Page 85 of Rescued By the Beast
We fall heavily, rolling across the earth and leaves. I manage to position myself on top of him and push his wrists above his head, holding them firmly in one of my hands, while the other goes straight for his neck. My fingers close, I want to steal his air until he is unconscious. I don't want to stoop to his bloodthirsty level, I want to end this and win without having to kill him.
But Liam writhes violently, his hybrid strength manifesting itself. His legs wrap around me, and the claws on one of his feet strike my side, cutting deeply.
"Give in, damn it!" I growl, squeezing his neck until his eyes turn red.
Liam opens his mouth, the bastard can't breathe properly, but he flashes a sick smile full of fangs.
"Never," he replies in a strangled voice.
The metallic smell of blood mixes with the dense forest air, and the twinge of pain in my side catches my attention.
The wound hasn't closed yet.
"What?"
For a moment, I hesitate, and I end up loosening my grip on him. In that second of distraction, Liam takes advantage and uses his strength, one of his arms escapes my grip, and before I can react, he digs his claws into my shoulder, moving down my arm, tearing my skin.
A sharp heat spreads through the wound, a pain so intense that my vision flickers.
"Son of a bitch," I growl, redoubling my strength on his neck to keep him under me, my claws sinking into the wrist I still hold captive.
Liam doesn't give in, and with a quick movement, he pulls his claws out of my arm and pushes them into my side, piercing my torso.
I groan, not just from the pain, but because something is wrong.
Something doesn't make sense.
My body is... weakening.
I regain control of him, putting all my weight on top of him, forcing him to feel my pressure. I release his neck, but immediately dig my claws into the same spot where I struck him before, into his broken ribs.
He screams, a yelp of pain, and momentarily lets go of me, bringing his hand to his wound.
I swallow hard and pull away, standing up quickly as I take a deep breath. My fur is soaked with my own blood, the deep cuts won't close, and the pain spreads through my body, sharp and incessant.
But there is something worse. Something that freezes me inside.
I feel an unnatural, creeping cold spreading through my veins. My body is losing heat. My vision flickers between focus and darkness, as if I'm about to pass out.
I blink to clear my blurred vision and my attention focuses on Liam, who is getting up. He coughs and spits blood on the floor.
I try to create a barrier around him to keep him away from me, but as soon as it appears, it disappears. A sharp pain strikes my chest as I try to create it again.
And then, terror sets in.
My essence. My magic.
Something is sucking every drop of it away, draining my strength, leaving me empty, weak... wrong.
What the hell has he done to me?
My eyes meet Liam's, and he smiles.
A satisfied, cruel smile.
He raises his hands and his claws glint in the dim light.
"Can you feel it, mutt?" He flexes his fingers, a cruel smile forming. "Cold iron powder. I applied a generous dose to each claw. It's not as fast and efficient as a full blade, like the one my mother used to kill yours, but... it does the job."
