Page 61 of Bonded Chaos

The first man leaned into my space, and I pulled my magic to me, ready to defend myself should the need arise. His hand darted forward as he wrapped a lock of my hair around his finger.

“We are only here to ensure that you enjoy your night, My Lady,” he murmured.

Then his lips were on me, and he was pushing his tongue into my mouth. I struggled against him, but he wasn’t having it. He thrust his tongue deeper as he cupped the back of my head, holding me in place.

I sank my teeth into his bottom lip, hard enough to draw blood, and he released me. The metallic taste coated my taste buds, and I recoiled as I spat the vile substance on the ground.

“Fucking bitch!” he gasped as he raised his hand and slapped me across the face.

As if his strike somehow gave the rest of them permission, the men descended on me in unison.

Hands reached for me, groping me above my dress. Whenever I pushed one away, more appeared to take its place.

“No need for that,” one man cooed as I slapped his arm. “We only want to show you a good time.”

“Let me go!”

“Your struggle is only making my dick harder,” another man preened. “I bet your cunt tastes all the sweeter because of it.”

A hand slipped underneath the neckline of my dress, and a rough palm squeezed my breast.

Closing my eyes, I sent a silent apology to my mother for what I was about to do next.

Before I could unleash my magic, a low growl rumbled behind the group, and tension drained from my body before I could think better of it.

The night deepened into an unnatural black, and the stars vanished from the sky.

Cool air kissed my exposed flesh as I felt the weight of the man in front of me being violently torn away.

A snarl shattered the stillness, followed by a bloodcurdling scream.

Panicked cries erupted all around me, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see through the mass of darkness engulfing me.

A tearing sound assaulted my ears, only to be replaced by a wet gurgling noise.

Terrified screams and groans of pain filled the night, and it sounded like the men were being ripped apart by a feral beast driven by animalistic bloodlust.

A small whimper sliced through the haunting sounds before everything fell silent once more.

The darkness ebbed, and light flooded my senses. The scene that greeted me had me turning toward the railing and expelling the contents of my stomach.

Butchered and mutilated bodies littered the marble floor of the balcony, and rivers of blood flowed over the edge.

All eight men lay before me, dead.

Not just dead.

Torn apart.

Obliterated.

Hardly recognizable as human.

A high-pitched scream erupted from inside the ballroom, but I scarcely heard it.

My gaze swept over the massacre before my eyes settled on Ryker.

He stood among the carnage, covered from head to toe in blood. Shadows snaked around his hands, awaiting their next command, and enormous, black wings extended from his back.