Page 79 of Fanged Desire
Jordan. She tossed a masked elf aside like he weighed nothing. When she caught my eye, she raised a hand, flashing me a thumbs-up as if this were just another day at the office. And she wasn’t alone.
Dylan, River, and a host of Leyore vampires surged into the room, alongside a contingent of armed elves who wasted no time scattering the partygoers. Gasps and cries of alarm rippled through the crowd as the masquerade descended into chaos.
Elliot was suddenly right beside me with his usual snobbish expression. “Now don’t aim those claws at me. We’re here to apprehend every cunning little shitstain at this event, including dear old Cathy.”
I blinked, rounding on him while my muddled mind struggled to catch up. “You’re not in league with Cathy?”
“Of course not. I’d never side with someone like Catherine Raine.” Elliot gave a careless shrug, smug and unbothered by the chaos erupting around us. “I’ve been investigating those human disappearances for months, but I was never able to identify a culprit. Really, Hunter, you should have come forward with your findings sooner rather than relying on that pretty little vampire friend of yours to piece things together.”
Pretty little vampire friend…Maxine. Of course, it was Maxine who figured out what I’d been up to. Before I couldspeak again, a sudden crash drew my attention. A table was flipped over, spraying shattered glass and macarons all over the place. Ethan backed up into me as masked figures streamed past us, shoving and jostling each other to escape the sudden attack.
The masked elves who had been enjoying Cathy’s party moments ago now darted and clashed with a force far greater than they’d expected. Leyore vampires and armed elves storming the mansion – two opposing groups moving with synchronized precision.
River was nearby, making easy work of an aggressive masked elf in a striped tuxedo. She grinned my way and delivered a precise punch to the guy’s jaw, sending him sprawling without ever breaking eye contact. Then there was Dylan, moving like a shadow. She spotted me from across the room and shook her head, her lips twitching in what could have been exasperation or amusement.
Something swelled in my chest at the sight of them. Jordan, River, Dylan, and the rest of the Leyore women were here, and they had my back. Somehow, despite the secrets I’d kept and the promises I hadn’t, they were here.
I tore my eyes away from the scene and turned back to Elliot, raising my voice to be heard over the commotion. “The elves are workingwiththe Leyore vampires?”
Elliot arched a brow, his smirk faintly amused as we backed out of the way. “Surprised?”
“Understatement,” I yelled, dragging Ethan with me as the brawl spilled further into the grand hall. The staggered blond’s eyes were wide as saucers and he slumped in my arms like a sack of potatoes.
“I can’t believe the elves and vampires are working together. To protect humans, of all things.”
Elliot tilted his head, guiding us toward an alcove near the back. “You forget, I’m a half-elf. My mother was human, justas you once were. Half my blood comes from her. I understand what it means to be caught between worlds, to want to protect something you’re not fully a part of. I owe it to the part of me that’s human to protect and avenge Cathy’s victims.”
I could only gawk as I kept pace with him, staring at the snarky bastard with a fresh perspective. This wasn’t just a power play for Elliot – he meant it.
Elliot’s smirk returned swiftly. “You’re not the only one full of surprises, Hunter. Now, I’d suggest you get your human friend out of here before this place turns into a bloodbath.”
Right on cue, Ethan grabbed at my arm, his wide eyes darting from the melee to me. “Yeah – what the hell is happening? Are we fighting? Is this a fight?Are those vampires?!”
“Just stay close to me.” I glanced back at Elliot who disappeared into the throng with a parting grin. “And donottry to fight. I’ll get you out of here.”
I grabbed Ethan’s arm and yanked him away from the crowds, shielding him with my body as an elf hurled a thrashing vampire against the wall with a blast of supernatural force. Ethan let out a strangled yelp, clutching my sleeve like a lifeline.
“Is this normal for you?” he hollered into my ear, stumbling alongside me as we made a run for one of the arched doorways.
“Define normal!” I had to shout to be heard, keeping my eyes on the chaos unfolding all around me.
I had to get Ethan to safety, but he wasn’t the only one. The party had gone completely off the rails and Addison was somewhere in the mansion, possibly caught in the crossfire.
“I’m going to find Addison!” I yelled near Ethan’s ear, elbowing a masked elf out of the way moments before they were tackled by a snarling vamp.
“What?” Ethan’s voice was a strangled squeak. “Don’t leave me alone out here!”
I ignored his protests, dragging him into a small cloakroom and hiding him amongst the expensive jackets. “Stay here. Keep your head down. And take the damn mask off.”
“But–”
“No buts, Ethan! Stay here, or I’ll knock you out myself.”
He swallowed hard but nodded, his face pale beneath the mask.
The chaos in the mansion was suffocating, the sound of clashing bodies, growls, and shouted orders echoing off the walls as I pushed through the fray. Every swing of my fist, every kick, every punch had a singular purpose.
Find Addison. Find Addison. Find Addison.
