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Jeffrey releases a high-pitched scream. “You sick slut! Our army of the Prophet’s Blood will destroy you all! We’re fucking coming for you. And when we get you, I don’t care what the Prophet says. I’ll take my wrath out on you, Alena. His powers are far beyond what you could ever dream of! He tried to show you, he tried to give you his—”

Alena punches Jeffrey in the nose, shutting him up.

There’s a loud crunch followed by a gush of blood.

Rocking back, the hunter shakes his head, as if he’s trying to shake off a daze.

Then the fucker spits at Alena again.

Unfortunately, this time she doesn’t move fast enough. The bloody spit hits her in the chest, staining her shirt.

Turning back to me, Alena’s eyes are feral, bordering on frenzied.

She’s been feeding into my rage through the bond.

Barely stifling a growl, I say, “We can’t just snap his neck. He’s got too much of that prophet’s blood in him. He might turn into a vamp.”

Jeffrey starts shaking as he shrieks, “How dare you speak such blasphemy!”

“Do they know the prophet is a vampire, Alena?” I ask her gently.

Asher frowns. “Do they even understand is the better question?”

The rage blazing in Alena’s eyes dims as she considers the questions.

After a few seconds, she shakes her head. “I don’t know. I wasn’t in the loop. They kept me… ignorant.”

That last word hurts her deeply. She’s not just talking about being left out of the politics. She’s referring to her lack of education.

“Either way, he needs to die,” I growl while staring into Alena’s eyes. “He hurt you. No one hurts my beloved.”

Anger radiates off the entire family, filling the garage with a malevolent energy. Every brother is pissed and ready to kill on Alena’s behalf.

You don’t hurt one of our women. Period.

They are to be treasured, spoiled, pampered, and protected.

Nodding her head in agreement, Alena looks like she’s about to start crying at any second.

Turning away from everyone, she fiddles with the hem of her shirt.

“He spit on me. I need to go clean up,” she chokes out before running from the garage.

She’s not running because she doesn’t want to see us kill Jeffrey.

She’s running because she’s so overwhelmed by everyone’s anger on her behalf, she doesn’t know how to handle it.

Caden starts repeatedly kicking Jeffrey in the spine. “This is for hurting my little sis!”

Still gripping the crowbar, Andrei walks up to Jeffrey and brings it down viciously across his ribs. “Piece of shit.”

Emotions running high, everyone wants to take a crack at the hunter. Even if they don’t know the full picture, what Alena said was enough to start a fire.

Our soulmarks are rare and precious to us.

You don’t fuck with them and get away with it.

Matthias kicks Jeffrey hard in the knees, busting both kneecaps. “What Caden said.”