I stare at him, not willing to answer him. Of course, I don’t know anyone who would willingly be a test subject such as this.
“Didn’t think so.” Nicolai nods when I don’t answer. “These women have been collected from all over North America. Avery was one of my little gatherers, bringing me subjects to add to the program. She was tasked with collecting rogue wolves. I have others who bring me witches, wolf shifters, and so on. We even have a couple demons here.” My eyes slide to Jax at Nicolai’s last statement. “Jax is part demon, yes,” Nicolai continues, “but as he told you, he’s not just demon.”
“What are you?” I ask Jax for the third time since I’ve met him.
“I’m mostly demon, but I’m part witch and wolf shifter as well.”
Nicolai pats Jax proudly on his back. “Jax is our first successful subject from the breeding program.”
“I wasn’t kidding when I said I want you to do another session of hellfire on her, Jax,” Nicolai calls over his shoulder when he exits my room. We had left the wing of locked up witches and returned to my own torture chamber. I never thought I would be happy to be back in here, but compared to what I just saw, I’ve got it easy.
I just have to survive another round of hellfire. No biggie.
When the door slams behind Nicolai, I spin and glare at Jax. He leans against the far wall with his long arms crossed in front of him, and his head hangs down. He doesn’t look up at me, even though I know he feels me staring at him.
After a minute of staring, I finally snap. “What the fuck, Demon Boy?”
“What?” His head shoots up, and he finally looks at me. “What did I do?”
“It’s not what you’ve done, it’s what you haven’t done!” I rage, marching toward him. “You’ve sat back and watched them do this to all these poor people, and you haven’t done anything to stop them!”
“Who says I want to?” he says with a sneer before pushing off the wall and standing at full height. He’s tall, but not as tall as Ryker or the twins.
“You might not be saying anything, but I’ve seen the way you look at Nicolai. You hate him and this place just as much as I do—maybe even more!”
“There’s nothing I can do.” He shrugs.
“That’s bullshit, and you know it.” I jab him in the chest with my finger. “You’re a wolf, witch, and a fucking demon. I bet you could take out Nicolai with the snap of your fingers.”
“I can’t!”
“Yes, you can!”
“I can’t because I need him to find my father!” Jax snarls, lowering his voice so no one can hear, I assume, as his gaze flicks toward the door.
Confused, I take a step back from Jax to give him some space. “Your father?”
“Nicolai’s partner—I’m pretty sure he’s my father,” Jax explains while pushing his hair back off his forehead. “My mother told me before she died, she thought he was the father. He used his own—genetic material to create the first hybrid embryos.”
“Gross.” I cringe.
“He was the one who took my mother out of her own bed when she was sixteen. He’s the one who experimented on her and then killed her and left her body in a ditch somewhere when she could no longer carry a child to term. He’s responsible for all of this—not Nicolai, who likes to think he’s important, but he’s just another pawn in this guy’s organization.”
“You don’t know who he is? Or what his name is?”
“I’ve heard people call him Sterling, and I have a vague idea of what he looks like based on what my mother said about him. But that’s all I have.”
“Your name is Jax Sterling?” I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from laughing. “You sound like you should have a magic show on the Vegas Strip.”
“My last name is not that fucker’s name,” Jax growls as his eyes glow in anger.
“Okay, okay.” I hold my hands up in surrender. “What is your last name, then?”
“Whitlock.”
“Jax Whitlock. I like it,” I tell him. “I was born Grey Thorne, but go by Pruitt Bailey now.”
“I heard about your childhood.” Appearing uncomfortable, Jax rubs the back of his neck. “At least you didn’t spend your adolescent years in a twelve by twelve cell.”
“You’re right. I didn’t spend my childhood in a jail cell, but Nicolai did take away the life I was supposed to have—should be having right now.” I back away from Jax, noticing I’m still standing too close to him. I lean against the wall behind me, mirroring the way Jax stood when I entered the room.
For the first time today, I allow my mind to wander to Ryker. I’ve been trying not to let myself to think about him because when I do, I want to fall to the floor and cry. And I can’t let that happen—I can’t show weakness here. I will not allow Nicolai to break me. I will stay strong for Ryker, no matter how much I miss him and wish I were back home with him.
Jax sighs. “I’m sorry I can’t help them or you right now. I’ve been building Nicolai’s trust for years, and I’m so close to meeting Sterling—I’m not willing to risk it. My whole life I’ve been trying to get close to the man, I’ve thought of nothing else.” Jax’s violet eyes turn away from me, almost like he’s too ashamed of himself to look me in the eye.
“So, what are you going to do when you find him?”
“I’m going to rip his heart out of his chest.”
“How can I help?”
39
Ryker
I booked a flight to Vancouver before Remi and I ever left Addison’s house. We had to convince Pruitt’s aunt it would be best for her to stay home instead of coming with us. It was something Noah said that finally
