Chapter 318

ELISE'S POV

The air turned to ice in my lungs as I faced him. Assassin. No question about it. Every muscle locked up—fight or flight short-circuited into pure freeze-frame terror.

Then he flicked his wrist.

Fire bloomed in his palm.

"Oh, come on!" I dove behind an upturned table as flames roared past. Heat seared my back through the wood. "Since when do assassins do magic tricks?"

No answer. Just another fireball forming in his scarred hands. I rolled right as it shattered the table behind me. Splinters peppered my jacket.

I stayed low, gripping the knives in my pockets. "Look, buddy, I don't even know who you—"

Another fireblast cut me off. My sleeve caught flame. I slapped it out, coughing. "Rude."

The bastard still hadn't spoken. Just kept advancing, fingers crackling with fresh heat. My wolf bristled under my skin, all fangs and fury.

Bad news: I was five months pregnant.

Worse news: This guy didn't care.

"Fine." I surged upright as his next fireball left his fingertips. "Let's da