Page 28 of The Witch Queen of Halloween (Immortals After Dark 20)

Thedoll blinked those glassy eyes atPoppy, then swiveled its head to faceRök.

Justbecause the situation amused him didn’t mean it couldn’t also be disturbing. “Wigginsactivated, huh?”

Poppygrabbed his hand. “Backaway.Thenrun.”

“Nota chance.Mycenturies ofLorecred would get revoked ifIrun from a toy.”

“She’snot a toy.She’sa demonic entity.”

“SoamI.”Hewinked atPoppy.

“Please,Rök.She’sthe telekinetic one.”

“Ican lift a building.Hertelekinesis can’t outmatch my strength.It’lltake more than this doll to bring me down after all these years. . . .”Hesensed a new threat at his back.HeyankedPoppybehind him again and whirled around.

Threemore dolls stood not ten feet before him.Herecognized the maniacal, red-haired one with the long, serrated blade, but not the pair of miniature mannequin-looking things.

Herolled his eyes.Hedidn’t have time for this bullshit, was gaining ground in his mission to winPoppy.Seductionwas only the first step.

Hebrandished his sword and struck with supernatural speed.Slash.Hisaim was true, yet they’d disappeared.

Laughterand tip-tapping sounded behind him.WithPoppyclose, he twisted around and found the four dolls lined up, eight creepy eyes staring at him.Helunged and lopped off the head of one of the mannequin dolls.Itsweird body collapsed. “Onedown.”

Yetthen it rose.Skippedto its severed head.Andreattachedit.

“Huh.”

JustasRökstruck again, theAnnelisedoll raised her arm.Theair rippled.Hegaped when his feet left the ground; then he andPoppywere launched down the hall.

* * *

Anneliseslammed them against a far wall, knocking the breath fromPoppy’slungs.Thedoll pinned her andRökthere like insects.

Can’tget free!Poppy’svision wavered as she struggled.

Annelisecould twist their heads off at any time—true immortal deaths.Withthat awareness,Poppy’slife did indeed flash before her eyes.

Herparents’ proud smiles.Hersisters laughing.Thepungent smell of herbs and the bite of a brewing concoction.

Rök’ssinful grin and bad jokes.Hisscorching kisses.

Shefought to crane her head toward him.Theymet gazes.

“Poppy!”Helooked frantic for her, his blue eyes turning gray, reflex smoke emerging from his skin.

Anneliseused her power to pry his sword from his clenched fingers and cast it away.Thenshe threw him to the floor as ifhewere a rag doll.

“Rök, no!”

Annelisetelekinetically pinned him while the others leapt atop his sprawled body.One’sserrated blade plunged toward his chest.

Rökmanaged to block it. “Fucker!”Buthe couldn’t get loose.

“Leavehim alone!”Poppystrained againstAnnelise’sforce to reach her bag.

“Getfree and run,”Rökgrated.Hemissed a block; the blade stabbed, coming up bloody.Themaniacal doll leered with delight.

“I’mnot leaving you!”

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