Amplified by Alexia Purdy Read Free Book Online

paused as my fingers tapped the knob, feeling wary at all at once. I peeked out the peephole and couldn’t see anything.
    “Who ’s there?”
    Silence followed by some shuffling reassured me that someone was there, waiting quietly. I back ed away and grabbed one of my machetes lying on the bed and readied to cut up whoever burst through the door.
    The knob shook and another knock resonated. “April? It ’s Rye.”
    I let out the breath I didn ’t know I’d been holding, relieved beyond the moon that it was Rye. It didn’t last long, though. My anger at him for not replying right away had me wanting to sock him in the jaw.
    “What the hell, why didn ’t you answer me when…?” I unlocked the door and was sent flying back onto the floor as it burst open, but my weapon remained locked in my hand.
    “Mercer.”
    “April. I’m terribly sorry, I had to use a voice trick that comes in handy quite often to get you out of the door. Bad thing about having a compound fortress, it’s really hard to open the doors if they’re locked. Thanks for letting me in.” Mercer’s sly smirk filled my vision as he filled the doorway.
    Christian walked in behind him, looking somber and defeated, followed by a vibrantly happy Rick. Great.
    “What do you think you ’re doing?” I held the blade out, ready to slice even Christian with it. Three against one. Really? “Can’t take me alone, had to bring back up, right? One woman, three men. Really appropriate.”
    Mercer wasn ’t too happy with my comments and motioned to Christian to grab me. He approached slowly, his haloed eyes shimmering against the halogen lamps across the room. He was my mate, supposedly. So why—and how—could he hurt me now? Even though I had committed to try to not fall in love with anyone, it sure wouldn’t be Christian. But the pull of our bond made my stomach churn with every little traitorous step he took.
    Dammit , Christian.
    “Don ’t touch me.” I backed up. My thighs bumped into the edge of the bed, which I sidestepped to get around. I was cornered, but I wasn’t going to give up that easily. “Why are you doing this, Christian?”
    “I ’m sorry. This is my hive. I have to take control of things right now.”
    “Really? Sounds like Mercer is in charge around here now, not you.” I swung the machete, but he dodged it with inhuman speed and grabbed my wrist. Still, I punched him right in the knee until he buckled. Struggling to get back up, I took his momentary lapse to hop over him and head toward the window. I didn’t see a way out, and the window had bars weaved throughout it. I spun around and held a slight bounce on my feet, hoping to find a way around him.
    Rick stood behind them, but I could see him pulling something out of a small case he held in his hands. Uncapping the needle, he tapped it to get the bubbles out and then fixed his eyes on me. Whatever was in that syringe, I decided he’d better have planned to stick it where the sun don’t shine. I stepped back toward the bathroom, hoping maybe I could at least lock myself in there to think of an alternative means of escape. Christian was nursing his knee, grumbling, but he wouldn’t be down for long. Mercer looked as if he was going in for the kill. Rick only had to wait until I was subdued to plunge whatever he’d concocted into my arm. Like hell I was going to let him do that to me, ever.
    “Don’t make this difficult,” Mercer muttered. His dark eyes reflected the lights shining from the vaulted ceiling. I felt a trickle of his vampire persuasiveness pass over me, sending a chill trickling down my spine. Narrowing my eyes, I smirked. Knowing his magic wasn’t working on me made him furious, and I could see his lunge three seconds ago.
    His slow mistake.
    He flew past me right into the bathroom where I slammed the door shut behind h im. Idiot. I turned back toward the others just in time to find Rick trying to stick me with the needle. I grabbed his wrist and