Kat screamed something from behind me as I closed in on the two.
Chadwick was too focused on subduing Deborah to notice my approach. My dagger sliced through his arm, catching on bone.
He screamed.
I looked at my dagger in disappointment. That was too bad. I was hoping it would entirely remove his hand from his arm. I guess I needed more practice.
It did accomplish one thing though. He’d let go of Deborah.
I shoved her behind me.
He lurched for her. “No, she’s mine.”
I stabbed him in the throat, twisting the blade before ripping it out. Blood spurted, partially drenching me.
Damn it. And here I was hoping not to look like a horror movie extra.
Chadwick gurgled. The fear I expected to see was missing. Rage was in its place. His mind brushed mine.
I snickered. “That won’t work on me like it does her.”
Astonishment showed on his face as he blinked at me in alarm.
“Let’s end this, shall we?” I grabbed both sides of his head and wrenched sideways. His neck snapped. “Problem solved.”
I froze, letting him topple sideways onto the ground as I fixed my stare on Kat. For a split second, my gaze moved to Deborah who was clutched in her arms before moving back to my nemesis.
“This is a twist,” I said, forcing nonchalance into my posture.
The last few minutes hadn’t been kind to Kat. Her red dress was ripped and torn. The strap had fallen down one shoulder to nearly expose her breast. Her skirt had a split in it and her hair was disheveled.
“Did that happen when you were trying to crawl away from me?” I asked in amusement, nodding at the state of her.
Kat’s face was desperate as she gripped Deborah by the neck. “You’re going to let me walk out of here.”
“Am I now?”
Kat shook Deborah, drawing a pained sound from the human. “Yes! Otherwise, your human is going to be dead.”
“That would be a problem.”
Inara and Lowen lowered into view behind Kat, hovering in the air as they drew their bows. The tiny arrows on their strings pointed at the vampire.
“What are you looking at?” Kat demanded.
“Someone who is about to be in a lot of pain.”
Inara released her arrow as Kat twisted. Lowen’s flew an instant later.
Kat screamed as an arrow landed in her shoulder. A second one sprouted from her cheek.
I winced as welts immediately formed. Blisters followed, leaving the skin raw and painful looking.
“A lot, a lot of pain.” I shook my head in sympathy. “So much pain.”
Kat forgot about Deborah, staggering away from the human as she started to scratch at her skin.
“Pixie dust is truly an awful thing,” I informed her.
