Page 101 of Bonded Through Bite

Protective rage.

Samantha spits out blood and rears to go at Patricia again. Patricia pants, but her stance tells me she’s ready to take Samantha on. Almost too late, Zack jumps in between them, only to take Patricia’s next punch to his ribs and his injured leg gives way. Samantha doesn’t even slow as she pushes herself over him and punches Patricia.

The blow only glances Patricia’s cheek, and she retaliates by hitting Samantha in the stomach. Groaning, Samantha takes a second to catch her breath and then lunges at Patricia’s throat again. She manages to get a good hold of her and refuses to let go, even when Patricia pummels her mercilessly.

Neither of them is in any condition to fight anymore, yet they keep going.

I risk a glance at San—at least my eyes can now move, even if my head doesn’t turn—who is straining against the invisible wall of compulsion. His hands are twitching. Either Patricia didn’t push him as hard, or the more likely explanation is that he’s had way more practice fighting against her hold.

Growling, Zack tries to push to his feet, but his leg refuses to cooperate. There are bloody scrapes all over his body, and he winces when trying to move. My attention is pulled back to Samantha when she snarls and Patricia tries to gouge out her eye. Samantha jerks back just enough that she gouges her cheek instead. Not giving Patricia time to regroup, Samantha lunges forward and tears another chunk out of Patricia’s throat. Blood spurts all over her and Patricia sways.

Or pretends to. The second Samantha’s guard lowers, she punches her hard enough to send her flying. The lion panting on the ground whimpers when she crashes to the ground. He’s bleeding too and I smell Samantha all over him. I want to shred him to pieces for what he did to her.

He tries to crawl closer to Samantha even though every movement sends more blood flowing from him.

“Ji-Jim… stop. You are h-hurting…” Samantha pants.

The lion makes a gruff sound but doesn’t stop until he’s next to Samantha.

Well, fuck.

Movement catches my eye and I turn in time to see Patricia leap at Samantha. Somehow, the lion manages a jump that sends him into Patricia’s path and they crash to the ground. The lion’s anguished roar is covered by Samantha’s horrified scream. She’s calling the thing’s name over and over again.

Patricia is going at the lion and Samantha is trying to get up, screaming and cursing Patricia for touching her man. Hers.

Shit, shit, shit. There’s no way…

I can’t let Patricia hurt Samantha. I have to take her out. At least I have to try. Gathering all my strength, I try to break free from the compulsion. Try to move. Do anything.

But it’s the wolf that jumps at Patricia.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Samantha

Patricia turns in time to take on Zack as he jumps, and her kick sends him flying. My throat hurts as I scream his name, but he doesn’t get up. Doesn’t move. Jim hurls himself between me and Patricia again as I retch on the ground.

I don’t understand how he’s still moving.

Every inch of my body hurts. My insides are turning outside with Patricia’s blood and I’m not sure how much longer I can stay conscious. Her feral eyes burn into mine, but I take satisfaction in the fact that she no longer looks polished and put together.

Still, she bats Jim out of the way and comes at me again. She’s just as bloody as I am. Her hair is a mess and her eyes promise death. Even with her throat torn out, she keeps fighting, and her bloody vampire healing is sealing parts of the injury as I watch.

I wish I could heal the same way, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. It’s un-fucking-fair that she doesn’t need to breathe while every breath I take sends shooting pains to my broken ribs.

Like slow motion, I see Patricia’s punch coming. It’s aimed at my face and instinct takes over. I move, just a bit, just enough to be out of the way of her trajectory and I tear into her wrist. Patricia looks shocked when my fangs sink into her skin.

I. Hate. Her. Anger at everything she’s done overpowers everything in my mind and my venom releases. I taste it on my tongue as I drink Patricia’s blood. I’ll drain her. Kill her.

Patricia tries to shake me loose. Hits rain down on my face, but I keep gulping. I’m going to drink her down to the last drop. Even if her blood burns like acid in my throat.

She. Hurt. My. Men.

The pain that burned in my stomach is nothing compared to the agony that steals over me. It’s pure torture, and every swallow makes it worse. I refuse to let go. I’ll kill her. Even if it kills me, I’ll kill her. She’s not going to hurt anyone I care about ever again.

Patricia screams. I blink. She’s on the ground, writhing. How can she scream with her throat torn out? My thoughts spiral; the only thing clear in my mind is the need to drink her down. Drain her. Another scream pierces the fog in my mind.

Mind.