Page 53 of Fanged Temptation

Fear gripped me in a suffocating vise, but I forced myself to speak. “Let her go, Gregor.”

“I’ll let her go,” he purred, voice thick with mock benevolence, “once you fulfill your duty as my bride. You’ve already disgraced your family, but you’re still bound to me.” He tilted Addison’s head back, exposing her neck. “Or I could simply tear out this mortal’s throat.”

Addison made a strangled noise, her eyes darting in panic. Hunter stirred in Jordan’s arms, blinking watery eyes that quickly widened when she took in the scene.

Gregor smiled, a merciless twist of his lips.

“I’ll give you an hour,” he crooned, scraping a fang against Addison’s cheek. Blood welled where the point met skin, and I bit back a scream. “One hour to say your goodbyes. Then you’re going to meet me at Westchester County Airport. You’ll board my jet and we’ll leave for my domain, and you’ll marry me as planned. Or…”

He shifted his hand and pressed his fingers tight around Addison’s throat, making her wheeze, “I’ll send her back in pieces.”

“Maxine, don’t–” Addison croaked, trying to twist free. But Gregor only tightened his hold.

I felt my breathing lock, rage and terror tangling in my gut.

“You know, I think I’m being quite generous with this offer.” Gregor’s predatory grin widened. “So, when you’re ready, you know where to find me.”

He leaned over, brushing a mockingly intimate kiss against Addison’s temple. Then, with nightmarish speed, he blinked away, reappearing beside a sleek black car parked behind the remnants of the building.

He kept one clawed hand poised against Addison’s throat, daring us to intercept them.

Jordan cursed under her breath and Hunter stirred, hauling herself forward, reaching a feeble hand toward her lover. Her engagement ring gleamed on her finger, one lonely little band reaching out for the other.

We watched, helpless, as Gregor shoved Addison into the passenger seat and climbed in beside her. The engine growled to life and then the car peeled away, tail lights flashing in the gloom of the deserted waterfront.

A single squeal of tires left us enveloped in desolate silence, broken only by the somber patter of heavy rain. Like the sky itself was weeping.

24

Leah

Addison was gone.

I stumbled out of the wrecked building, just in time to watch her disappear—nothing but tail lights in the distance.

The remaining Leyore women were scattered across the rubble-strewn lot. Maxine’s family had fucked off just as quickly as they had arrived, slinking into the shadows without a backward glance.

Maxine herself was trembling on her feet, fists curling and uncurling at her sides. My heart had damn near exploded when that monster chucked her out the window, and the relief of seeing her on her feet was almost too much to bear.

I rushed over to her, inspected her from top to toe, and tugged her into my arms. Maxine leaned into me, wordlessly coiling her arms around my waist.

Over her shoulder, I glanced at Hunter—standing, or rather trying to stand, near a toppled wall, while Jordan hovered about trying to steady her. The air smelled of soot, blood, and cold dampness that matched the icy dread in my bones.

Hunter’s face was a mask of pain and fury. Blood stained her temple and she clutched at her side with trembling fingers. Her eyes blazed, glinting with anguish.

Addison was gone.

I watched Hunter through a sheet of rain, and for a split second those haunted eyes locked onto me. But then Maxine stepped out of my grasp and turned. Her mouth settled in a grim line, and Hunter’s eyes slid to her, pupils narrowing to pinpricks.

“You,” Hunter snarled. She lunged forward, nearly toppling over. Jordan tried to halt her, but she shoved the redhead off, stumbling a few steps. “This is onyou, Maxine.”

Maxine blanched, her face twisting with remorse. She opened her mouth to speak, but before any words could form Hunter closed the distance between them, furious tears rimming her red eyes.

“You dragged us into your family drama. Youliedand you kept secrets, and now Addison–” Her voice caught on Addison’s name. She took a ragged breath, and her expression contorted with pure grief. “Addison is gone. Thatmonsterhas her—he has her because of you!”

“Hunter–” Maxine’s voice cracked, her posture faltering. “I’m so–”

“So what. Sorry?!” Hunter spat, cutting her off. “I don’t want your apology, Maxine. I want Addisonback!” Her fury radiated outward, fierce enough that Jordan stepped in, arms raised in a cautionary gesture.

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