Gently, he stroked my hair again, and I bit my lip. What am I meant to be? A prisoner? A pet? A pawn? Swallowing, I tried to find words, but they were beyond me for the moment. “For now, that’s all you need to know, little bunny. We can discuss other rules as needed. We need to get food in that belly of yours. After that, you need a bath. You carry the scent of those damn mutts, and I refuse to tolerate it for a second longer than I must. But food first,” he murmured. My cheeks cooled, and I took a step back at the idea of bathing and what must follow. Ryker quirked his brow and patiently awaited my explanation. I found that surprising and worried that it might not last. What would I do if he changed his behavior? What could I do?
“After that, a bandage change?” I whispered with a grimace. I tried to refrain, but my dislike of the idea was too strong to hide. Especially since I didn’t know if Ryker would be gentle, or would he expect me to do it myself? Or worse, would he ask Liam to do it? I hoped Liam took Matty under his wing to protect him, but I still feared the cold vampire. Although if he didn’t, I would take him on to protect my little brother. I sensed Ryker’s frown and barely kept from shuddering.
“Bandage…? You mean that pissant human hurt you bad enough to require bandages? Matty thought the dogs ran him off before he had much time with you. I hoped that to mean he didn’t touch you at all. Oh, my poor little bunny, I’m so sorry. We must rectify that you suffer, little one. Now that I know you’re in pain, I cannot fathom allowing your suffering for another moment,” Ryker sighed. As a vampire, couldn’t he smell my wounds? Or at least the blood on my bandages?
I backed away, afraid of whatever he intended to do. He sighed heavily, and my next step back, I ran into something substantial. My eyes registered that the man disappeared, and I swallowed audibly while goosebumps broke out across my skin. “Fret not, little bunny, it will not hurt you in the least. I daresay it might even help that spine of yours. I’m afraid it’s unlikely to do anything for the sensitivity of your back, however. Oh yes, I’ve watched you for a long time, little one. Your entire life, to be exact. While Jax did not allow any wolves to follow him, that was not extended to me.”
I tried to respond, but when I opened my mouth, it could not force my throat to work. Not that I knew what I would have said, anyway. But still, so many questions lay in wait deep within my mind. Ryker’s voice softened when he added, “he called you ‘bunny’ because you bounced on the balls of your feet whenever he came to visit. It was adorable. We met, believe it or not, my shy little bunny. You’ve belonged to me since you were born, little one, you are just only learning this now. Jaxy… well, he did not like the idea. However, after what the dogs did, I fear he would no longer side with them so adamantly.”
Perhaps not. Jax encouraged me to run. Although he also, in his way, tried to convince me to go back too. Perhaps he was torn? Or did he know from the start that Liam lurked in the woods? Was that why he picked the treehouse? But after I reached my destination, he regretted ever sending me in that direction? I suppose the question I was most worried about was how long was Liam watching? Long enough to snatch Matty once he left Wolfram. Or did he ever leave town? I’m sure Matty would fill in some blanks when I saw him. I almost asked to see him now, but Matty hasn’t witnessed my injuries firsthand since the accident. Thankfully, he doesn’t remember his toddler years very well.
Ryker raised his wrist to his mouth, biting into it with vicious, razor-sharp fangs. When I saw his crimson blood, my stomach turned, and I tried to sneak away. I had an idea of what he meant to do, and I wanted no part of it. Yuck. Chuckling, Ryker wrapped one arm around my waist to press my back to his chest. Between the pain flaring once we touched, and the absolute strength his iron bar of an arm held me in place with, tears filled my eyes. Half frustration and half pain, I blinked them away regardless while making one last attempt to move. I needn’t have bothered. I doubt Ryker even noticed that I tried.
Sighing in frustration, I clamped my jaw shut, and Ryker laughed. “Oh, little one,” he chuckled while I glared at the wall stubbornly. “You are so adorable.” The next moment, the fingers of his hand with the wounded wrist pinched my nose shut, and I growled silently. Cheating bastard. I held out for as long as I could, but eventually, my body’s
