She let out a quiet sigh of relief, then pressed on, entering the main hallway.
Elora paused, listening intently. Her acute senses, still heightened by her transformed state, sharpened every sound around her. She heard the faint shuffle of footsteps, wards moving in the distance, their voices an inaudible murmur. They were heading away from her. Not a threat. Closer by, she picked up a soft humming, just around the corner. It was slow, absent-minded. Someone lingering, but not on high alert.
Her palms were clammy, but she reminded herself that she belonged here. It wasn’t unusual for a ward to be walking through these halls. If anyone saw her, they wouldn’t think twice, as long as she kept her head down and didn’t draw attention to herself. She slid her hands into her pockets, her sharp claws pressing against the fabric.
Just get to the storage wing, she thought. The humming was growing softer now, the person either moving away or distracted. Eyes low, pace even, just making her way down the hallway like she belonged there.
But then she rounded the corner and stopped cold.
Gerard stood just ahead, leaning casually against the wall, picking at his fingernails. Her gut churned the moment she saw him. Besides, when Thorn ordered him to escort her somewhere, he had been leaving her alone. Keeping his distance. That should have reassured her. So, why did she suddenly feel trapped?
Her body tensed, but she forced herself to keep moving, gaze low, steps measured. Casual. Maybe he would let her pass. Maybe he wouldn’t—
“Hey.”
She kept walking. Don’t stop. Don’t react.
“Done already?” He said as she passed. She kept her eyes down. He’d know something was up if he saw her like this. Claws, fangs, slitted pupils.
“Yup.” Her voice came out steady, but her heart wasn’t.Tehvan’s waiting for me. He’s going to know something is wrong.
“Didn’t think Thorn would finish with you this quick. Hey—” Fingers closed around her arm. Everything inside her froze. The breath died in her throat. Her mind flashed back to the woods, the struggle, the helplessness. “Don’t walk away from me when I’m talking to you.”
She stared ahead at the corner she needed to take. She would make it there. Her hands were curled into fists, her claws barely contained, stabbing her palm. But he didn’t notice.
“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” His thumb casually brushed against her skin in a weirdly soothing motion. It made her want to retch.What is he doing?
“Let go. Thorn told you to leave me alone.” Her voice wavered.
Gerard sighed and tightened his hold. “Thorn might have restricted me from fucking you, but I still hold all the authority here, sweetheart.”
He twisted her to face him fully. And then he saw them. Her pupils. Slitted, sharp, unnatural.
“What… what did he do to you?” His mouth fell agape as he studied her, his gaze trailing down to her claws.
Elora barely registered the words, barely noticed his shock. Because something inside her was shifting, awakening.
Attack him.
The scent of his blood, sweet and metallic, filled her nose before it was even spilled. The thought came unbidden. Primal.Do it!A growl built in her throat. She lunged.
Her claws sliced through the air, so close, but Gerard jerked back just in time. Still, it was enough to make him hesitate. She slammed into him, driving him back.
His grip on her arm didn’t loosen. He used her momentum against her, twisting her forearm, making her stumble. A sharp pain flared up her shoulder. She hissed, but the sound didn’t belong to her. It belonged to the thing stirring inside her.
Her instincts overwhelmed her before her mind caught up. She swiped at him again, and this time she made contact. A glancing blow to the arm that held her. Not deep, but enough to make him let go. The look he gave her wasn’t just anger, he looked offended. How dare she defend herself?
“Thorn shouldn’t have let you loose.” He reached for her again, but she was ready, jumping back from his grasp.
Run!The normal non-feral Elora thought. But something deeper, darker, whisperedkill.
“He didn’t.” She growled.
Gerard’s expression flickered, but he recovered fast. He swung at her, a fist aimed at her face. She twisted. The blow skimmed past her cheek, his wrist passing inches from her lips. The scent of blood thrummed in her skull. The warmth of it beneath his skin. The pulsing of his veins.
She didn’t think.
Didn’t hesitate.
