They were glowing. Amber light burned inside them like molten gold. His hands had changed, claws extending from his fingertips in curved, deadly arcs. His lips had pulled back slightly, revealing the sharp points of elongated fangs.
The beast.
"Egon," I said carefully. "Don't?—"
"He touched you." The words were barely recognizable, dragged from a throat that no longer sounded entirely human. "He put his hands on what is mine."
Derek didn't look afraid. He looked smug.
Dread spread through me instantly. I knew that expression. And I knew exactly what he was about to say.
"She's my wife, Warlord." His voice carried across the stunned ballroom. "Legally mine. Not yours."
My stomach dropped. Egon’s gaze darted to mine. Confused. Hurt.
"And she's coming with me."
Oh shit.
I expected Egon to hesitate. To react. To look at me with regret or confusion.
But the beast was in control now. And the beast did not care about human law.
With a roar that shook the walls, Egon charged.
"Egon—!"
Derek shoved me aside. Hard.
I stumbled backward, my ridiculous wings snagging on one of the foam castle pillars as I tried to regain my balance.
Derek turned to face the oncoming Warlord. His hand disappeared inside his suit jacket.
When it came back out, he was holding— a taser.
“I came prepared, you alien freak!” Derek snarled, his composure shattering completely. “You want her? You have to go through me!”
Egon didn’t slow.
Didn’t hesitate.
He crossed the distance between them in a blur of motion, moving faster than anything human.
One massive hand shot forward.
He grabbed Derek by the throat.
Lifted him. Held him a full foot off the ground like the man weighed nothing at all.
Derek’s legs kicked wildly, his hands clawing at Egon’s wrist as he gasped for air.
“YOU DARE TOUCH WHAT IS MINE?!” Egon roared.
The sound rattled the chandeliers.
“YOU DARE LAY HANDS ON MY MATE?!”
“Egon!”
