“The fuck you grinnin’ about?” Handsy glowered at her, still holding her ass hostage.
Just wondering what a panther looks like wearing his intestines on the outside of his body…
Out loud, she said, “Just wondering if it’s true what they say about a man with big hands.”
He let out a grunt, a lazy smile stretching across his mouth. “What’s that, witch?”
“Big gloves?”
“That’s all you got for me?” He squeezed her ass hard enough to leave a bruise. Leaning in close, he growled, “After the boss has his way with you, I’m gonna break you in half.”
“Hope you’ll at least buy me dinner first.”
“Only thing you’re eating tonight is dick. Let’s go.” At this, he finally removed his hand from her backside and gave her a hard shove into the warehouse. Jaci caught herself before she fell, trying to take in as much information as she could—the other exit points, the position of the mages and demons inside, an approximation of just how many enemies they’d be taking on tonight.
The odds weredefinitelynot in her favor.
Jaci’s confidence faltered. One witch-demon and a royal vampire… against a legion of crazed monsters? Monsters who could very well be juiced up by powers from Viansa?
She almost turned and bolted.
But then Renault Duchanes emerged from the center of the warehouse, sauntering toward her wearing a look of supreme satisfaction, and the fire inside her roared back to life.
You are goingdowntonight, motherfucker.
A few dozen of his buddies loomed behind him—a handful of dark witches she’d seen in his service before, a bunch of mages she hadn’t, and a good number of demons and vampires. A few of the vampires held grays on leashes, just like she’d seen that night outside the hospital.
If they decided to attack, she was toast.
Fortunately, Renault didn’t like sharing the spotlightorcalling in backup—liked to make everyone believe he had everything under control at all times. For now, his minions kept their distance, busying themselves by checking the cages, scurrying from one row of shelves to the next, following whatever orders he’d given them.
But Jaci knew the deal. One word from the boss and they’d tear her apart… or worse. Lock her in a cage.
She sucked in another fortifying breath.
Not tonight, fuckers. Not tonight.
Renault took his time getting to her, clearly enjoying the buildup to her so-called surrender.
“You’re in deep shit now, blondie,” her panther guard whispered, surreptitiously grazing her ass with his palm. “But don’t worry—we’re still on for later. Sloppy seconds? That’s my kink.”
Every flame of hellfire inside was screaming to burst free. It roiled in her belly, crackled through her limbs, zipped down her spine until she felt like she might explode with it.
But Jaci didn’t flinch. One wrong move and she’d lose this battle before it’d even begun.
Instead, she waited. Thought of the vampire lurking outside in the shadows. Thought of the wolf they were here to rescue. The monsters they were here to end. All the innocent lives they’d save tonight, assuming she stayed calm and everything went as planned.
Renault continued his slow march, king of his concrete castle. But the closer he got, the less kingly he appeared. Despite his posturing, the vampire looked tired and old—much older than she’d remembered. His face was pale and gaunt, dark circles ringing his bloodshot eyes. A faint but noticeable tremor shook his hands.
The curse.
She could almost feel it eating away his life force, one cell at a time. It was the worst she’d seen of it, and she suspected—left unchecked—it’d probably kill him in a matter of weeks. Days, maybe.
The thought should’ve filled her with joy. Instead, it terrified her.
The vampire she loved was bound to the same fate.
Iwillbreak this, Gabriel. I promise…
