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The ghost disappeared at once, and Ianora prayed that Mitron would return soon with some of the guards, or better yet, Castor himself.
Johnathan groped Ianora's breasts, his rough hand possessive in a way only Castor was allowed to be. His touch made Ianora feel sick to the stomach, and she struggled harder, desperate to escape. But Johnathan was too powerful, and he pinned her against the wall, his hand rubbing down her stomach to the waist of her skirt, searching for the vulnerable flesh between her legs.
Every touch filled her with hate. She snarled and ripped a hand free, clawing at Johnathan's face. She kicked out wildly, desperate to break from his grasp, but he restrained her again, shoving her hard enough to crack her head against the wall.
Stars spun behind her eyes, and behind the white and black splotches of light, she heard his sick, twisted laughter. His eyes glittered with dark lust and cruelty.
"You're mine now," he growled, pressing himself against her as he yanked her dress down over her breasts. "No one will save you this time. And since you're not a virgin anymore, you're mine to do with however I please."
Ianora called to all the vampiric strength locked within her small frame. She pushed and shoved against Johnathan's powerful hold, swearing to herself that no matter what happened, she wouldn’t make this easy for him. She just had to hold him off long enough for Mitron to find help.
This monster wouldn't get what he wanted from her.
He licked his lips hungrily, but before he could take her right there in the corridor of the castle, echoing voices came from down the hall. A beat of hope came to life in Ianora's chest, and Johnathan hesitated for long enough for her to knee him in the groin.
He buckled over and staggered back, and just as Castor and the guards rounded the corner, Ianora broke free of Johnathan's hold.
"Castor!" Ianora croaked as he came closer, taking her into his arms. "You came."
"Of course, I did, my love. Are you hurt?" He held her tightly, and she shook her head.
Then everyone's gazes landed on Johnathan. He had fallen into an animalistic crouch, hissing and glaring at Castor, Ianora, and the assembled guards.
"Is that him?" Castor asked. "The man who hurt you?"
Ianora nodded, unable to bring herself to speak.
In that moment of triumph, Ianora felt sickened by everything that had happened. She had been so foolish to think that this monster would ever leave her alone, even after she had escaped him once before.
"You wicked beast," Castor hissed. "How good of you to show up here, so that I can kill you without having to hunt you down myself."
Johnathan laughed wickedly. "I'd like to see you try, fool. Try, die, and then I'll take your woman for myself."
Castor tensed in Ianora's arms and slowly peeled himself from her. "Castor ... be careful," she whispered. "He's powerful."
"Not more powerful than our love." Castor rolled up his sleeves and approached. "You think you're worthy of her? Then kill me, if you can."
Johnathan straightened and shrugged off his cloak, revealing his teeth and long, sharp nails. "Gladly."
He flew at Castor with inhuman speed, but even so, Castor was able to dodge the first few swipes of his claws. The guards moved in to try and help, but Johnathan was too strong and too fast for them. He knocked them aside like flies.
Johnathan leaped at Castor with a feral snarl, and the two men collided in a flurry of fists and teeth. Ianora gasped as blood spattered across the floor, both men taking and dealing out savage blows. She could see the fury in Castor's eyes, but beneath the anger was a steely resolve. He would not lose this fight—he couldn't lose this fight.
She didn't know if Johnathan could be killed—she wasn't even sure if he was truly alive in the first place—but she knew that Castor had to try. This was for her and all the others who had fallen victim to this monster's cruel ideals.
As Ianora watched in horror, Johnathan finally managed to land a powerful hit on Castor's chest. He went flying backward and crashed into a stone pillar with a sickening crunch.
"No!" Ianora screamed as she ran to him.
Castor wobbled to his feet while Johnathan looked on, cackling with disgusting glee. "Oh, this will be too easy. I could cripple you and make you watch as I violate her. Would you like that?"
Something in Castor changed then. Whatever strength he'd been holding back came crashing down all at once, and Castor lunged at Johnathan, sidestepping the man's swipes effortlessly. He drove his fist into Johnathan's face over and over, until the other man's nose was nothing but a bloody mess. Then he grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the wall.
"You will never touch her again," Castor growled, baring his teeth. "Never."
He tightened his grip until Johnathan's eyes bulged, and then Castor finally got the upper hand, slamming Johnathan's head into the stone wall repeatedly until his skull shattered like an egg. Blood oozed down the wall, pooling on the floor in a growing puddle of red.
Johnathan's body slumped to the ground, and he was still.
