I gave Zeth one look before I dove behind a desk while the guys melted back behind the wall, out of sight. Good. I didn’t want them tangling with this bastard yet.
“Can you watch the?—”
He stopped mid-sentence, and I knew that was my window of opportunity.
When I burst from my cover, the demon's hollow eyes narrowed on me just as the first knife sailed through the air. I dodged to the side, and the knife hit the wall, missing my skull by inches.
Before the next knife could be thrown, I sprinted toward him, then dropped to my knees, sliding across the floor as the nextblade whistled overhead. My hands shifted mid-slide, claws ripping free, ready.
Two more knives appeared in his grip.
“Go, Des! Now!” I roared.
Deslen’s jaguar shot out from the hallway like a shadow unlatching from the wall, slipping between the teller stations and streaking toward the vault, bypassing its demon guard.
The demon’s gaze flicked toward him, one heartbeat of distraction. He hurled a knife that hit a glass divider. The glass crumbled to the floor with a loud smash.
That was all the opening I needed.
Sliding right up to him, I swiped my claws up, tearing his thighs with deep slices. His mouth dropped open in a silent, agonized O, then I yanked my claws down, shredding all the way to the bone.
Torn fabric fell to the floor, exposing the open, oozing flesh beneath. Blood sprayed as I flicked my wrist and ripped through his crotch, the scent of ruptured skin and terror exploding into the air. He staggered back, barely managing to stay upright, but he couldn’t shake me. I carved my way down his chest, opening him from clavicle to belly.
He slashed at me with another knife, but the desperate move was too slow. I ducked beneath it, swatting the blade from his hand. Metal clattered to the floor, useless.
A cruel smile crossed my lips as I looked down at him. He was a long-range fighter. Not good at close combat. Perfect for me.
Letting my jaw morph into my wolf's muzzle, I snapped my teeth at him before latching onto his shoulder and dragging him to the ground, using my weight to pin him down.
“No—no—get off!” he shrieked, but my jaws only tightened, fangs digging in deep.
Plunging my claws into his chest, I ripped at his flesh and bones like an animal at a feasting session. Wet clumps of muscle, skin, and organs splattered the floor beneath me. Fresh blood covered my face, rolled down my throat, and soaked the front of my clothes in a thick, metallic heat. I drank in the scent. It was rich, primal, intoxicating.
Pain.My wolf was practically vibrating in my skull.Give him pain.
Not this one,I reminded her.The doctor suffers until death. This one dies fast.
His heart thudded wildly against my palm, its beating panicked, frantic. I drew a claw down its center. The organ spasmed, flesh splitting open. He whimpered, the sound collapsing into a wet rattle as blood filled his lungs.
I let my jaw revert back to human form, breath steadying as I stared down at the twitching muscle. Blood pumped out hot and fast for a few seconds until it slowed then finally stopped. His immortal life was extinguished.
Just to make sure, I ripped the sliced heart free and tossed it across the room. It hit the far wall with a satisfying smack before falling onto the floor with a splat.
A pale hand appeared beside me, reaching to help me up.
Conrad.
Sliding my blood-slick hand into his, I let him pull me to my feet. I expected to see hesitation, maybe even fear, but instead, his dark, awe-filled eyes burned with hunger, directed solely at me.
“The control you have over your body…” His voice was almost reverent as he whispered, “Incredible.” He glanced down at the demon’s ruined corpse, his lip curling up in a sneer. “And he deserved worse.”
When his palm cupped my cheek, I leaned into it, only for a second, before his mouth crashed into mine. His tongue dragged across my lips, cleaning me in the slowest, filthiest, most intoxicating way possible.
We would’ve kept going, maybe for too long, if Deslen’s voice hadn’t echoed from the vault.
“You need to see this.”
I pulled away, wiping at my mouth as he grinned down at me. Zeth stepped up to my other side, muttering, “Copycat.”
