Page 71 of Marked By Night

Unfortunately, the asshole has catlike reflexes and disappears in a cloud of smoke before it can bury itself in his chest. Instead, it embeds itself in his swanky wooden chair exactly where his heart was with a loudthunk.

He reappears a few feet from his chair. His face shows nothing, but his eyes show a minuscule amount of respect.

“What in the name of the Night Goddess has gotten into you, bro?” Dante snarls, glaring at his friend like he wants to stab him as badly as I do.

By all means Dante, please do.

Loud voices echo from outside, fluttering into the dining room seconds before there’s a crash outside, shattering the intensity of the moment. My muscles tense.

Could the Elites have caught up to us so soon? The way the guys talked, Elian’s ward should keep anyone with ill intent out, and something tells me they do not have good intentions.

Kaos stops me in the doorway. “Stay here,” he says before racing out of the dining room with Dante and Elian hot on his heels.

Stay here,he says.Fuck that. These men will soon learn that I’m not the cower from danger type. Goldie gives me a slight nod and we rush out of the dining room together.

Dante, Kaos, and Elian appear to be talking to someone, but I can’t see who because they’re too fucking tall. I silently make my way between them and my heart stops.

“Why won’t they let me come inside?” The shrill voice demands, sounding exactly like nails on a chalkboard.

Goldie growls, parting the guys like they’re nothing. He bares his teeth at the intruder. It makes me want to bare my teeth too, but that would look silly, right?

Too bad I don’t care.

I snarl at the she-shark Savannah, which makes her squeal and jump straight into Elian’s arms. Then she wraps herself around him like a boa constrictor squishing the life out of its prey.

When she looks over at me, she sniffles and even has some fake ass crocodile tears pooling in those conniving eyes of hers.

I snort. Oh no, what ever will I do to combat the crocodile tears? Somebody give me a fucking break. Isn’t the mean girl act a little overdone? Like seriously, what did I do to deserve a mean girl in my life?

Elian drops her like a sack of shit, wiping his hands down his fitted white tee. Much to my disappointment, she doesn’t land on her ass and doesn’t even seem bothered by his callousness. When she smiles, I remember exactly what she is—a shark. I brace myself for her words, already knowing I’m not going to like what comes next.

“Guys. What is this bitch doing in my mansion? Which one of you brought her back here?”

That’s when I notice the bag in her hand and the open trunk of her car filled with luggage. My heart sinks to my stomach and I spin on my heel, glaring at the three assholes who are looking anywhere but me. Dante even has the audacity to stick his hands in his pockets and whistle. I reach up to finger my brothers’ necklace, trying to soothe my anger. It doesn’t work.I’m going to murder them, all of them.

Savannah reaches for Elian again and Goldie snarls at her, looking menacing as fuck. Even his teeth look sharper than they did moments before. At least someone has my fucking back.

“Call off your stupid mutt!” she whines, stomping her foot.

I don’t do a thing.

Ash must hear the commotion because she comes barreling out onto the porch and takes in the scene. “Who the hell is this bitch and why haven’t you stabbed her yet?”

Excellent question, Ash.

Dante clears his throat uncomfortably. I narrow my eyes on him, crossing my arms over my chest, waiting to hear his explanation. “Um, well, it’s kind of a long story—”

Elian sighs. “For shadow’s sake. The Elders announced yesterday that she would become our Circle’s Link—”

“Exactly, and I want this fucking one-night stand out of here right now.” She crosses her arms over her chest looking way too smug for someone about to get their bubble popped.

“Aww, you haven’t heard the news, have you?” I ask, letting a wicked grin splay across my face. She blanches, looking between the guys for help, but she won’t find any. “I’m their true Link. Kaos and I bonded the other night.” I turn my wrist around where she can see my tattoo and her dainty features contort with rage.

Ash cackles, taking pleasure in her anger. “Sorry, love. Guess that means you’re no longer needed here. I’d say it was a pleasure to meet you, but we both know it wasn’t. Goodbye.”

I love my best friend.

Savannah bursts into more tears, reaching out for Dante and I see red. My temper flares and it takes all my self-control not to march over there and break her fingers for touching him. I expect him to pry her hands off and tell her to get lost, but he doesn’t move. My chest tightens.

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