Page 44 of Corrupted Tyrant

I can’t breathe. Can’t think. The world is spinning, tilting on its axis. I’m fifteen again. Helpless, powerless, alone.

And then, Courage is there, his body pressed against my back. Though he keeps both hands free in case he needs to fight, his scent envelops me, grounds me.

“Don’t you fucking dare.” His voice is a growl, a promise of violence barely restrained. “You release that video, and I swear to the Goddess, I will end you.”

Fury steps closer to the men. The look of menace on his face is terrifying even though I know it’s not directed at me. “You’re done, Raskins. You and Blackwell both. There’s no coming back from this.”

Blackwell’s face twists, ugly with rage and fear. “You can’t touch us. We’re heroes in the industry. You’re nothing but a couple of mangy mutts playing at being heroes.”

“Maybe so.” Courage wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me tighter. “But we’re the mutts who are going to bring you down. You’ve hurt your last victim, you soulless piece of shit.”

It happens in a blur. Blackwell holds a knife unsteadily in his hand as he lunges. Fury meets him halfway, easily knocking the weapon out of his hand while Courage moves from behind me, faster than humanly possible, and smacks the cell phone out of Sam’s hand.

The night air echoes with snarls and shouts and the dull thud of fists on flesh. Raskin tries to run, but Courage is faster, his claws sinking into the man’s expensive suit as he flings him to the ground.

Shaking, tears streaming down my face, I watch the wolven subdue the monsters who have haunted me for so long.

It’s over in only a few heart-pounding minutes, though it feels like a lifetime. When the dust settles, Raskins and Blackwell are on the ground, beaten and bloody, Fury and Courage standing over them with grim smiles.

“The police are on their way.” Courage holds up a cell phone. “I called them right before we stepped out; they’d said enough to incriminate themselves. They should be here any second.”

“We still have the flash drive in a safe, you little bitch,” Blackwell threatens through swollen, bloody lips.

“And, with that confession, the cops have what they need to get a search warrant for every property you both own.” The smug smile on Fury’s face, showing all four of his fearsome fangs, has both humans cringing.

It’s as though the sun breaks through a gray sky. From one moment to the next, everything feels okay.

So what if the recording leaks? The world would see a desperate teen making a salacious offer. Everyone will also know the context. They’ll know the network execs were the predators and I was the prey. Public opinion won’t go against me. If Maury were here, he’d tell me it would be good publicity.

Courage slides an arm around my waist and peers at me, his expression shining with love. “Are you okay?” His eyes search mine, dark with concern.

Taking a shuddering breath, I lean into his touch. “No,” I answer honestly. “But I will be.”

Pulling back, my palms press against his pecs. “What the fuck? Courage, you’re bigger. Your fangs are longer.” I look over at Fury who is still standing over the groaning men on the ground, looking mighty proud of himself. “Fury is too. Did you guys pop some steroids or something?”

Courage makes a sound between a huff and a snort. “We shifted to our fighting form, our warrior forms. Our elders told us this happens with extreme emotions such as rage. It’s the first time it’s happened to me. Don’t worry, we’ll change back when the adrenaline clears out of our system.”

The sound of sirens fills the air, red and blue lights painting the scene. It’s over. I sigh with relief and watch in amazement as Courage and Fury slowly transform to their still formidable sizes, their lower fangs retreating back into their mouths and their claws retracting out of sight.

Detached, I observe as Raskins, Blackwell, and the other two men who are now conscious are hauled to their feet, cuffed, and shoved into the back of waiting squad cars.

It’s surreal, dreamlike. A moment I’ve imagined a thousand times but never truly believed would arrive.

But here it is. My reckoning, my justice. My freedom.

Sagging against Courage, my legs give out as adrenaline and relief crash over me in waves. He bears my weight easily, his arms strong and sure around me, his heart beating steady and true against my ear.

“It’s over,” he murmurs into my hair, rocking me gently. “You did it, Candy. You won.”

And he’s right. This is my victory, hard-fought and so long in the making. But it’s not just mine.

It belongs to Samantha, Veronica, Lila, and every child who was ever made to feel small, helpless, and worthless at the hands of perpetrators like Raskins and Blackwell.

It belongs to the frightened child I was, and the survivor I’ve become.

My elation fades as the police question us until my head is spinning. Finally, they let us go, saying they’ll be in touch.

As the squad car pulls away, I feel something unfurl inside my chest.

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