Page 80 of Fanged Desire
A masked elf lunged at me from the left and I sidestepped, whirling on him and delivering a punch sharp enough to slacken his jaw. He slumped over, but I wasn’t done, hauling him upright and throwing him into another elf charging toward me. The pair went down like dominoes, but there were more – always more.
Two more rushed at me, guards this time, batons raised. I bared my fangs and let out a low, guttural hiss that made them hesitate for a split second. It was all I needed. I grabbed the first one by the collar, yanking him forward and sending my knee into his stomach. As he doubled over, I used him as a shield against the other elf’s swing, the baton striking his partner instead of me. Then I let go, slamming my fist squarely into the second elf’s face with enough force to knock him out cold.
The taste of adrenaline, or bloodlust – or both – coated my tongue as I fought my way toward the quieter end of the mansion. The further I went, the fewer fighters there were, but the tension in my chest only coiled tighter.
Down one deserted corridor, a flicker of movement caught my eye and I spotted a figure slumped against the wall. My heart stuttered to a stop when I recognized that sickeningly pink outfit.
“Maxine!” I sprinted toward her, sliding to my knees. Her normally vibrant face was pale, even under all that blush, her eyelids fluttering as she tried to sit up. She was tangled up in some sort of braided cord, leaves and berries twined into each segment. I ripped it off her, snapping the charmed tripwire in my hands.
“Hunter! Ugh, that was unpleasant,” she murmured, pressing a hand to her head. “Elf charm. Packs a punch. Almost worse than a bad date.”
I helped her lean against the wall, kicking away the stretch of twined rope – eleven magic at its finest. “Are you okay?”
Maxine waved me off with a weak smile. “I’ve been through worse. But Hunter.” She grabbed my wrist, her head lolling to the side as she spoke through gritted teeth. “I fucked up. Some of the elves… they’re trying to escape with the humans. Cathy’s leading them. And your girlfriend – I mean – Addison. She’s with them.”
My stomach dropped. “Where?”
“They were heading out back.” Maxine sucked in a strangled breath, managing a faint smirk despite her state. “By the way, Addison is really cute. Way out of your league, though.”
“Notthe time!” I snapped, already bolting down the hall.
After what felt like hundreds of twisting corridors and wrong turns, I burst out of the mansion’s back doors, the cool night air hitting me like a slap. In the parking bay, a frantic group of elves were loading people into sleek black vehicles, kicking up gravel in their urgency. Cathy herself stood by, glinting sunglasses still in place as she barked orders at the rest of her crew.
And there was Addison – kicking and screaming and fighting with all her might in the arms of a bulky Elven guard, her blood red dress like a beacon in the dark. A red flag to a raging bull.
I didn’t think. I acted.
A snarl tore from my throat as I sprinted toward them, my claws extending and my teeth sharpening. The elves closest to me turned, their eyes widening as I bore down on them like a storm. One swung a baton, but I caught his wrist mid-air, twisting it until he screamed. With a vicious kick, I sent him sprawling.
Two more came at me, but I was faster, stronger. I ducked under one’s swing, swiping my claws across his chest. He crumpled with a faint cry and I spun to face the other, sinking my teeth into his arm before ripping it to ribbons. I barely registered the blood, the scent held no sway over me. I was there for Addison.
I reached the car where she’d been, but it was already empty. My eyes snapped to the lead vehicle, caught Cathy snaking into the driver’s seat, Addison shoved into the back by one of the remaining guards.
“No!” I roared, sprinting toward them.
The last guard stepped into my path, but I didn’t stop. I slammed straight into him, my claws sinking into his chest before I tossed him aside like a rag doll. The vehicle’s engine roared to life and I lunged for it, my claws scraping the rear bumper as it peeled out of the driveway.
“No!” I screeched, but my cries were no good.
The vehicle was already disappearing down the road, Addison’s petrified face pressed against the window, wide eyes fixed solely on me.
Chapter 28
Addison
The car jolted violently, screeching metal and the crunch of gravel piercing my skull as it veered sharply to the left. Cathy let out a hiss of frustration, gripping the wheel tighter. I wanted to lunge for her, but I could do nothing.
My body was frozen, my limbs unresponsive, thanks to whatever Elven talisman she had tangled around my neck. I sat stiff and incapacitated in the back seat as Cathy muttered under her breath, cursing Hunter and whatever chaos she thought might follow.
“Let me go.” It was an effort to get the words out, a strain to speak through my locked jaw.
Cathy didn’t even spare me a glance as she gripped the steering wheel with one hand and adjusted the rearview mirror with the other. I struggled against the charm, snarling at her back. “This isn’t going to end well for you.”
Cathy’s gaze flicked to the mirror again, her knuckles whitening on the wheel. She still didn’t respond, but I saw the faintest flicker of unease in her expression.
“Hunter will come for me.”
Still she ignored me, but I caught the subtle twitch of her lips. She was afraid. That realization sent a smug vibration through me, despite my terror.
