The vampires are laughing, catcalling the two shifters. They attack two at a time, slowly wearing down the poor cat. That neither man is healing means they’ve been at it for a while.
They’re making a game of slowly killing both of them.
Something inside me just snaps.
I step forward, then slam my hand through the spine of the first vampire, enjoying his gasp of surprise. Then I burrow my fingers into his chest, wrap my hand around his heart, and yank it clear out of his body.
Blood drips from the heart, and the small, nearly black organ wilts in my grip.
The vampire clutches his chest before he whirls and gapes at me…seconds before he keels over and dies. His body immediately shrivels, like all the moisture is being sucked out of him, his body trying its best to repair the damage by using the blood in his system, but without his heart, the effort is futile.
Silence reigns in the alley for a few seconds, everyone looking at me, then two of the vampires hiss and attack. They move so fast that they’re almost a blur.
Almost.
Unfortunately for them, they’re young and not fast enough.
I leap out of the way, taking a slash to my arm. I ignore the pain, so used to it that I barely even feel it. Lashing out, I grab the throat of the bigger vampire and rip it out. Blood gushes down his chest, the color almost black instead of the normal red.
The two other vampires decide to stop playing games and charge toward the vulnerable cats, as if knowing they’ll need the extra boost of blood to survive me. I don’t wait, launching myself at the vampire who is bending down to the unconscious cat on the ground. His fangs are just inches from his neck, ready to complete the job and kill the cat, and I plow into him.
His head slams into the brick wall with a sickening crack, but I don’t stop. I grab the back of his neck, slam him twice more until brain matter splatters the bricks. I don’t have time to do anything else before a body smacks into me, taking me to the ground.
Rough stone pavers scrape the skin of my back, but I twist before he can pin me. A fist flies toward my face, and I quickly knock his arm aside, hold it so he can’t move, then lean forward and sink my fangs into his neck and drink heavily.
I gulp the stale blood, grimacing at the almost rotten taste. The vampire in my grip shrieks and bucks, but he’s unable to dislodge me without ripping out his own throat. It takes less than a minute for his movements to slow. I pull back, my stomach churning at the vile taste of him. I wrap my leg around his hip, then twist until he lands below me with a heavy thump.
He grunts, his movements so slow, he could be a sloth.
I don’t hesitate to slam my fist into his throat, then grimace when the skin collapses into a pulp of blood and flesh. The white bones of his spine gleam in the dim light. Then, for good measure, I snap his neck.
Life bleeds from him, his body shriveling. The vampire is so young that unless an older vampire gives him blood immediately, he won’t survive. I drag myself to my feet to see the two vampires feeding on the cats.
Draining them.
Darkness swells inside me, consuming all rational thought, and I let my bloodlust take over. I spring forward and land on the back of the vampire attacking the young shifter trying to protect his friend. I sink my fangs into his neck, and I don’t even bother drinking. I just rip out his throat. My hands burrow into his stomach, taking pleasure in gutting the coward.
The vampire staggers, then drops to the ground, and I leap off before he lands. I whirl, marching toward the last vampire. But this one seems to have some common sense. He releases his victim, then turns and bolts down the alley.
I move to go after him, but the door to the club bangs open a second later. The vampire only manages a few steps before Castle and Tobias appear before him. Castle catches the vampire, even as the creature frantically tries to skid to a stop.
The Viking’s eyes automatically lock on mine, and he slowly drags his gaze over my form, taking in every bloody inch of me. His green eyes become frosty, the scent of ice and snow swirling around me when he tracks my wounds, then he grabs the vampire’s head, twisting it violently, wrenching it so hard that it looks like the vampire’s head is put on backward.
Tobias roars in rage, and my attention snaps toward him. Only to see him slam his fist into the vampire’s chest before ripping his heart clear out. Never once does he look away from me, his blue eyes glowing as his wolf takes control.
Ignoring the blood that decorates his hand up to his wrist, he stalks toward me, then calmly offers me the vampire’s mangled heart like it’s a carnival prize.
I should be horrified, disgusted by the blood dripping from his hand, but I find myself charmed. I don’t accept his offering, but I do lean forward and kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”
Castle strides toward us with a determined step, not stopping until he’s in my space once again. Fuck if the wolves know the definition of boundaries. He cups my face, his thumb brushing against my jaw as he studies me.
My skin tingles at the contact, and I lean into his touch, allowing myself just a few seconds of peace. Then reason reasserts itself—the reason we’re in the alley in the first place—and I flush, pulling away.
“You’re hurt.” His voice is gruff as he drops his hand. A scowl darkens his face when he glances down and catalogs every scrape and bruise.
I follow his gaze, then shrug off the injuries.
Even now, they’re knitting together. “I don’t even feel them.”
