Panic bubbles into my chest. I want to scream “I’m not a bloody supernatural, and I’m not subject to your fucked-up laws,” but maybe I am. Maybe I’m a mixed-breed vampire freak like they’re telling me. What the hell else is in my DNA? Shit. This whole situation is messed up. Not to mention the attack on this Longreach place might have something to do with me.

“If your labs and Blackriver are at risk because of me, why don’t you just hand me over to Alexei? Then nobody has to fight him—or die.”

Flanagan looks up from sorting the chains in his hands, the glint in his eyes so hard it jolts me. “You are not his, Michael.”

“I know that.” I think. “But if you believe I’m just some dangerous creature, surely my life isn’t worth more of your Guardians dying?”

Flanagan goes quiet. The click of metal chain echoes through the room as he prepares the manacles to be fitted. I’m watching with my stomach stuffed in my throat.

“Most of the Guardian ranks could be classed as ‘dangerous’ creatures,” he says quietly. “Whatever species you are, your life is important and not something I would ever throw away. It might be you are the reason Alexei marches on the labs, but his reasons are always complex and devious. His actions could be about something else entirely.”

He steps toward me, the chains dangling from his fist. I lean away, but my back thumps the hard wood behind me. I shake my head, desperately searching the room for a viable escape route.

“I can’t do this, Flanagan. I can’t.” I tamp down on the plea, determined not to show weakness in front of a man who probably fears nothing. Instead, I ball my fists and grit my teeth. If he wants to chain me, there’s nothing I can do to stop him, but it doesn’t mean I have to make it easy.

He comes close enough for his unusual heat to prickle my skin. His eyes, soft with surprising tenderness, flicker over my face. “You can handle this, Michael. I can help you, and I won’t be leaving you alone. I’ve instructed Mackenzie’s team to stand guard. He’s a soldier I trust. His team will take you to the showers, give you a hot meal, stay with you till I return.”

A shower and a decent meal. Yeah, under different circumstances, that would be peachy, but it’s useless to me if I can’t breathe and I’m going through a panic attack. I ram the heels of my hands into his chest to push him back. I ignore the fact that he doesn’t move an inch and it’s like hitting granite. “Fuck your shower, and fuck your decent meal. I’m not going back in that cage.”

He arches a brow, eyes sparking. “Is that so?”