Page 126 of Emperor of Wrath

A hand wraps around my mouth from behind. A scent I know so very well fills my nostrils just as I flinch.

“Stay still.”

Annika’s voice whispered in my ear removes all the pain. It sends a rush of fresh adrenaline coursing through my veins as she cuts the rope around my wrists, freeing them.

I glance at Ulkan, but his back is to us in the other room. I turn back to Annika.

She grins at me, her eyes bright and her bottom lip caught between her teeth.

There’s so much I want to do right now. I want to kiss her. I want to wrap her in my arms and never let go.

I want to tell her I love her.

But there’s no time for any of that.

“Get them out of here,” I hiss quietly, nodding my chin at the woman and her children.

Annika’s brow furrows as her gaze slides over me. “You’re hurt?—”

“Please,” I shake my head. “Get them out.”

She nods quickly, turning to smile warmly at the terrified mother and the two little ones. She beckons and the woman approaches, quickly ushering her children after Annika. They go to an open window on the other side of the small kitchen and tiptoe out onto the fire escape one at a time.

“You little bitch!!”

I whip my head around just as Ulkan comes charging in from the living room, his machete brandished at Annika who is helping the woman step onto the fire escape.

Instantly I’m on my feet, grabbing the chair I was just tied to and whipping it around, flinging it in Ulkan’s face. He bleats in pain as it smashes into him, knocking him on his ass as blood sprays from his mouth.

“Kenzo!”

I turn as Annika grabs my grandfather’s sword which has been leaning against the wall. She throws it, I catch it, and I spin around as I yank it free of its scabbard.

Ulkan comes charging at me, his machete held high aloft and a manic look of fury on his face.

My blade stabs forward evenly with practiced ease. Ulkan chokes, gurgling on the blood that froths in his mouth as my sword sinks deep into his chest. His eyes bulge, the machete dropping to the floor.

I yank the blade free and Ulkan drops heavily to his knees, air wheezing out of the hole in his chest as blood pours from his mouth.

“Tell her to look away, princess,” I growl quietly, turning to lock eyes with Annika, still standing by the window to the fire escape. “That woman doesn’t need to see?—”

“KENZO!”

I grunt as something hard slams into me, knocking me off my feet in a hail of splintered wood.

Fuck me, it’s the chair I threw at Ulkan.

I hit the ground hard, blinking black spots and stars as a whining sound fills my ears.

Get up.

Get the fuck up.

Annika screams.

The pure adrenaline exploding through my veins has me on my feet and staggering toward them. Ulkan’s got Annika pinned to the wall, roaring in her face as his blood spurts all over her front. He’s got that fucking machete again, and Annika screams again as he winds his arm back as if to bring it down on top of her head.

He doesn’t get the chance.

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