Page 112 of Twisted

“We really need to get out of here,” I call to Mabel.I don’t want to tell her I don’t think I can hold the shield much longer.

“I’m almost out,” she says, vigor coming back to her voice.Larissa slowly gets to her feet, pulled up by Randall.“I’m free!”

“Good,” I say, risking looking behind me.There’s blood on her clothes, and judging by the lack of blood on the hunters, I’m going to say this is her blood.The humans are cooked if any of the Malus family gets her.

“I don’t understand what happened,” Mabel starts.

“It’s okay,” I tell her.“You need to go.Let everyone know you’re okay.”

“I don’t want to leave you with them.”She takes my free hand and steps in front of me, shielding me from the hunters who just kidnapped and tortured her.

“I’ll be fine.They won’t hurt me.”

“I don’t believe you,” she says.

The magical shield starts to wane.“Go,” I press.“Zeke is so worried about you.Tell him you’re okay and that I’m handling the situation.”I grimace, struggling to keep the shield.“Mabel, please.I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.”I swallow hard and look her in the eyes.Yes, she’s a vampire and is stronger and faster than humans, but she doesn’t have it in her to hurt anyone.She’s aloof and too innocent, and all it will take is one hunter to come at her with a wooden stake to put her down for good.

“You’ll be home tonight?”she asks.

“I promise.”

She gives my hand a squeeze and nods, looking pained before she turns and speeds away.Letting out a ragged huff, I drop the shield, feeling depleted from using a brand new type of magic.

“You fucking bitch,” Larissa sneers.She’s still fighting the effects of the sleeping spell and has to hold onto Randall to help hold her up.

“I’m not a bitch,” I tell her calmly, fully aware that if she tried to come at me, I wouldn’t be able to fight her.Not yet at least.“A witch, yes, and you’ve always been jealous because it makes me a better hunter than you.”Inhaling, I look from Larissa to Dale and Randall.“Ezekiel Malus is on his way here.If you don’t know, that’s Mabel’s husband.Xavier and Theo will be with him.I don’t think you want to be here when they arrive, do you?”

“Fuck this, man,” Dale starts, lowering his gun.“I don’t want my heart ripped out.”

“Not gonna lie, it doesn’t seem pleasant,” I chide.

“Come on,” Dale says, elbowing Randall.“The mission failed.Let’s go.”

“Listen to your friend,” I go on.“And I’ll see what I can do to keep the Malus brothers from ripping you to shreds.

“I’m out.”Dale puts his gun in his holster.“Promise me, you’ll keep that motherfucker away from us?”

“I promise I’ll keep my husband away,” I tell him, looking him in the eyes.“Cross my heart.But only if you go.Now.”

Randall hikes Larissa up on his shoulder and helps her walk away.I let out a breath, hands trembling, and my eyes close in a long blink.I promised to keep Xavier away…but not Theo and Zeke.

Keeping my guard up, I leave the building.I’m ready for another attack, and it’s not until I make it to the lot where I parked that I let myself think about what just happened.Holy.Fucking.Shit.I had no idea I could do that kind of magic.

And Mabel—she’s okay.She’s really okay.

A car door shuts and I look up, seeing someone quickly coming toward me.

“Devon,” I exclaim.“What are you doing here?”

“You can’t trust them, Wren.”

“Trust who?”

“The Russos.I did more digging into those demon deaths because I couldn’t just sit still at home…” He grabs my hands and looks around, eyes wide with fear and paranoia.“You need to get away from them.We need to get out of here like we talked about.Go away, for good.”

“Okay,” I just say, eager to get Devon out of here.I pull my keys from my pocket and turn to start heading toward my car.But then three dark figures rise from the shadows.The parking-lot lights shine down on us, making it hard to see anything beyond their pools of light.

Devon steps next to me, holding out his hand to try and push me back behind him.

I blink rapidly, watching the figures come closer.

“That’s him!”someone says, and I instantly recognize the voice: Leo.His face slowly comes into view, along with Ryder and Antonio.“That’s the vampire who took her!”

Ryder raises the crossbow.

“No!”I scream, throwing out my hand.“He’s not—”

But it’s too late.The arrow releases and flies through the air and hits Devon in the middle of his chest.His blood splatters on my face and he reaches for me, fingers touching mine for just a fleeting moment before his eyes go blank and he falls to the ground.

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