“Doesn’t make me any less pissed off.”She huffed. As they waited for the fae to finish their spell, Lizzy’s thoughts drifted back to her time at the compound. At first, she hadn’t been scared. But when she came face to face with her new reality, terror set in. Then Finn happened. The first time she heard his voice in her mind, she thought she was going crazy. It wouldn’t have been surprising—many homeless people did go that route. But he quickly dismissed that idea by telling her she was his true mate. He promised she would never be alone again, and since their bond had connected, she hadn’t been without Finn. If he wasn’t physically with her, which was rare, he was there through the mate bond. So this compound they were about to destroy was a place of both sadness and joy—allowing Cain to take her had also led her to Finn.
“I’m still going to kill him,”Lizzy told her mate.
He ran a hand up her back, wrapping it around her neck and giving a gentle squeeze.“I’ll hold him down while you rip his heart out.”
She smiled up at him.“Just another reason I love you. Helping me murder my enemies.”
“That’s what true love does,”he teased.
“The spell is done.” Disir drew Lizzy’s attention back to the group.
Fane stepped forward, positioning himself in the center of their circle. “We’re going to hit them hard and fast,” heannounced, his eyes glowing with the wolf inside him. Lizzy had to admit, the dude was terrifying. “Thad”—he looked at the djinn—“do as much damage as you can without killing the rest of us.”
Thad ducked his head. “I’ll do my best.” He glanced around the group. “When in doubt, hit the deck.”
“That’s not exactly reassuring,” Jacque said dryly.
Fane continued, “I want Costin, Wadim, Zara, and Finn in your wolf forms. You’ll fight better as your beasts—it’s instinctual.” He directed his gaze at Zara. “Finn, stick close to Lizzy. Keep her safe but let her fight. I’m curious to see what strength she has as a hybrid. Dain and Disir, do what you do best—use your magic to take out any fae before they can throw weapons at us, especially if they’re made by elves.”
“Why does that matter?” Lizzy shifted restlessly.
“Elves can make weapons imbued with magic that guarantees they hit their mark,” Jacque explained. “It’s great if you’re the one with the enchanted sharp objects, but when you’re facing them, it sucks.”
“Okay, so stay low and avoid getting hit by sharp things.” Lizzy nodded. “Got it.”
“Heather, you are not to leave Kale’s side. Drake”—Fane pointed at the male—“you will protect her other side.” He looked at Heather. “Use your magic but stay with those who can protect you.”
Heather saluted the alpha. “I promise not to wander off like a blind squirrel in search of a nut.”
Myanin snorted.
Lizzy smiled at the healer’s sense of humor. She was a breath of fresh air.
“Jacque, Nick, Myanin, Gerick, and I will follow behind Disir and Dain,” Fane explained. “The objective is to take down this compound and everyone in it. Cain dies tonight.”
Lizzy cleared her throat. “Um… I’d really like to be the one to … um … rip out his heart.” She felt eyes on her, but she focused on Fane. Lizzy squared her shoulders. “I saw what he did to Alice. I know what he did to Finn, and I experienced his ruthlessness. This kill is mine.Sir,” she quickly added.
Fane stared at her, his gaze steady as her eyes remained on his shoulder. Several seconds passed and no one spoke. He didn’t know if he was about to laugh or call her a foolish little girl. After what felt like an eternity, he nodded. “Fine. Whoever captures Cain, subdue him so Lizzy may have her justice.”
Lizzy bowed her head in thanks.
“Alpha,” Finn spoke up, snapping her eyes to him. “Can you give me three minutes with my mate?”
Lizzy’s face heated as she realized why Finn was asking for this moment.
“Of course, but hurry.”
Finn took her hand and pulled her away from the group. Lizzy glanced around him, relieved to see everyone had turned their backs, giving them some semblance of privacy.
“I can feel your energy waning.” Finn placed two fingers under her chin and lifted her face to look at him. “You can’t go into this fight at anything less than a hundred percent.”
Lizzy’s stomach flipped and twisted simultaneously. The feelings she had about feeding from her mate were far from settled. The vampire blood coursing through her veins cried out for his life-force so loudly that it was almost audible in her head. Lizzy hated the constant gnawing hunger that made her feel like a parasite. But the wolf in her loved the intimacy, something that could only be shared between them. Lizzy knew how Finn’s wolf felt about it—the possessive fur ball loved that she had to depend upon him alone for her needs.
Regardless of whether the act was intimate or repulsive, Finn was right. She would certainly need all her strength for the battleahead. “You want me to bite you here?” Lizzy whispered, her face heating even more. “With them right there and all of them with supernatural hearing?”
“I don’t care where or when you need to bite me,” he told her, still holding her chin. “Your needs come before everything. And right now, I can feel that you need me.”
“Stupid bond,” she muttered before sighing. “Okay, you’re right. I’m feeling sort of weak.”
