Page 28 of Taken By the Storm King

I sucked in a breath, preparing to kick out, to do something---

A roar split the air.

The temperature around us plummeted.

A dark shape crashed into the shark-man with the knife, sending him flying into a stone pillar with a sickening crack.

Thalassar.

But not the composed, regal warrior I knew.

This was something else.

His claws were extended, his fangs bared, his black eyes glowing with fury. His body rippled, shifting---half-shifted into his dragon form, scales spreading across his arms and shoulders in jagged, gleaming patterns.

The shark-man groaned, trying to push himself up.

Thalassar didn’t hesitate.

He struck with terrifying, predatory precision, his claws raking across the enemy’s throat. Blood sprayed across the stone path. The shark-man gurgled, grasping at his ruined neck---then collapsed, unmoving.

The one holding me stiffened.

That was his mistake.

I drove my heel down on his foot, hard. He loosened his hold just enough for me to tear free---

Thalassar was already there.

He grabbed the attacker by the throat and lifted him off the ground.

The attacker clawed at Thalassar’s grip, his feet kicking wildly.

Thalassar’s lips curled back, revealing elongated fangs. His voice was a growl, low and deadly.

“You dare touch what is mine?”

The shark-man made a strangled sound.

Thalassar’s claws dug deeper.

I should have stopped him. Should have told him we needed answers, that we needed to question at least one of them---

But I didn’t.

Because when I looked into Thalassar’s face, I saw something raw. Something primal.

This wasn’t just about me.

This was about her. His mother. The one he hadn’t been able to save.

He wasn’t going to let me be another loss.

With a final snarl, Thalassar clenched his fist---

And snapped the shark-man’s neck.

The body crumpled to the ground.

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