Time froze.Maggie’s eyes met Declan’s.And then her head lolled forward.There was a sickening, wet tearing sound and, with a dull thud, it dropped to the floor, her beautiful, blue eyes staring sightlessly up at Declan.“NO!”he screamed.He leapt forward, the primeval werewolf, the ancient monster, bursting free.Gone was the world.Gone was Declan O’Connell.All that existed now was heart-crushing pain.And the hungry, demanding, insatiable blood-lust for revenge…
Declan held himself still, ears flat, tail motionless.His blood boiled.His muscles tensed, the monstrous beast pushing at his control, fighting for release.Epoc returned his level stare, the hand on Regan’s arm closing tighter on the smooth column of her biceps.From the corner of Declan’s eye, he saw Regan flinch, but he didn’t move.He needed to focus.
He concentrated his strength—hiscroí—on his form.A ripple went through his body.His limbs tingled.His muscles shifted, and he stood.On two feet.
“Ah, themanof the moment,” Epoc sneered.He flicked his gaze over Declan’s body.“You seem to be missing some clothes.”His eyebrows shot up.“But gained some new wounds to go with the scars I’ve already marked you with.”
Declan gave him a toothy grin.“Well, you know me, Epoc.I’ve never been one for material possessions.”
Epoc puckered his lips, his golden eyes turning to Regan with deliberate malice.“No, you’ve always been one for possessions of the heart, haven’t you.”
Hot anger crashed through Declan but he remained motionless.
Epoc laughed, the sound soulless and smug at once.“Such a familiar situation we find ourselves in, isn’t it,Onchú.Me, holding the woman of your heart, you standing there, as useless as ever.”He pulled Regan closer to him, and for the first time since entering the room, Declan let himself really look at her.
She appeared almost catatonic, her eyes glazed, her body somehow limp, despite standing.
He sucked in a sharp breath and turned back to Epoc, jaw clenched, fists balled.“You know I’m going to kill you, right?I mean, surely you’re not that dumb?”
Epoc’s smile grew wider, teeth glinting in the warm chandelier light.He moved his head, ran his nose slowly up the side of Regan’s face until his mouth drew level with her cheekbone, his amber gaze still locked on Declan.“She smells almost as good as your sister, O’Connell.For a human.Just as feisty too, I must say.”He flicked out his tongue and ran it in a small line up to Regan’s temple.She flinched—the only sign she registered he was there at all.
Declan suppressed a growl.He couldn’t move.Not until he knew she was safe.Regan…?
He strained to hear, to feel a response.Nothing.
“Did you know I passed Maggie around my clan?”Epoc commented, returning his full attention to Declan.He unfurled one finger from his hold on Regan’s arm and drew a tiny pattern up and down her arm.“She was a tasty bitch.And a wanton one.She begged for every sexual depravity known to man and lycanthrope.”He smiled again, canines now long and curved.“But you would know that, wouldn’t you, being her brother and all.”
Fury, like a scalding river of lava, flooded through Declan.The primal beast locked within his body roared for release.He clenched his fists harder, struggling to control it, the stinging puncture wounds of his own lengthening nails in his palms only feeding the creature’s rage.He narrowed his eyes, studying the man before him.Epoc was baiting him.Taunting him to react.
Don’t let him.Focus.You lose control, Regan will die.
“Pity you couldn’t save her,” Epoc murmured.“The same way you’ve failed entirely to save this female.”He smiled, saliva-slicked incisors flashing.“Have you truly smelt her since slinking into this room, O’Connell, or have you been too focused on me?”
Declan’s throat clamped shut.Still staring hard at Epoc, he pulled in a deep breath.
And smelt Epoc’s saliva on Regan’s flesh.His mark imbued in her sweat.
“She is a delicious one, I must say,” Epoc went on, eyes blazing, thumb growing white on the hypodermic’s plunger.“And a screamer.My ears are still hurting with how loud she screamed.I’ve never had so much fun on my bed.”He paused, expression melodramatically curious.“Have you fucked her on a bed,Onchú?Or was it just in the cars you stole and the homes you broke into?”
Declan ground his teeth, his heart thumping in his chest so hard he could barely breath.
“I must admit,” Epoc continued.“I can see your attraction to her, despite her human DNA.She has a tight, wet cunt that’s heaven to eat.Like mulled wine.I smelt you there, but, like you yourself, your mark was weak.It didn’t take much to replace it with mine.A quick thrust here, a bite there.”
“Keep talking, fucker.Every word’s just another reason to tear you apart.”
Epoc chuckled.“Hmm.Still the hero, I see.Good to see love hasn’t made you soft.Although, I’m not sure the female here shares the same feeling.She wasn’t happy with you at all while I entertained her on the bed.Cursed your name every time I touched her.”He paused, eyes flaring with cold, smug triumph.“Much like your precious sister.”
The snarl burst from Declan’s throat before he could stop it.His muscles bunched.Flexed.Fury consumed him.The antediluvian creature in his blood bellowed and he let it.Welcomed it.It was time to succumb to its…
Declan.
The soft whisper tickled his mind.
Declan.
He flicked his stare to Regan, icy hope stirring in his chest, and found her staring back, green eyes shining with pain and anger and intractable fortitude.
Shut this fucking bastard up, please.
