ChapterThirteen
ALEK
Isat amidst the rubble of my room. After repairing my cell for the third time in as many days, my parents finally gave up trying to undo the destruction I’d caused. They promised that time would help soothe the creature seething inside of me, but they lied. Time had done nothing to temper the storm. If anything, it made it worse. Especially since every time I closed my eyes, I sawher.
Sunday was there in each breath, each pump of my heart, each thought. But she was real in my dreams, which only added to my heartache when I woke. That was when the berserker was at its worst. When I opened my eyes to find her lost once again.
Footsteps sounded down the hall, but I didn’t bother looking up. I didn’t want visitors. Tor and my parents would stop by at least once a day, but I was through talking to them. Unless they were going to let me leave, I wasn’t interested in anything they had to say.
Rage coursed through my veins even now, the beast pushing at the periphery. If I got out of here, I’d hurt someone. I knew that. It didn’t stop me from searching for every opportunity to escape.
They thought keeping me here would teach me control, but I was coming to realize that the only way I’d ever feel in control again was to be by my mate’s side.
“Oh, Tiny. It’s worse than I thought.”
I didn’t move from my position on the floor. I’d been seated with my knees bent, arms draped over them, gaze locked on the same patch of tile for hours. At my aunt’s words, I lifted my eyes, but nothing else.
“Come to see the freak in his cage?”
“Don’t be like that. We’re all trying to help you. You’ve never seen an uncontrolled berserker.”
“Haven’t I?” I asked with a mocking grin.
“Tiny, this is child’s play compared to the real thing. Trust me, I’ve seen it. It’s not pretty. You’d never forgive yourself if you hurt one of them.”
Frustration burned in my throat, constricting the muscles against my will. “Why are you here, Quinn? If you’re not going to let me out, then leave me be.”
“That’s exactly why I’m here, actually.”
I snapped my head up, giving her my full attention. “What?”
“I have a solution that will allow us to release you. Would you like that?”
“Yes. I need to get back to her.”
“Then come here where I can get a good look at you.”
I unfolded myself from the floor, muscles groaning in protest at the rapid shift after being unused for so long. “What do you need me to do?” I asked once I stood directly in front of her.
She lifted one of her hands, pressing it against the glass between us. Instinctively, I matched the motion until we were both standing with our hands pressed together.
“All I need you to do is think about her.”
That was easy. Sunday existed in my every thought since the moment I first saw her.
Floating to the surface of my mind like it had been summoned was the memory of the first time Sunday’s lips touched mine and the soul-deep connection I’d felt as I healed her.
“That’s it,” my aunt whispered, her dark purple eyes seeming to ripple like water as she held my gaze.
The recollection lost its color, taking on a wine-colored hue as it faded away to be replaced by another memory. This time, it was when the runes of my name flared to life on her arm, marking her as mine. But just as fast as the moment appeared in my mind, it was cast in purple, becoming a mist and disappearing into nothing.
Panic clutched my heart. No. She was taking my Sunny from me. Quinn, the memory weaver, was using her powers on me but not to help me, to steal my mate. My berserker roared to the surface, trying to fight to keep what little I still had of Sunny, but it was no use. Memory after memory flashed in my head, unbidden, unprotected, and at Quinn’s mercy.
“Stop!” I shouted, hitting the glass with my free hand. I tried to tear my gaze from hers, but she held me in the thrall of her eyes.
“Don’t fight, Alek. It’ll be over soon.”
“How could you do this? You have no right.”