Page 108 of Scars Like Wings

“Oh, you mean, Tina and Amy?” She gestured to the daggers she now held in each hand.

My eyebrows furrowed even deeper. “So sorry, you named your daggers after comedians?”

“What? They are hilarious.” She smirked.How was this my life right now?“Now, I’m going to distract the vampire while you make a run for the exit.”

“Are you kidding me? That never works in the movies!”

Quinn raised her slitted eyebrow. “Do you have a better idea, baby girl?”

I swallowed.This was the best option we had, I guess.

“Now, on the count of three, you go, and I will be right behind you, okay?”

I set my lips in a straight line. “You better not die on me, Quinn Garcia. Don’t be a hero and get to me as fast as you can.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice, sweetness.” Quinn smiled. “Ready?”

I nodded.

“One.”

Gods, I’m so freaking terrified. These creatures are no joke. In or out of folklore, they are monsters.

“Two.”

I don’t want anything to happen to Quinn, but I can’t get help if I’m dead, too. Please be safe, starlight.

“Three!”

She looked so fucking hot with those knives.

Quinn and I took off. I ran as fast as I could toward where the male attendant had gone, and Quinn ran in the opposite direction. The catwalk rattled under us. Just a little bit further, and I would be at the door?—

Behind me, I heard a grunt and a cry before the catwalk shook hard enough for me to almost trip.Oh, no. Was that Quinn? Was she okay?I could hear her groans, so she sounded alive, at least.Please be okay, pumpkin. I promise I’m going to get help. I pushed myself to run faster, lift my legs harder. I had to get to the door. I had to find help.

I was almost there. Just a few more steps.

Suddenly, I got slammed hard against the wall. Stars danced across my eyes with pain radiating from the back of my head. Nails dug into my skin as a large hand gripped my neck tight enough to strangle me.

“You girls really thought that plan would work? What is this, a movie?” The creature said with a raised eyebrow. He was tall, dark, and handsome, being over six feet, black, and very conventionally attractive. He was all muscles, which I felt as he held me by one hand. I could see his fangs peek from under his lips as he spoke. His eyes were a vibrant yellow-green color like bile, and he made me sick to my stomach just seeing him.

“Wh-what did you do to Quinn?” I choked.

“You needn’t worry about her.” He smiled, fully displaying his sharp fangs now. I gripped his wrist around my neck like I was holding on to my strength. I was scared shitless, but I was trying so hard not to show that to him.

The energy vampire leaned in and sniffed me. I grimaced but took the chance to look over in the direction Quinn had run. It was dark around us again, as if someone had a hand over the work lights. The vampire must be using his shadow magic everywhere. Fuck, he was insanely powerful to be able to manipulate so many shadows at once.

I could see Quinn’s arms and legs wrapped in ropes of shadows. She was trying to saw at them using her daggers, but they were too strong and thick. Quinn looked at me and the energy vampire. If she was a fire elemental like I had thought she was when we first met, her golden stare alone locked on the hand around my throat would be enough to incinerate it.

“Mhmm, your energy…” The energy vampire’s voice brought my attention back to him. He sent his head back like he had just tasted the best dessert of his life. “You smell so rich and…Divine. I’ve never tasted such a delicacy before.”

“Don’t you fucking—” Quinn started to say. Then her voice became strangled as something silenced her.

The creature used his thumb to ensure I couldn’t turn to look at what was keeping my girlfriend quiet. His long talon dug into my jaw. I knew it was going to leave a mark. He pulled me close.

“You are so sweet. It’s the most delectable experience. What are you, sweetness?”

I heard Quinn growl through her constraints. My grip on the energy vampire’s wrist tightened. Sweetness wasQuinn’snickname for me. It made me sick to my stomach to hear it from his mouth. I wasnothis. He had no right to say that.

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