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I huddled behind Lachlan. Monique had one hand over her neck, blood pooling between her fingers. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It was so bright against her tan skin, shocking almost, mesmerizing. I licked my lips.

“Tiff, let’s go.” She held out a hand to me, blood staining her strong fingers. I began to pant.

FIFTY

LACHLAN

I felt Tiffany’s nails bite into my thigh, her rising blood lust colored the air around us. A different kind of lust danced in Carmine’s eyes. This was a lust for power and petty revenge.

That mortal woman was edging around us, not backing away. Proper stupid, that was. Normally, mortals could be counted on to flee in self-preservation.

Carmine was still hunched from the blow. Saw it in his eyes, the second he made his decision. He was going straight to Veronica. The little shit was going to tattle to Mommy. Veronica would cave to a romance, an epic love story. She would not feel the same about someone breaking her rules about making vampires. The greedy smile that seeped across his face confirmed it.

Over my dead body.

Carmine took a cautious step backwards, and I followed, but Tiffany held me back, practically wrapped around my leg now. Carmine looked from the mortal to Tiffany back again, victory lighting him up. The only thing worse than an unsanctioned making would be a rogue vampire killing in the streets. If I left Tiffany, that’s exactly what would happen.

He picked up his foot. I met it with a snarl.

“Lachlan. Help.” Tiffany croaked at my feet.

A soft “fuck” floated down the street, making both Carmine and I pause.

Aurora.

Her blond waves tumbling down her shoulders, like she stepped off a cover of a magazine. Her phone shook in her hands as her eyes darted around to take in the scene.

Breath stuck in my chest, tearing my heart. I looked at the mortal. The real threat here was Veronica. That was the only choice that mattered. Aurora would take care of Tiffany. Carmine was mine.

Carmine sprinted for the door in my moment of hesitation.

I beat him there with the speed I pulled from every supernatural resource. My hand covered the doorknob, forcing him back in shock.

I stalked forward, grinning as he backpedaled.

There was only one other way into Ruelle, underground parking three blocks away. He’d be dead before…

A shriek from Tiffany turned my head, giving Carmine a half second advantage. I caught him just beyond the garage entrance. I hooked his arm on a pivot, throwing his body into a concrete pillar.

He panted, not from exertion, but fear. It lined his face and shook his hands.

“Legate...” the begging began.

“I told you...”

“Be reasonable.” His hands were up in defense.

“...that I would take everything from you. Because I could.”

“...I promise.”

“Too late.”

My fingers clamped around his windpipe. I felt it shatter in a pinch. My fangs tore the vein in his neck right out. I gulped at the adrenaline-spiked blood, not wanting to lose a drop. His pathetic fists pounded at my back, losing strength with each thud.

I heaved his body over my shoulder, made my way into the stairwell. There was subway access here. I needed a quiet place to tear his fucking head off.

FIFTY-ONE