Chapter Thirty-Five
CALIX
Leon Granger isn’t Leon Granger anymore.
My skin prickles, and my wolf growls, and I reach out to tug Blair behind me before Leon launches himself at her. My fist connects with his jaw before he can reach her, and it sends him sprawling, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, to the ground.
“Calix!” Blair yelps, gripping my shoulders and pulling me to her.
Leon jumps back to his feet, his eyes glinting with menace.
I don’t have time to assess the situation, but I know enough to know this isn’t my mate’s brother anymore.
He roars, his hands reaching for my throat and gripping tightly, but I drive forward, slamming him so hard into the wall I hear his bones break.
“Calix!” Blair screams desperately, and my wolf snarls.
“Who did this to you?” I grunt, slamming my forearm against his throat, restricting his breathing.
Leon struggles, spit flying from his mouth as he tries to tell me to fuck myself.
I get the gist.
“Blair,leave,” I command, but she refuses, as I expect her to.
I can’t take my eyes away from Leon, and part of me wants to crush his throat and prevent him from ever breathing again. Because I can feel the malice, the hatred, and the intention he has of hurting Blair radiating from him like red smoke.
“Blair, I won’t kill him.”
It hurts to say that to her, because the second she’s gone, I will.
“Promise me,” Blair chokes out, and I want to scream. “Promise me, Calix, or I’ll never forgive you.”
I tighten my grip on his throat and bare my teeth. Can I promise her this? Leon just tried to kill my mate. He still wants to—I can see it in his eyes.
“Blair,” I say her name through gritted teeth, wondering if she’s aware of his intentions. She’s not stupid—she must know.
He’s all I have.
Damn my mate!
Her pleading sounds more severe in my head, more desperate.
He isn’t. You have me.
I ease my grip slightly, and Leon uses the oxygen to gasp, “They’llkill her ifIdon’t.”
His eyes look almost human for a second, but then they’re replaced by swirls of darkness so terrifying I almost step back.
Almost.
“No, they won’t, and nor will you!”I roar, prepared to end him.
But something slices into my side, and Blair screams. I grit my teeth and refuse to look down. Instead, I grip Leon’s fist, holding the blade, and inch it out of me.
Dizziness sweeps over me, and I curse, knowing instantly that something coated that blade—something already rendering me useless.
“Blair, run!” I hiss, refusing to let go of Leon until my grip weakens.