Chapter 12

Elara'S POV

I stared down at the sliver of creamy dessert. Using the tiny fork, I placed a chunk in my mouth. The rich, creamy chocolate exploded across my tastebuds. My eyelids closed and a soft moan escaped my throat. I swallowed it down with a sigh.

When I opened my eyes, three hungry gazes were locked on my face.

Uh-oh. Tense silence hung in the air. No one moved.

I couldn’t stand the suspense a moment longer.

“What are you looking at?” I snapped, glancing in turn at the three of them.

Lysander unwaveringly held my gaze, Kaelen scowled, and Xavier rubbed his thumb across his bottom lip. I wanted to take that lip between my teeth and—Nope. I definitely did not want to do that. I pinched myself, returning to reality.

“Where are you from, Elara?” the vampire asked.

“All over.” I dodged the question. “What does the Penumbra Syndicate do? Is this Eclipse group your rival?”

Why was I pushing into their business? For knowledge. I needed to understand who I was dealing with.

I blinked, and suddenly Xavier stood over me. He leaned down, his dreadlocks curtaining his beautiful face.

“Are you truly curious about us?” he asked. “Have you not heard of us before? I thought everyone in the area at least knew of our existence. We used to rule all of Seattle.”

“Used to? What, did the other gangsters kick you out?” My tone was probably a touch lighter than it should have been.

“Would that be funny to you?”

Xavier wrapped his fingers around my neck and tilted my head to one side. My breath hitched. I held onto the sides of the chair, terrified to move. Vampires were quick. I was no match for him.

He leaned in and grazed his fangs down my neck. My body shuddered in response—but not entirely from fear. His tongue flicked along the path his teeth had traveled and I gasped.

“Mmm. You taste better than any dessert.”

His hold on me was ripped away.

Lysander stood in Xavier’s place, gazing down at me. His eyes shone with that golden wolf’s light in his grim face. He checked my neck, then turned to face the vampire.

“I told you not to touch her!” Lysander said with a snarl.

Xavier bared his fangs. “She doesn’t belong solely to you. And you don’t give me orders.”

Lysander began to morph, but not in a way I’d ever seen a wolf shifter transform. Usually, they started as a man and became a large wolf. Lysander stayed upright, but his fingers grew claws, and his already muscular frame became burlier. It looked like some kind of half-form—which werewolves didn’t have. Unless maybe they were really powerful?

I was so confused.

Lysander snapped his teeth at Xavier. They circled each other in the small space. Were they going to fight? Over me? I thought they were friends, or at least business partners.

I shot a glance at Kaelen.

The Fae stared back, seeming to ignore his two aggressive companions. His stormy grey eyes made me shiver. He always looked at me with a challenge in his gaze, but I didn’t know why. Did he expect me to recoil from his scar-streaked face? Was he trying to scare me? Either way, his challenge was in vain. He hadn’t seen me naked.

They might think they were getting a prize keeping me here, but they’d soon be disappointed. My skin was anything but flawless, just less immediately visible than Kaelen’s face. There was a reason I only had sex in complete darkness, clothed if I could manage it.

I returned my attention to the wolf and vampire.

Xavier lunged, striking quickly at Lysander, who swiped in return with those deadly claws. The vampire landed a solid punch to his opponent’s jaw, but he wasn’t fast enough with his retreat. Four jagged slashes bloomed red across his chest.

Lysander wasted no time and barreled into the vamp. They both went down hard on the rug-covered wooden floor, wrestling for dominance. Grunts, snarls, and hisses filled the room. They crashed against the table legs, making the surface wobble.

I leapt out of my chair, standing behind it to use it as a shield.

They rolled into the legs a second time and the wood splintered. Dishes slid to the floor with a crash. Leftover food splattered the rug, and the tablecloth twisted around Lysander’s legs. He shredded it to free himself. Xavier took the momentary distraction to gain the upper hand.

Blood mingled with mushed food as they continued to fight. I gaped in horror. They were animals.

“Enough!” Kaelen stood.

When they didn’t obey him, he flung an orb of silver magic at them. It collided with their bodies, and they went rigid, faces contorted in pain. A moment later, they broke apart with groans and curses.

He turned his glare on me.

“You are not going to sow discord between us.”

I sputtered, as if this were my fault! I glared back at the scary Fae, my stomach in my throat, but I was wise enough not to say anything. Besides, I didn’t have to speak. He knew my emotions.

“Go back to your room,” he said.

Good call. I darted out of there as quickly as I could. Along the hall, I found my door and gratefully slammed it behind me. There was no lock on the inside, so I placed my back to the door and leaned against it.

Monsters. Xavier was the only one of them who had appeared civil, but after tonight, I knew better. They weren’t men, they were beasts. Uncouth, violent, and foul-tempered.

I’d be lucky to make it a week alive.

My mind raced, trying to take in my situation. I couldn’t run. Could I?

They’d hunt me down—Lysander had already promised to do so.

Reality hit me like a wrecking ball. My life was forfeit to these three monsters unless I did something about it.

I drew in a ragged breath. I had two option—stay and endure their ruthlessness until one of them killed me, or take a chance on escaping. If I had enough of a head start, maybe I could leave town before they caught up with me. They’d done me a favor removing that diamond ring with the tracking spell. I was free of Garrick. My door was unlocked, and the brutes were busy fighting each other. Now was the time to leave.

Jolting into action, I shoved my feet into my rain boots. I grabbed the warm, fur-lined cloak from the wardrobe, then darted to the bed. Throwing back the blankets, I shoved two pillows where my body would lie and pulled the comforter all the way up to the headboard. To anyone peeking in here, it would appear I was asleep. Hopefully, they’d lock the door, and no one would return until breakfast time.

My wand. I really needed it, but I had no idea where they’d hidden it and no time to waste.

I extinguished the lights and headed for the door. Was I willing to risk getting lost and dying in the wilderness? Absolutely. I may have signed that contract, but this was not what I’d agreed to. They could shove it.

I silently opened the door and glanced into the hallway. My gaze fell on pitch blackness. Someone had turned off the lights. I blinked, willing my eyes to adjust, but it was useless.

From earlier, I knew the room I’d dined in was to my right, at the end of the hall. Left was the way out.

I stepped forward only to trip over a solid chunk of nothingness and crash into the opposite wall. I reached out to break my fall, but my hands landed at the same time as my face. Pain exploded behind my left eye. Ignoring it, I scrambled to a sitting position, my back to the wall.

A growl sounded in front of me, and I stilled. Hot breath warmed my face, followed by the sensation of sharp teeth grazing my shoulder.

My body acted on its own. I stood and suddenly I was running. The unmistakable thud of giant paws galloping behind me only made my legs pump faster. I was blinded in the darkness, being chased by a fucking wolf, but all I could think of was to keep going.

Run, run, run!.