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The brunette straightened as her friend spoke, her head tilting to one side as she looked me over.

“It’s you.” She tapped the ash from the end of her cigarette with a long, enamelled nail, apparently unconcerned. “I’ve heard about you.”

“I’d bow or curtsy or something, but…” I pushed my hair back from my face. “Manners won’t matter much in a few minutes.”

The blonde gave a low chuckle as I took a step toward her. I could smell them now – perfume intermingled with something darker.

“Witty.” She reached out to push me with both hands, the movement faster than should have been possible.

I stepped back, and her fingertips missed the wool of my coat. “I like to think so.” Any minute now…

Anger flooded her pale face, turning her skin an unpleasant mottled pink. But the brunette came between us before I had time to react. I twitched.

“Look,” she said, raising her hands. “We get it. But it’s late. We haven’t done anything.”

Something flickered behind her eyes, and I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

“So, no one took the bait tonight. What about next time?” My voice hardened. “There’s a reason this isn’t a negotiation.”

“Idiot,” the blonde one spat, leaning around her friend. “You’ll lose.”

They were strong. And fast – I could see as much. Plus, it was two against one. But I’d fought with worse odds, and I was still here.

“Ignore her. We’re not looking for a fight,” the brunette pressed, edging forward. “Walk away.”

I almost laughed. “How considerate of you both. Maybe mannersdomatter after all.” Despite their words, bit by bit, they were forcing me against the wall. My mind flashed to the dagger tucked into my boot. “Unfortunately for you,” I planted my feet. “This is what I do.”

“Don’t worry—” Blondie took off one of her heels. “You won’t be doing it—” and the other, “much longer.” Dropping them behind her by the straps, she grew still for a second, a predator’s gleam in her eye. I blinked, and with a casual, unnatural swiftness, she attacked.

I dodged the first blow – a punch aimed squarely at my face – and a hunk of brick in the wall behind me shattered under her bare knuckles. Before she had time to step back, I swung my fist up into her abdomen. Molten adrenaline shot through my body as I made contact, and I grinned wildly, revelling in it. This wasexactlywhat I needed.

She stumbled away, feet slapping on the damp concrete. I used the pause to wiggle my way out of the corner and shook out my shoulders, the heat spreading through my limbs and finally burning through the haze of grief that had brought me here. The brunette vamp shot a glance between us before starting forward, stubbing out her cigarette on my arm as she tried to grab me. The wool smoked, but I felt nothing.

“That’s my favourite bloody coat you’ve ruined!” I seized the strap of her dress to stop her from getting away. Grabbing her shoulder with my other hand, I dug my fingers into her cold skin and shook her hard before dashing her against the wall. Her skull made an unpleasant crunching sound as it hit the stone, stunning her momentarily.

Taking advantage of the confusion, I spun back to Blondie, who’d recovered her balance.

“You actually are an idiot,” she hissed as she advanced, aiming her knee at my gut in a move I almost didn’t spot. I backed up, but not fast enough, and flew backwards as her kneecap met flesh, landing on my back with a thud. I groaned inwardly – that was going to leave a hell of a bruise. But I didn’t have time to complain.

Twisting up and straightening, I ignored the urge to vomitrocketing up my throat and blocked a couple more punches with my forearms.

“Seriously?” I caught her wrist and wrenched it behind her, grabbing her hair with my other hand. “You’re the one callingmenames?” I smashed her face into the concrete, dropping to a crouch. “You were gonnaeatme—”

“Oh, fuck off!” she half-yelled, writhing, her mouth full of dirt.

“I don’t think I will.” I eased my grip for a moment, sure I had her trapped, but she rolled over, ready to bolt. Before she could get far, I shoved the heel of my hand into her shoulder and pinned her other arm to the ground. “If this had gone your way—”

I took a long, ragged breath and shook my head, no longer smelling the rancid stink of the alley. Now was my moment. My favourite dagger was inches from my hand, but I didn’t unsheathe it. I felt sick.

I bent nearer, so close I could count her eyelashes. “We both know you’re far from innocent,” I murmured, mostly to myself. She strained against me, but I tightened my grip, glaring at her. “I’m not the bad guy here.”

She hissed, her lips pulling back to expose sharp white canines – but she didn’t fight. With a sigh, I let go and she scrambled into a sitting position. Before she could get any further, I drew back my fist and struck out, hitting the sweet spot at the side of her jaw. Her eyes rolled back, and she fell limp. I kicked her away, a quick shiver running through me as I brushed myself off and stood up.

Fuck, I wanted to keep hitting her. For a moment there, she’d helped push away the raw, hollow ache that had settled over my heart earlier tonight. But this wasn’t the solution, and some part of me knew it.

Before I could get beyond that thought, something yanked me back by the hood of my coat, and I was thrust against the wall.Shit. I’d almost forgotten about the other one, but apparently, she’d found her bearings while I had my tiny breakdown. My cheek scraped the filthy brick and I began to choke as she lifted me by the throat with one hand. My feet dangled uselessly.

“I tried to play nice, hunter. But that little stunt actually hurt. And you’re right. I suppose…” Her breath reeked of copper. “I’m the predator. You’re the prey.”