“And we’re supposed to just take her word for it?” Stephen shook his head. “If she really wanted out, she has options. She’s had options before now. She hasn’t even shown remorse for what she’s done—”
Adam snarled, cutting Stephen off. He didn’t want to hear this. Even if it was uncomfortably similar to what he himself thought before. If he hadn’t gotten to know Karey, he’d be repeating this same victim-blaming rhetoric that Stephen was saying now.
“When someone is isolated their whole life and only hears one thing over and over and over, who is punished for asking questions, who is told they’re worthless and stupid and that they’re wrong about everything that they think…” Adam’s head was throbbing again, and he closed his eyes to block out the harsh light. “How are they supposed to think anything else? If you’re taught the sky is red, how do you figure out for yourself that it’s blue?”
“She wasn’t forced to—”
“Yes, she was.” Adam snorted. Stephen didn’t understand. He just didn’t. “She thought her father was the most powerful man alive. When you’re looking at what you believe is a choice between doing what you’re told and being killed, it’s not much of a choice at all.”
Stephen didn’t reply to that. He had a strange expression on his face and if Adam had the mental capacity, he would have continued to challenge Stephen’s preconceptions. But it hurt to think, and he wanted the silence so he could instead focus on trying to figure out how he was going to get Karey away from her father again.
Because he couldn’t leave her there. Not when he’d done such a terrible thing, taking advantage of her like he did. If he was the first person to treat her decently, how much of what she did was because she really wanted it? How much was just because she wanted him to take care of her? How much was Karey convincing herself he wouldn’t send her back?
And he failed her. He wasn’t going to do that again.
Chapter Seventeen
If it wasn’t for the fact that there were still blockers in her system, Karey would have been tempted to run. But how could she on two legs? She wouldn’t be able to get very far, even if she had anywhere to go.
All her limbs dragged her toward the ground. She just wanted to lie down and sleep. Maybe if she did that, when she woke up all this would be different. Maybe she’d have a completely different life. Maybe she’d have people who actually cared about her. Who didn’t throw her aside as soon as she was no longer useful to them.
The two guards escorting her took her to the familiar house. This was where she had been born. This was where she’d grown up. It was where her first harsh lessons of not being able to trust anybody, not even herself, had been learned. In all likelihood, it was where she was going to die.
She shrugged off the guards’ hands when they opened the door and walked in herself. As much as she didn’t want to, she had to face this. Had to face him. So even though she trembled, even though bile rose up in her throat and she hated thinking about begging him for mercy, she faced her father without flinching.
He sat in an overstuffed chair the color of blood. A glass of wine was in one hand, but his eyes were not glazed with alcohol. They were as sharp and cruel as ever. Faint scars from the previous serum that had gone wrong wound up his arms and across his face, but they only added to the power exuding from him.
“Well. It seems my pathetic, weak offspring has finally returned to me.”
Karey stood there and didn’t speak. If he wanted to hear what she had to say, he’d ask her. Otherwise, there was no point in talking.
Her father got to his feet and set his wineglass aside. “I have been so concerned for you, Karey. You can imagine how distressing it was when you didn’t answer your phone. When I went looking for you only to find that you weren’t there.”
Did he really look for her himself? Despite herself, Karey’s heart rose. If he really was worried, then maybe he wouldn’t punish her too much for—
His hand lashed out, striking her across the face. Karey fell with a cry, barely able to catch herself from landing on the coffee table. If she broke it, he’d be furious. Karey huddled in on herself, staring up at her father, heart pounding and the taste of blood in her mouth. His expression twisted to fury as he loomed over her.
“And you can imagine how it felt when I learned that you had gone to the Academy! How dare you humiliate me like that?”
“I didn’t go to them; they kidnapped me,” Karey blurted out. Even though she knew he’d be angry with her for speaking, she couldn’t let him think that she was there willingly! “They knew I was there; I don’t know how, but they did. They drugged me and—”
“And you let it happen!”
Karey shook her head. Her neck ached from the blow, but she shoved it aside. Whiplash. Nothing more. “No! I tried to get away. I tried. They kept me on blockers, and I was in this cabin and—”
Her father lunged, seizing her by the throat. “And if you weren’t such a pathetic, stupid, weak child I never would have had to ransom you back. Do you know what they took from me for your return? Do you know how much I had to give up?”
“I’m sorry,” she choked, grabbing his wrists but knowing better than to try to pry him off. “I tried to get away. I did. I’m sorry.”
Her father released her and smoothed his jacket. He snorted in disgust as he stepped back to his chair and settled down. He picked up the wineglass again and sipped from it. Like nothing had happened. Her throat hurt so much she was sure it’d bruise. Especially with the blockers still in her system.
A couple of books had been knocked off the coffee table. Karey picked them up and put them back, straightening things up while her father watched her. Her eyes burned even though she fought it. She should have known better than to think anybody would want to save her. Her father was right. She was weak, useless.
Nobody’s coming for you. Certainly not Adam. He’s probably glad to be rid of you.
Once she was finished cleaning, Karey got back to her feet. She stared at the floor as she waited. Her father would announce her punishment soon enough. If she was stronger, maybe she wouldn’t be here. Maybe she’d be strong enough to break free entirely. But she wasn’t strong. She was weak, and this was the only life she deserved.
“Now what am I going to do with you?” her father let out a heavy sigh. “I had hoped, Karey. I had so hoped that the serum would make you into something I could be proud of. But it seems you’re just as weak as ever.”
“I was on blockers,” she ventured, whimpering. “But when they faded, I could breathe fire. That’s how I nearly got away. I’m sorry that I am such a disappointment. I’m sorry that I couldn’t get away.”
“Not as sorry as I am. I have given you so many chances. More chances than an Omega like you deserves.” Her father got to his feet again. He tenderly wiped a tear from her face and pulled her into a hug.
Karey wanted to pull away but didn’t dare. If he was showing even this bit of affection, it was better than getting beat more. Which he would do if she didn’t show him the proper gratitude.
“You will undergo the trials again tomorrow, after you’ve had a chance to rest up,” he murmured in her ear. “And if you aren’t strong enough… Well. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with you. Before, you at least had some use, but if the Academy has singled you out as a weak link, what am I going to do about it? I can’t risk them getting their hands on you again.”
Karey’s stomach cramped. Did that mean what she thought it meant? She wanted to shove him away. Wanted to scream at him that she could be of use.
But she didn’t want to be here anymore. She didn’t want to be part of this Pack. She didn’t want to help them with their eugenics and racist rhetoric. She wanted to get away. To free herself from all this so she could start actually trying to be a good person. But she was too weak. She was useless. No matter what she did, she wouldn’t be good enough…
Unless…
Unless she somehow proved she was go
od enough? She might never be good enough for her father, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t be good enough for anybody else. Adam thought she was the key to bringing down the Pack. What if he was right? What if she really was the key and she just had to be brave enough to stand against her father?
What if she could prove herself worthy of Adam’s attention?
She swallowed dryly as her father released her. What did her father love most in this world, other than his own power? What did he want more than anything?
Dragons.
If she could prove that she had worth to him, then she would earn herself a little leeway. Then she could get the space she needed to bring him to the Academy. So that the Pack and everything they did could be brought down once and for all. If she could do that… then maybe she would have a chance at an actual, real life. With Adam or without him.
She hoped that he would give her a chance if she could prove herself, but even if he didn’t… he was right. She deserved better than this.
“Well, I suppose in the meantime I’ll have to put you in the cellar. I hate using it but you’re—”
“Father.” Karey inhaled sharply, surprised by her own daring. “I can’t take the trials.”
His eyes widened then narrowed.
Karey hung her head, trying to make herself look small and ashamed. This wasn’t going to work unless he believed that she was truly regretful. She even managed to bring up a few tears as she shrank into herself. “I’m not worthy of them.”
“Explain.” Her father’s voice was harsh, hard.
“I… I did something,” she said slowly. “And I can’t take a mate knowing what I’ve done. I’m no longer a virgin, Father.”
It wasn’t true. Or was it? She wasn’t sure. Adam had been inside of her, even if it was just his tongue and fingers. She hadn’t bled, but virginity was about more than just an intact hymen.
Her father stepped back. “What?”
“I slept with a dragon.” Her voice cracked, cheeks flushing with embarrassment that didn’t need to be faked. She hated the thought of her father sullying what she had experienced with Adam, but if she guessed this right…
He started to laugh.
Karey hunched her shoulders tighter. “I know he’s an enemy to the Pack, and I should never have allowed him to touch me. But I thought if I gave myself to him, I could make him see reason and turn against his organization.”
“Well, well.” Her father patted her cheek. “It seems like I have a clever little seductress for a daughter, then. Did he use a condom?”
She wanted to shrivel away with humiliation, but she also felt relief. This was how she hoped he’d react, after all. She was giving him the possibility of getting a dragon. Of course, he was going to start pressing for intimate details.
“No. If I was unsuccessful in bringing him to our side, I wanted to at least give you a dragon grandchild—even though I am an Omega. If I was mistaken and overstepped my place—"
“No, no. Even an Omega’s offspring is worthy if the father is a dragon.”
Because no female dragon would sully herself with the offspring of an Omega, you mean? Karey bit back on what she wanted to say. Challenging him now would only cause her trouble. She kept her lips tightly pressed together, keeping her gaze on the floor so he wouldn’t be able to see the thoughts in her head.
He kept laughing. So amused at this turn of events. How amused would he be if he knew that she also told the Academy where to find all his compounds? All the safehouses? And a good portion of his weapons caches?
If they moved on that information, would he know it was her who told them? Would he decide to kill her then?
“I’ll send for a pregnancy test. If you have gotten pregnant, better to know sooner rather than later.” Her father embraced her again and then gave her a push toward the door. “Go to your room, Karey. Have a good rest. Your captivity must have been trying on you. But you’ve proven that you have some cleverness after all. Using the situation to your advantage.”
Karey headed for the stairs, keeping her head down still but relieved that she wasn’t going to be locked up in the cellar.
“Imagine,” she heard her father mutter to himself as she headed up. “My daughter pregnant with a dragon. Perhaps she’s not so useless after all.”
Chapter Eighteen
Recovery was slow, but after a thorough investigation it was decided that Adam could be removed from the blockers. Getting his fires back was such a relief that he nearly cried about it. Or maybe it was the feeling that, finally, he was strong enough to actually make a damned difference in the world again. Make a difference for Karey.
As soon as he could walk around without feeling like he was going to throw up, Adam snuck past Stephen as he was talking with Erica and Cooper and went to Maura’s office. They had moved back to the Academy now, with stronger precautions to ensure the Pack couldn’t bomb them again. A sweep of the grounds had shown three more bombs that were unexploded but luckily nothing that they couldn’t deal with.
Now that everything was safe, they were back to where they were meant to be. Students weren’t being brought back in yet, but that was fine with Adam. It meant fewer people to cause problems for him.
Maura frowned at him when he entered her office. She had papers strewn all about her desk and her hair stood on end like she’d been obsessively digging her fingers through it. She laced her fingers together as she leaned back in her chair.
“Hello, Adam. Is there a reason that you’re here?”
“You know what that reason is.” Adam leaned on the desk, then realized it was too aggressive so took a step back and sat in one of the chairs. “Do you know what’s happening with Karey?”
“No. We don’t have any information about the Pack right now. We don’t even know where the Alpha has gone. He’s gone underground, and my guess is that he took Karey with him.” Maura continued to frown at him. “I can see what you’re thinking, but it’s not going to happen. We can’t send the Blaze Ops after Karey.”
“Why not? It’s what the Blaze Ops is supposed to do. Rescue and recovery. Why can’t we rescue Karey? She doesn’t deserve to be there.”
Maura shook her head, idly straightening her papers now. “And what good would it do? Even if we were to get her back, the Alpha would just threaten us again.”
That was true enough, but that didn’t mean Adam liked it. They had information about where the weapons were. They could simply steal their bombs and guns at the same time as getting Karey back, and then how would the Pack act against them?
His hands clenched as he thought of the caches. “Are you going to act on the information that she gave us? Because you have to know that doing that would be just as good as slitting her throat yourself.”
Maura let out a heavy sigh. “Adam, I know that this is difficult for you. I know that you became close to her. I know that you want to see things in a certain way. But we took her in the first place for a reason. We were trying to use her to get what we wanted from the Pack. It backfired. It’s not a reflection on you—”
“Are you seriously pretending like this is just because this was my plan? Do you really think I’m so shallow that I’m pissed off that we weren’t able to take down the Pack like I wanted?” Adam stared at her incredulously. If Maura didn’t see what was really going on here, she wasn’t as smart as he’d always thought she was. She was one of the biggest reasons he’d joined the Blaze Ops. He’d gotten so tired of everything being about sticking to the book. Sure, he was a stickler for the rules, but even he understood when rules were just plain stupid.
He had thought that having a civilian at the head of operations would mean they wouldn’t have that cold detachment, though. In the military there was so much dehumanization, so much making yourself and your enemies out to be irreconcilably different. And he was tired of that. He wanted human connection again.
Maura sighed again. “No. No, I don’t think that’s the only reason you’re feelin
g this way. But I was hoping to remind you. Sometimes we just have to take our losses, as painful as they might be.”
“This is not one of those times.”
“Adam—”
“No. No, listen to me.” Adam leaned forward, staring intently into her eyes. If she refused to listen to him, he didn’t know what he’d do. But she had to listen. With everything that was happening, she had to listen. It was his plan that started this whole thing. It was him who had drawn Karey in so much. Whatever happened to her was on his head. And the thought that she might be hurt or killed because of him?
He wouldn’t know how to live with himself if that happened. And with two near-death experiences under his belt, he could honestly say the thought of something happening to Karey was far, far more frightening than the thought of dying himself.
The pity in Maura’s eyes was almost too much to take, but she nodded at him.
Fine. As long as she was going to listen. Adam inhaled deeply, calming himself. “Sometimes, yeah. I know we have to cut our losses. Walk away and just not look in the mirror for a few days. Hate ourselves, grieve the situation but move on. This isn’t one of those situations. I can’t walk away. Karey deserves better than to be thrown away like this.”
“I understand what you’re saying but—"
“No. If you understood what I was saying, then there would be no but. Please. You can’t just abandon her. She put her trust in me. That makes me responsible.” Adam’s shoulders slumped. “We have to show mercy and understanding to the people who are just trying to survive their situations. If we start saying that people are undeserving of our help because they have to fight every damn day to survive and don’t have the energy or room to dare dream of a better life, then what are we?”
Maura looked at her papers again for a long time. Adam almost dared hoped he’d gotten through to her when she shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry. But the risks are too great.”
Dragon's Prisoner: A Curvy Girl Military Romance (Dragon Blaze Ops Book 4) Page 11
