Page 146 of The Lycans: Vol Four

Suddenly things were far too quiet, and I watched as he stilled as well, his gaze glancing over my shoulder, his breathing visibly stalled as he moved a step back.

I glanced back to see Torvic smirking at Sebastian, but my mate was looking down the hall at him.

“This isn’t over, motherfucker,” Sebastian ground out to Torvic even though he wasn’t looking at him. “For taking my female, I will hunt you down, beat the shit out of you, and maybe if you’re lucky, I won’t slice off your balls and watch you bleed out.”

Torvic snorted as if he found that all so humorous, but then turned and stalked down the hall in the opposite direction without another word.

And then it was just the three of us.

I hated that the human asshole made me feel any kind of way. I was strong in my own right. But seeing him again after what he’d done, after he’d cut into my body and took pieces from me… I became this frightened mouse hiding in the corner.

Sebastian adjusted my body so he was now partially in front of me, but I could still see the human across the way. I would’ve given him credit for having a semblance of courage and not backing down or cowering in front of a very angry, very dangerous vampire, but fuck him.

“This is the fucker who hurt you.” Sebastian didn’t phrase it like a question, and I knew he wasn’t expecting an answer.

He already knew.

From my body language, the change in the air, and the way the human glanced at me.

“You,” Sebastian roared and pointed his finger at V. “Don’t fucking look at her.”

The human finally had the sense to take a step back.

“I’m going to have fun slowly killing you”—Sebastian’s deep voice dropped even lower—“I’m going to make my mate a necklace out of your fucking entrails.”

I knew he wasn’t asking about one of the guards who’d tortured me over the last year, but specifically asking if this was the one who’d cut my wings.

At my silence he made a threatening sound and took a step forward, his hand still on me, his nails now turning into claws as they dug into my side, keeping me pressed to his back.

“Come on, motherfucker.” V took a step closer, but I didn’t miss the way he stumbled forward. He shook his head as if he were having trouble concentrating. More blood spilled down his temple, and his eyes took on a glossy cast. “You and your kind deserve to be gutted like the pigs you are.” He lifted the knife and pointed it toward both of us.

I would’ve found the false courage he spewed humorous if not for me being pulled back into the past by the very sight of him.

It was strange how strong your mind could be, keeping you locked in a time that was in the past, your body physically healed but the pain was still there. My back burned with the memory of the knife going into my skin.

But the longer I stared at the human, the more pissed I got.

Sebastian started chuckling, but there was no humor in the tone. It was twisted and corrupt, as if he were thinking of all the ways he’d make the human pay.

Sebastian looked down the hall Torvic had just left, and the sounds of the fighting and gunshots seemed so distant now.

When he faced V again and took a step forward, his hand slipped slowly off my waist, his body now completely in front of mine like a shield.

I curled my hands so tightly that my nails cut into my flesh, but that sting of discomfort made me feel grounded.

Sebastian reached back to gently stroke my side, as if reassuring me that everything would be okay. And it would be.

Because I was done being afraid.

I was done having nightmares.

And I was sure as shit not going to let some human bastard take away the happiness I could finally have.

“Oh… foolish human. Another time, another place I would’ve gladly had fun with you.” Sebastian moved closer. “I would’ve strung you up and taken a paring knife to your skin, peeled it off layer by layer until I got to muscle.” Another step closer. “I would’ve taken a pair of pliers and ripped off your fingernails. One by one.”

He chuckled ominously as if picturing the very acts pleased him.

“I would’ve taken a pair of rusty, dull scissors and cut off your balls before making you wear them like a necklace.”