Page 27 of Monster's Pretty Bride

I slash out, my dagger kissing the air between us, forcing him back another step.

He bares his fangs, his tail lashing.

“Shouldn’t have done that, purna.”

I grin, sharp and wild. “Try and stop me.”

And I run.

13

ERYSS

The roar behind me is like thunder splitting the sky.

"Run all you want, purna. You’re still mine to punish!"

I don’t look back.

I can hear him closing the distance, the scratching of claws against stone, the heavy thud of steps pounding after me. Wings beat behind me. He’s flying.

Unfair!

The dagger is slick in my grip, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs like a trapped thing.

If I stop, I die. Simple as that.

I push harder, weaving between the stone pillars of the stronghold, my body screaming from the effort. Every bruise from the fight earlier protests, every aching limb begs me to stop.

I won’t.

The corridors open into the larger courtyard, the expanse of the training grounds stretching before me. Several gargoyles linger near the edges, their golden eyes flicking toward me as I sprint past.

"Mine!" The gargoyle chasing me snarls. “She’s mine!"

The others don’t move.

They watch.

They let it happen.

“Damn it!” I push harder, my feet barely skimming the ground. If I can make it to another building, maybe I can.

A shadow swoops over me.

Too late.

A solid wall of muscle and fury slams into my back, knocking me breathless. I hit the ground hard, my dagger ripping from my grasp, spinning uselessly across the dirt.

My skull rings.

I twist, lashing out, but the gargoyle is already on me, pinning me down with a knee to my gut, claws digging into my shoulders.

He grins down at me, all fangs and hunger.

"Not so fast, purna."

I snarl, bucking against him, trying to kick, trying to do something, but he’s too strong.

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