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“She’s not part of this,” I hiss.
“I disagree,” Marcus says smugly. “She is the missing piece that will force you to my side. I thought I could gain favor without you. I thought that being alpha of alpha’s would be enough, but no.” His mouth twists and his eyes fill with hate. “You have more backing than you realize. So I need your alliance before someone thinks they can challenge me.”
My heart starts to pound and my stomach clenches. Just beneath my skin, my beast is writhing at the danger Mercy is in, because Marcus is right to be afraid of a challenge. Especially from me.
“You have to know that you’ll get nothing from me by harming her.” I snarl through gritted teeth. “Kill her and I’ll make you kill me, and I swear to you I’ll take you with me.”
“Do you really think you’re any match for us?” Isabelle cackles.
I don’t miss the look Marcus shoots her, but she doesn’t seem to notice his warning and keeps running her mouth.
“You could have been the leader of all factions, but you proved to everyone that you were too weak,” she spits. “And then you latched onto ahuman,” she spits out the word as if it leaves a bad taste in her mouth, “which just further proves how weak you are. To think I wanted to join with you.”
“Isabelle, that’s enough.” Marcus warns her, but she’s on a roll, her body vibrating with her fury rocking from side to side with the knife still pressed to the throbbing vein that runs up the side of Mercy’s throat.
“What do you even see in this creature? Hm? Her life span is a mere blink to ours.” Isabelle presses her cheek to Mercy’s and inhales. “She smells nice, though. Is that what has your dick hard all the time?”
My lips peel back to bare my teeth at her when she drags her tongue over Mercy’s cheek.
“Mm,” Isabelle moans as Mercy turns her head away in disgust. “Does she taste goodeverywhere?” She hitches my female harder against her and presses the knife deeper into her neck. “What if we shared her, one last time before—"
At the very suggestion my beast surges and I remember the consequences and catch myself just as I start to shift. Isabelle staggers back with a maniacal laugh only to come to a sudden stop when her nostrils flare.
“Oops.”
Rivulets of bright red blood begin to trickle down the side of Mercy’s neck and Isabelle’s teeth elongate at the same time her pupils dilate.
“Oh, Jarik,” Isabelle moans as she lowers her mouth to the side of Mercy’s neck. “You naughty boy, you’ve been holding out on us. Marcus, can you smell this?”
Marcus is rigid in his throne and appears equally affected by the scent of Mercy’s blood. “Isabelle, let the girl go,” he bites out.
It’s too late, though.
My beast is surging and I’m just barely keeping him from fully bursting out. Unphased that if I set off the collar everyone will be caught in the supposed explosion, Isabelle meets my eyes and leans in to lap at Mercy’s blood with her pointed pink tongue.
The small room fills with my beast’s feral growl as he struggles to break free. The vampire at my back tightens his grip on me. “Don’t,” he pleads.
Channeling my beast’s strength, I break free of his grip and then turn on him. My bound hands strike out to wrap around his throat, digging my claws into the veins that run up both sides of his neck.
“Unlock the collar.” I snarl, pulling him in close until our noses nearly touch. “Or I’ll shift and kill all of us.”
“Cassius,” Marcus warns. “Do not…”
The young vamp’s eyes dart between Marcus and me.
“Cassius,” I growl. “Don’t let him use you as fodder for his own machinations.”
His jaw clenches and I see the moment he makes the decision to live.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a flat metal placket that he, none too gently, slams against the side of the collar. There is a click, the lock disengages, and I’m able to rip it from around my neck. Throwing my head back, I shift with a piercing roar.
Isabelle staggers back with Mercy held in front of her like a shield until her back hits the wall. My beasts head swivels from her to Marcus, who is sitting frozen, before latching onto Isabelle and Mercy.
My beast towers over both females in this form, and where Mercy looks appropriately frightened, Isabelle is grinning. At least the knife has fallen away from my female’s throat and I’m relieved to see the flowing blood seems to be superficial.
“Close your eyes, Mercy.” I growl as I shatter the manacles binding me and lift my clawed hand. Isabelle’s eyes keep flicking over at where Marcus hasn’t moved and, for the first time, she looks concerned.
I’m not surprised when my girl refuses to back down or cower. Instead, she jerks her chin up defiantly, holding onto my gaze.
