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The predatory wolf energy Dagen emitted as he now glared at Vaughn, brought his pack moving closer to him. In addition, the swell of male energy radiating from Vaughn alerted all the testosterone in the room a fight was in the making.
Dagen sauntered closer, moving to stand in front of Emma once more. He grimaced as he looked Vaughn up and down.
“So, what do you think, Emma? Could this vampire beat me in the pit?”
“Go to hell, Dagen. We’re not here to fight.”
He shifted his gaze to Emma. “I don’t know why you’re pissed at me. I was ready to take you as my mistress, to be seen with you even though you’re a witch and some of my pack wouldn’t approve.”
She could feel Vaughn bristling and knew how badly this could end. So, she did the only sensible thing she could think of.
She drew her right fist back and slugged Dagen as hard as she could, square on the jaw. What she hadn’t counted on was an increased physical capacity that felt more vampire than witch.
Holy shit! She watched Dagen’s head snap back, he lost his footing, slammed against a table, then slid to the floor. The whole room emitted a collective gasp.
For a long moment, Emma was startled. But she collected herself quickly, knowing she needed to follow up her assault with a few carefully chosen words. “Leave me alone, Dagen. Max was the only shifter I wanted, and he’s dead. Now I’m with Vaughn, a Crescent Border Patrol officer I respect and admire, so get over yourself.”
Brannick moved to stand next to Vaughn, while Fergus drew close to Emma. She could feel Fergus’s pack moving in to support their alpha just as Dagen’s pack had started gathering behind him.
Emma felt the situation teeter on the brink of disaster, but the last thing she wanted was a bar brawl on her account.
Dagen’s eyes glittered as he stared up at her. When he rose to his feet, Fergus took a couple of steps forward, not quite blocking her from Dagen, but close. “We don’t want trouble, Dagen. Not with so much to celebrate. Emma made her decision clear to you five years ago, and I need you to back off. Now.” The last word carried a kind of wolf-strength that resounded through the space.
Emma watched as the shifters all over the bar continued to align into packs, some moving in support of Dagen, others closing in around Fergus, very typical of Savage.
But why did Dagen have to start something?
Vaughn hadn’t moved either. He stood rigid beside Emma, his hands in tight fists. The vampire was ready to fight.
Finally, Dagen slid his gaze from Emma to Fergus. He squared his shoulders. “I’ve disrupted things tonight. And I apologize. Everyone knows I’ve cared about Emma, because I should have been there to protect Max. I meant no disrespect.”
Liar. He was such a liar. She wanted to hit him again.
Emma shook with hatred for the man. He might be respected because of his alpha status, but he was pure evil. He embodied the psychotic quality that had sunk Five Bridges into a nightmare in the first place.
Suddenly, the triplets appeared, though moving higher in the air. Becca waved at Emma but she looked distressed. What is it, Becca?
Dagen. We just discovered he has a connection to Loghry. He might even be working for him.
Loghry and Dagen. Sounded like a match made in hell.
Thanks for letting me know.
She squeezed Vaughn’s hand. Did you see Becca just now?
Yes. She didn’t look very happy.
Vaughn, she thinks Dagen might be working for Loghry. We need to get the hell out of here.
Let’s do it.
Aloud she said, “I’m ready to head home.”
He slid his arm around her waist. “Then we should go.”
Emma glanced at Dagen. He wore an arrested expression on his face, almost calculating. She saw his hand slide into his pants pocket. He turned his back on Emma, but she watched him pull his phone to his ear.
Yep, Dagen and Loghry.
