Page 3 of Shifters' Fated Summer
Strangers rushed into the room, surrounding us. They wore black clothing with many layers and buckles. The light glinted off the metal. Tactical gear.
It felt like walking through sludge to push myself up, but adrenaline cleared some of the venom, bringing the room into sharper focus.
Evrin bared his teeth at the intruders, and they advanced as a unit.
“Stop!” I cried, shoving to my feet and lurching toward Evrin. The venom spun the room around me as I moved, my feet tangling.
Hands grabbed my upper arms. They were hot, blazing, burning my skin. My vision swam as I blinked up at a flash of black hair and bronzed skin. Black lines swirled over his nape and licked at his jaw like someone had drawn all over him.
“You have a coloring page on your body,” I rasped.
A deep chuckle cradled my soul, twisting my gut. This man sounded like sin. “Time to go, wildcat.”
Those scalding handslifted me, and my arms flopped over my chest. He cradled me against him, and the change of position sent my head spinning.
“Stay right there, leech,” a feminine voice snarled, advancing on Evrin.
“You filthy dogs,” my vampire hissed, and I twisted in the stranger’s arms, seeing two more dark figures advancing toward Evrin. With all of my remaining strength, I thrashed.
“Don’t touch him!” I screamed, throwing my head back into the man holding me. Stars exploded across my vision as the back of my head connected with the heavy gear over his chest.
The man’s hold tightened, and my legs flailed, kicking out wildly.
My captor staggered forward, and my heel connected with the nearest figure. He grunted, doubling over. Blond hair peeked from under his helmet.
“Fuck!” he growled. “Get her under control!”
In the chaos, Evrin slipped away, disappearing through one of the doors that connected to his family’s private living spaces.
“Don’t follow him! We don’t know where that leads and there are too many blood slaves to leave the team unguarded,” the blond man commanded. “Back to the dorms.”
Red flushed his golden cheeks as he glowered at me. Brown eyes flared gold, and my heart stuttered. The message was very clear - he would like to murder me.Terror choked me, and I felt the pain and remaining venom taking hold.
“Let me go,” I whispered, fading away.
The tattooed man slid his other hand under my thighs, lifting me as my body relaxed. “We’re rescuing you.”
“I don’t want you to!” I cried with all the energy I could muster.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said, and I wanted to believe him - anything to ease the sense of dread overtaking me. Finally, my terror eased in darkness.
“Blood moon,” I mumbled before passing out.
Chapter 2
Two Men
The venom’s bliss was fading, butI couldn’t quite grasp consciousness. The light was too bright - way brighter than the lights in Evrin’s den, even when all of the lamps and chandelier were lit. My eyes squeezed tighter, trying to block the blinding light burning through my eyelids. Someone must have been shining a flashlight directly in my face.
Bitches.
“This one smells different,” a voice said, deep and smooth. Yummy.
A rougher voice responded. “Is she turning?”
“No, she smells like one of us.”
“Not a fucking chance in the world.” He sounded angry.
