“Is it ‘er?” Heavy-leaded footsteps approached behind the lean, shadowy figure.
“Seems so, Rolf.” The elongated hiss traced a claw down my spine, leaving chills in its wake.
The pair of hunters could not have been more at odds with each other. One pointed and slender, like a strong wind could blow over his frame. The other, Rolf, was bald, broad as an ox, and sounded like he’d taken a hoof or two to the head as a child.
An eerie smile crept across the smaller male’s narrow chin. Gleaming white teeth had been filed to points, and among them, two prominent fangs. His ghoulish face matched the white moonlight glow. And his eyes, like black obsidian, were made darker from their nest in his hollow facial features.
“You’ll be coming with us now, miss.” Pieces of his inky hair fell away from his ponytail as he spoke, framing his gaunt cheekbones and unnatural dark lips.
These were the vampires of my nightmares. The dining table met my legs as I skittered back. My hand landed on cutlery I hoped was a knife. “No, thank you. My husband will be returning momentarily. I invite you to take your leave.”
“Our leave.” The ghoul’s chuckle rasped. “No, we won’t be doing that. We came a long way to find you. We won’t be leaving without you in tow.”
They were looking for me? Were they with Dommik?
“Who are y?—”
“She’s bleedin’.” The giant’s eyes widened and sharp fangs descended. Large, dumb, and deadly. A horrific combination. “Vaspar, would the regent punish us if we had a taste? Just a little one?” Rolf’s thick tongue licked his lips at the idea.
“You willnotfeed on me,” I snarled, curling my fingers around the cutlery.
Please be a knife. Please be a knife.
“Shhh.” The ghoul approached with hands splayed wide, blocking my escape. He kept hold of my gaze but spoke to his companion, “She’s right. We cannot have the pleasure of biting her. The regent would see us ended for that. But, there’s another way to have a taste…and see what all the fuss is about.”
A wind whipped dust and leaves into an airbound frenzy. I wheezed as my back slammed against the dining table. The sharp edges of a broken dish needled into my shoulder blades.
I couldn’t track the swift movements of the immortals. Icy, consuming fear shot through my veins as Rolf pinned my hands above my head, holding my writhing body against the table.
Rolf chuckled as he saw what I clutched in my palm. “What are ya holdin’ a spoon ‘fer?”
“Release me—who do you think you are—let me go you—” Threats and curses rattled from my lungs to no avail.
While Rolf had been a bolt, Vaspar moved with predatory, calculated precision. The serpentine male approached the table and deliberately situated himself near my feet. Slowly, he lifted his pointer finger to his thin lips. “Shhh. Hush now.”
I kicked and squirmed against the broad henchmen, all the while wondering if Dommik could hear what was unfolding above him. Could he hear them demanding my compliance? Could he hear me fighting? Washe so injured he couldn’t do anything to stop this? Or maybe he could, but didn’t care…
Rolf’s fingertips dug into my arms and Vaspar swatted my kicks like I was a measly housefly. The beige fabric of my dress rose above my ankles.
Vaspar looked at me, eyes full of malice, and waved a blade. “If you don’t hold still, I might miss.”
My chest heaved and a ringing erupted between my ears. My insides screamed at me.
No one is coming to save you! Fight harder! Get away! He’s going to kill you!
I bucked wildly against my captor with every piece of primal survival I could muster. A crack erupted from under my heel as it collided with bone.
“Fucking BITCH!” he hissed, clutching his broken nose.
Rolf’s jovial laughter filled the dark room. “She got you!”
Pure evil glared up at me. “You’re going to regret that.” Rough hands secured my legs and his head disappeared from sight.
Burning heat radiated from my inner thigh as a blade sliced through my skin and his tongue dove between the exposed layers. His ravenous appendage worked the length of my wound and brought searing pain as it stretched the gash wider. My panic surged, the ringing steadily grew louder, and my hope dwindled as he lapped at the fresh flowing life source.
Through the panic and the pain, I tried calling for help but my scream was muffled by Rolf’s meaty hand. “That’s enough of that, sweet’art.”
Vaspar let out a long, savoring hum against my thigh. I couldn’t turn my head beneath Rolf’s grip, yet I recognized the sound of wood scraping against the floor. I strained my eyes to look toward the noise but fear-fueled tears blurred my vision.
