I paid him.” He told me. “Call me when you feel up to more.”

“Absolutely.” I told him and smiled what I hoped was toward him. I sat down and was pleased it was on the seat, pulling my feet in, I heard the door close.

The car moved and I knew it was safe to speak. “Just take me around the corner and drop me off please.” I said quietly. “No change required.”

The motion of the cab wasn’t helping me ride through the waves of nausea now hitting me. How could I have been so stupid?

“Is here good?” The driver asked me.

“Is it out of his sight?” I asked, swallowing down the bile threatening to expel its self from my body.

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” The car stopped, I fumbled for the handle. “Thank you.” Tripping up the curb, I looked up and tried to see if I could find a place out of sight. There was an alley with dumpsters. I headed in that direction. “Idiot.” I hissed.

I practically fell the last few steps until I was behind the dumpster. Holding my hand on my forehead, I forced my head to stay up and looked around. Nothing but walls here. Good. Reaching in my pocket I pulled out the device. I had to get out of here and that was the only option I had. Never had I been filled with so much evil emotion in my life. My sight was starting to blur, “No, not yet.” I huffed out short breaths and fumbled with the strap to get the device on. When it was on my wrist, I yanked my phone out of my pocket and hit the screen.

I was on my knees know, leaning over them, my face almost on the pavement when I finally managed to get the phone unlocked and contacts opened. I hit one of them, not knowing if it was Daxx or Chase, only prayed it wasn’t the Chinese restaurant.

“Duchess, what the hell…”

Chase.

“I waited too long…” I gasped.

“Use the fuckin device, now.”

“Yes.” I clutched the phone and fiddled with the cover on the device to open it. As soon as it was, I pushed the button.

My stomach, already churning perilously felt like it rolled over completely, and I knew I was no longer in the alley. I was already sweating and then the shakes started. Resting my forehead against the cool floor, I dropped the phone and tried to pull my arm out of my jacket

“What the… Alona?” I heard footsteps rush to me. “What is it?” Chase asked.

He tried to move me and I whimpered. “Don’t move me.” I panted. Any motion with this much dark inside me would make me throw up. I was going to throw up at some point, experience told me that, but if I could ride it out until the shaking stopped it wouldn’t be as violent or painful.

“Are you hurt?” His voice was right beside my head now. “I can’t see if you won’t let me.” I heard him swear. “Get to the landing room, now.” He barked.

“Jacket…” I gulped air into my lungs, “off.” I managed to say before another wave of shakes hit me.

I could feel him gently pulling my arm from between my body and legs and tugging on the sleeve. I was sweating profusely now, and just wanted the jacket off. Of course, I knew in a few minutes I’d have the chills and would want it back. One step at a time.

“Chase? Alona?” It was Quinton, at least I think it was him. “What happened?”

“I don’t know.” Chase said from the other side of me now. “She messaged she’d called Lou and I’ve been losing my freaking mind trying to reach her, then she calls and ports back here like this.” I felt him pull my arm out of the other sleeve.

“Is she injured?” The other voice asked, close to my head.

“I don’t know.” Chase sounded very upset, but I was drowning in the other emotions so there was no way I could feel his.

“Quinton why did you… holy shit… Alona?” It was Daxx, at least I recognized her voice. “Is she hurt?”

“Don’t know.” Quinton said. “I don’t see any blood.”

“Move her and see…”

“She cried out when I tried, and she told me not to.” Chase said sounding even more distressed.

I heard a moan and realized it was mine. My stomach was the least of my problems, the pains in my head had started. I clutched my head between my hands and moaned again, maybe it was more like a squeal, but I didn’t care.

“Troy, look and see if you can do something.” Daxx ordered.

Her voice was close to my head now as well. Another wave hit and I knew someone was trying to mess inside my head. I swung my arm out trying to swat them away. “Don’t.” I cried.

“Shit.” I heard Arius say. “She’s an empath.” He sounded closer now.

“She’s an empath?” Chase asked.

“Alona?” Arius was right beside me now. “Tell us how to help? Were you exposed to too many at once?”

I would have hugged him if I could have moved. “Yes,” I hissed and then clutched my head again and tried to pant through it. “Dark.” Was all I could manage to say.

“Chase, help her. She’s been exposed to too many emotions, bad ones. Help her. You can pull them out.” Arius said over my head.

“Get her up, I need to see her eyes.” Chase said.

I felt someone grasp me under my arms and pull me up, the whole room started to spin and the pain in my head intensified. I squealed.

“Sorry, duchess.” Chase’s voice was in front of me now, his tone was softer. I felt a hand under my chin. “Open your eyes, let me help.”

“Can’t see…” I tried to tell them.

“You don’t need to.” I could feel his breath against my face.

Clutching my head, I struggled to open my eyes, knowing the light was going to make it hurt more. Panting, I managed to get them open and then the pain started to lessen. The black sludge inside my head was clearing. I could see, and it wasn’t the room I saw, it was bright yellow eyes.

“Fuck me.” Chase whispered and then moved back from me quickly and sat a few feet away.

The room was still spinning, and I was still shaking, but the pain was gone.

“What the hell were you doing, duchess?” Chase asked sliding further away from me. He shook his head. “Don’t touch me for a minute until I get a handle on these.” He gave his head a quick shake. “Get her to a room to rest, I don’t want to go near her until I’m sure she’s not going to feel them from me.”

I tried to get to my feet, but my legs gave out.

“Help her for fuck’s sake.” Chase growled and then raised a hand. “Sorry. Just I need a minute here.” He huffed out a breath.

Arius stepped away from him and gently lifted me up into his arms. “I think we’ll just give big brother a moment or two.” He said, then quickly carried me out of the room.

The chills had started, and I was shaking so hard I didn’t know how Arius managed to hang onto me. “T-thank you… f-for… explaining.” I said trying to contain the vibrations.

He snorted. “Wasn’t really the way I would have preferred it.” He walked into a large room and carried me over to the bed and set me down. “I’ll be right back.” He ran out of the room, most likely to check on his brother.

Daxx and Crissy came running in the door. I put my hand up so they wouldn’t come too close and bombard me with concern right now. I still wasn’t through with this. Whatever Chase had done helped, but the shock of darkness was still coursing through me.

“S-sorry.” I tried to say. “Need space.”

They stopped and nodded.

“Do you need anything?” Daxx asked. “Want me to run a hot bath?” She motioned to a door to my left.

I considered that for a moment, never having been in the state to try it before on my own. My stomach rolled and I shook my head. “Not yet.” In the time it took for me to take two breaths, I started sweating again. Two of the men came running in the door, but I didn’t have time to figure out which ones they were. My stomach heaved, I jumped up and bolted for the room Daxx had motioned to, hoping it was a bathroom.

It was.

As I was leaning over the toilet, my body purging the remaining negative from my system, I felt someone hold my hair back for me. That was appreciated more than they could know, and one less thing for me to worry about. A cold wet cloth was put against the back of my neck and it felt heavenly.

When the straps that held my dagger on my back moved off my shoulders, it allowed me to slump completely and rest my forehead on the cool porcelain. Huffing out a few breaths, I assessed if my body was finished. With weak hands, I tried to stand, and then two strong hands pulled me to my feet. I stood on shaking legs and realized I was looking at a large male chest. It hadn’t been one of the women helping me.

“Later, I’m going to be really pissed with you.”

I looked up and was shocked to see Chase looking down at me.

He smirked. “Let’s get you cleaned up a bit, and then you can lay down.”

I nodded and let him lead me to the sink. Lifting me like I weighed no more than a child, he set me on the counter and I was again thankful, because I didn’t know if I could stand on my own. With a gentle touch, he wiped my face and neck with a warm cloth.

“I don’t know what you were into, but I think it gave me indigestion.” He winked at me. “I’m still having to work on settling down.”

“Sorry. It was completely unexpected.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Don’t talk about it just yet, or I will lose this war inside me.”

I nodded. I wasn’t sure how that worked, but if he said he was struggling with the emotions he took from me, then I wasn’t about to make a wrong move that would have me absorbing them again.

Scooping me up against his chest, he walked out and put me on the bed, then sat down and pulled off my boots.

I was a weak as a baby, which was normal after I went through that. “Thank you.” I whispered and leaned back against a soft pillow. It was then I noticed we weren’t alone. All of the brothers were standing near the door looking at me. “It’s okay,” I said as loud as I could, “after that purge, I can’t pick up any emotions for a few hours.”

A few of them moved closer.

“Do you want something to drink? Water, tea, juice?” Quinton asked me.

I shook my head. “I can’t put anything in right now.”

“What about some blood?” Daxx asked, she motioned to the men. “Their blood helps them heal faster than, well, anything.”

I put my hand over my mouth and shook my head again. “No. Please. I abhor the taste of blood. Just the thought of it makes me nauseous all over again.”

Arius stepped up to the bed and looked down at me. “Does feeding help?”

I titled my head to look at him from a more comfortable position. “I don’t know. I usually pass out for a day or so afterward.” Sighing, I gave him a wide-eyed look. “Feeding for me usually means combatting emotions, so trying feed too soon after I’ve always assumed would put me right back there.” I pointed to the bathroom.

“I can’t even imagine what you’ve gone through to survive.” Troy said hugging Daxx against his side.

“I diet, often.” I said trying to make light of it, even though it has been my life-long curse.

“What if the essence came with no emotion?” Rafael asked me, moving closer to the bed.

I opened my mouth and then closed it and gave him a blank look. “I don’t know.” I lifted my hand and then dropped it again. “That is not something I’ve experienced before.”

“She’s only had humans.” Arius said quietly and then shrugged. “Hell, most of us would have a hard time keeping emotions on lock down while someone bit us.”

“The only time I can say in my life, since I changed, that there were no emotions… while the person was conscious… was when Arius did his little mind control thing the other night.” I informed them.

“Let me get this straight,” Chase said in a low tone. “You pick up all emotions around you, but you’ve had to feed off humans… who feel far too much all the time?”

I nodded.

“How the fuck, have you lived this long?” He growled and then raised his hand. “Sorry. Still struggling here.” He got up and looked around at his brothers. “I have sucked some pretty bad shit out of people before, usually to scare the holy hell out of them…” He paused as a few of them nodded. “But what I just pulled out of her,” he motioned to me, “was the darkest, most vile emotion I have ever tasted.”

I could tell by their expressions that was quite serious. “I was completely unprepared for it…” I stopped talking when Chase’s head snapped around and he glared at me.

“Don’t discuss it yet.” He said softly.

I nodded and pulled myself more upright on the bed. “I am too weak to discuss any of it at the moment.” I assured him.

“Which brings us back, what can we get you?” Arius asked.

Turning, I shrugged. “I can’t eat with my stomach like this…”

“You have to do something,” Chase said sitting down so I didn’t have to look up, “you’re shaking still.”

“I usually just sleep.” I watched his eyes move over my face, not sure what the look meant.

“And you’re usually on your own without any other options.” He continued to look at me.

“I need coffee, if I’m going to come up with any valid suggestions.” Michael said. “We’d just sat down for breakfast when Quinton went racing out of the room.”

I looked around, Crissy shrugged.

“I still don’t understand it.” She said. “We eat breakfast when it gets dark, but Chase has dinner with our breakfast.” She nodded. “I’ve never eaten so often before.”

Victor wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “You will never be hungry again.” He said as he dropped a kiss on top of her head.

She gave him a look, her eyes huge. “No, I’ll be fat instead.”

Rafael laughed. “You never stop moving, you burn the calories off three days before you eat them.”

She gave him a look, then grinned at him.

“Why don’t all of you go to breakfast?” Chase said turning to look at them. “We’ll be along shortly, once Alona’s stomach has settled.”

“Are you sure?” Quinton asked.

Chase nodded. “I need a few more minutes to get a handle on things. I’ll sit with duchess until she’s steady.”