She wouldn’t submit.
So neither would I.
And he responded by tightening his grasp even more.
I couldn’t breathe. But it didn’t matter. My wolf and I refused to bow.
Fare snarled, the emotion one I rarely saw from the psychopath. He was usually all charm and grace. But it seemed he didn’t appreciate his Omega challenging him.
A growl rumbled from his chest, the sound one that would have brought me to my knees mere weeks ago. Yet all it did now was irritate me. Because that growl wasn’t the right growl. It didn’t belong tomymate.
It belonged to a monster from my past.
A relic I’d failed to burn.
A vampire I longed to kill.
He pulled me away from the wall, just to slam my back up against it once more. The impact shot pain down my spine, my lungs begging to breathe.
Kyra.Lorcan’s voice held a note of urgency.
But I couldn’t focus on him. I had to pay attention to the vampire before me. The furious being only inches away from my face. “You’re displeasing me, pet,” he warned.
Good,I thought.
“I don’t know what’s happened to your mind, but I will fix it.” His nose went to my cheek as he drew his touch all the way to my ear. “No matter how long it takes.” His lips descended to my pulse, his intent clear.
My animal bristled inside, her wrath boiling through my blood.No,she was saying again.No!
I shadowed behind him on instinct, causing him to roar with rage. “Stop. Shadowing.” His compulsion pierced my mind like a knife, the need to do exactly what he said rendering me momentarily winded.
Only for my inner beast to roar in reply, her jaws clamping down on his mental leash and shredding it. I gasped, my lungs burning in response to the sudden influx of air.
I can breathe.
I can shadow.
I can…shift.
All those blades tucked into my pants no longer seemed to matter. They were sharp. They were fun. But they were nothing compared to myclaws.
Fare darted forward, intent on grabbing me once more, but I shadowed to his opposite side, my fingers stretching into talons.
He didn’t seem to notice, too fixated on catching me. His mouth was practically salivating, his eyes wild with his outrage.
I used it to my advantage, dancing around him like I’d done to Lorcan during our first sparring lesson.
This is who I am,I thought.A powerful Omega. Half wolf. Half vampire. Strong. Independent. An Alpha killer.
Fare spun with me, his hands gripping me, only for me to escape again.
This was an Alpha who adored his games, but only when he was in charge of them. Hehatedthat I was playing with him now, riling his temper, forcing that charming facade of his to melt away.
Left. Right. Front. Back.
He caught me by the shoulders, his aggression flooding the ship’s cabin. I shadowed before he could throw me up against the wall or onto the ground again.
Then I purposely let him grab me in the next phase, my claws ready.
