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Rage ignites inside me. “I’m not yours! Leave us alone, you monster. Leave now and I won’t take your fucking heart.”
Knox grips me tighter, ensuring I can’t escape his hold. “He’s trying to manipulate you. He can’t do anything. They attacked first.”
Alexander grins. “And who do you think the leadership will believe? Me or the pitiful rebel crew who murdered one of the best health keepers in La Vega? Who—”
“Fuck you!” I screech, cutting him off. “You sent him in to inseminate me. You are a psychotic bastard with a death wish. I’ll kill you! I’ll fucking kill all of you!”
“Get your dhampir in control before I—” Alexander’s coven brother doesn’t get a chance to finish his comment as I thrust away from Knox in the bastard’s direction.
Brentwood steps between us, his eyes widening.
The scent of his blood hits me before I see the dark stain blooming across the front of his white lab coat.
“No! Let him go!” Knox yells, rushing from behind me.
But it’s too late. The bastard Aris brother yanks Brentwood’s heart from his chest, letting him fall to the ground. The intoxicating aroma of fresh vampire blood stirs my dhampir nature, and I jump over the body and throw myself at the fucker. His arms engulf me as I chomp my teeth into his neck.
The world blurs as he runs, taking me with him, but all I can think about is the bitter taste of his blood and how it reminds me of Alexander. It reminds me of every horrible moment I faced at the abuse of that man and everything he has withheld and taken from me, including Opal. I try not to think about my old caregiver, but just knowing that he killed her because she wanted to save me makes me want to take his brother from him.
“Do you think you’re powerful? Do you think you have me?” I mutter my words, yanking away from the man’s neck. “There’s only one crew who has me, and they’ll rip you apart. I will ensure it.” Throwing my weight back, I knock him off balance and make him stumble. I swing my leg up and hook it around his neck, squeezing it with the back of my knee long enough to flip onto his shoulders. I jab my fingers into his eyes, blinding him. He hollers and tries to get me off, but I throw myself back and flip, landing on my feet. Gnashing his teeth, he snarls. His annoyance turns him vicious, yet I don’t back down.
I swing my arm, slapping him hard across the face. “I’ll do it myself if I have—”
He lunges at another figure coming toward us, ignoring my threat.
Cooper fires his gun, slowing the bastard down, and my ears ring. But it doesn’t stop me. The Aris brother is far too focused on Cooper to realize I’m coming for him. He’ll die by my hands. I’ll take his life like Alexander took Opal’s. Like Alexander killed some of the Gemstones. His actions will not be forgiven, and I won’t allow this coven to rule any longer. I don’t care what I have to do. I don’t care what laws I have to break.
I’m not a vampire. The laws don’t apply to me. I’m a fucking dhampir and I will prove just how powerful I truly am.
Throwing a punch, I crush my hand through the bastard’s spine, breaking his back and sending him sprawling forward. I don’t stop there. I lock my fingers around the rough bone and step on his pelvis, using my bodyweight to pin him down while I rip his spine from his body, leaving him incapacitated.
I go for his heart next, locking my fingers around the tender organ and bringing it to my lips, licking my tongue across the warm tissue. It tastes like pain and despair and everything bad that has happened to me, yet it’s like swallowing some sort of pill that will make me feel better despite how disgusting it is.
“Come on, Hayley. We have to go. Now!” Cooper drags me to my feet and restrains me against him.
I growl and hiss and fight, my nature consuming me with my taste of revenge. The blood hunger controls my very being, and all I can think about is draining another one of our enemies. These bastards don’t deserve another second in this world. Another breath. Another opportunity to ruin my life.
“Please, they’re coming. Security caught this on camera. They’re coming for you. We can’t give them the chance.” Cooper locks his hands tighter around me, rushing through the alleyway.
A bright light flashes in my eyes and knocks some sense into me. An alarm blares, stealing my hearing. But Cooper doesn’t stop. He pushes through the debilitating noise and heads in the direction of our vehicle.
“Where are the others?” I ask, clinging onto Cooper as he carries me into the front and behind the wheel, not even stopping to let me get in myself.
“They’re keeping them away. Some of the leaders don’t know you’re a dhampir, and they think that you’ve been transformed.” Cooper starts the engine and stomps the throttle, peeling the tires and sending smoke wafting through the air.
“You have to go to them. The leadership will hurt them. Please.” I squirm to the passenger’s seat and touch my hand to the door. “You know they will. We have to stay together.”
“They’re going to kill me for this,” Cooper growls. “They don’t want you anywhere near the leaders.”
“Well, tough shit. Narcisa already knows that I’m a dhampir. I’m tired of hiding. I don’t care if I have to scream it to the entire city. They have to know. They need to understand that things are going to change, and not in the way that the leadership thinks.” I squeeze Cooper’s hand. “You know I’m right. This is how it should be. They need to know I’m coming for them. I need to prove to the donors that we are on their side.”
Cooper slowly nods his head. “You’re right. But they’re still going to kick my ass.”
I shake my head, nervous laughter bubbling from me. “I won’t let them. Trust me. All we’re going to get are hugs and cuddles for saving the fucking day. Now drive.”
Cooper cheers, his voice echoing through the vehicle, and he drifts around the corner and heads back to the tower where the leaders hide behind their legions.
“Run down anyone who gets in our way. I want to make some noise. I want them coming toward us.” I bounce in my seat, my adrenaline running hot through me. I don’t know exactly how we’re going to accomplish things, but I’m not just leaving my crew to fight on their own. They need me now more than ever.
