Page 31 of Tangled Hearts

“That fucker,” Ryder snarled. “Can we fight out or are we sneaking away?”

Soren… fight or escape?

Too many, we run. I’m looking for a way out.

“Soren says escape,” I said, looking out the window.

“I have a few?—”

The door busted open as Jordan ran in.

“Get her out, Max,” Ryder snarled as he shifted, while I ran towards Jordan. I threw a punch, barely missing him before yanking his arm towards me.

Ryder went for his neck, but he was pushed off. I put my hand on his shoulder, using my other hand to jerk it towards me hoping I could dislocate it. He punched me in the ribs twice, snarling at me. I caught his fist before he punched me a third time, a sickening crunch made Jordan scream and I took advantage of that to punch him again. Ryder bit into his neck and I held him still as we pulled in opposite directions.

We didn’t stick around after we ripped his neck off, jumping out of the window to look for Oria and Max. A loud explosion cut through the air, making me think Oria was just blowing stuff up.

Oria, no! Soren screamed, filling my head as I looked around for them.

Gray, hurry. They are headed into the woods.

Soren sounded panicked as I ran towards the woods. A few men spotted me and attacked. One of them controlled fire, throwing flames at me as the other two threw punches.

Call for the scythe. An unfamiliar voice spoke in my head.

Call for the scythe? What do you?—

A scythe appeared in my hand as I dodged a flame. I spun it around quickly, sliced one in half and then sliced the other’s neck. The last guy, the flamethrower, blasted me. I used the scythe as a shield, and it took the magic. We were both shocked, taking advantage of his pause, I sliced his head clean off. I wasted no time, heading to the clearing when I felt her, she was surrounded by men, all alone.

Fucking Max, he left her, except he didn’t. He jumped out of the woods as a panther, he blended in with the night and he took out three men. Ryder ran to the guys closest to Oria while I ran around trying to pick them off.

“Get off of me, put me down,” Oria screamed, but I was surrounded by too many people and I couldn’t see her.

A loud roar grabbed my attention to see an enormous lion running. I hoped he was going to Oria. I fought a few people, getting overwhelmed when a knife hit my shoulder and then another one barely missed my face slicing my cheek. I punched a guy, grabbing him and using his body to knock a few men down, swinging the scythe to push them back. I pulled out a bottle from my pocket, slamming it down on the men. It was a potion similar to acid and I ran away as their screams pierced through the night.

A roar made me turn around and Max was surrounded by six men. His coat was red and next to him Ryder growled. I was tackled and I felt another knife in my back. I snarled, bucking him off, swinging the scythe in my hand, slicing him in half. He fell into pieces as I looked around for Oria.

I couldn’t see her. I felt for her, hoping the bond would guide me, when I felt someone charge me. Before he got to me, a blast knocked everyone on their asses. I got up, running towards where I felt my Sunshine. The closer I got to her, the further she got away from me and I knew someone either threw her in a car or it was a vampire running just as fast as I was.

A small growl alerted me to a panther to my left, grateful it was not just me because I had backup. Running with Max, I was even more certain that we needed to talk about him still possibly being her mate. We worked in sync too well.

I saw the man who had Oria, her bright hair alerted us to her spot and I pushed myself even faster. The panther disappeared, but I knew he was close, trying to get another angle. The moment she saw me, she shook her head.

Wait.

No. I growled.

Wait. She glared at me. Please trust me.

I clenched my jaw, nodding my head. I wouldn’t be like her mother or Tay, she needed to figure stuff out on her own and learn. Fuck, I wished she didn’t have to learn, and I wished I could just keep her safe and happy. My Sunshine deserved happiness. We arrived at a clearing with one car parked there. The need to save her grew tenfold until he put her down.

“I can’t wait to make you scream.” He caressed her face and I saw her visibly shiver.

“Please, don't hurt me.” Her voice wavered and she tried to lean back.

“I need to bring you back alive so I might as well get something before I return you,” he laughed.

“Fuck you,” Oria snarled, slapping his dick and flames erupted from her hand.

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