Page 120 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

But there was something off about her scent too, now that he was this close. Jasmine and citrus, yes. Smoke and underlying spices, but also…something woodsy? No. That couldn’t be right. Unless?—

“Were you in the Leisure District?” he snapped.

She took a few steps back. “Yes,” she answered. “We were visiting the Alpha and Beta. Trying to find you.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What else?”

Her brow furrowed. “What else? Nothing. What else would I do in the Leisure District?”

“Any number of pleasures and sins can be found there,” he snarled, prowling forward. Each step amplified his need and craving. His body was buzzing with it. His ears were ringing with it. Gods, he could swear even his canines were tingling with anticipation.

“You cannot possibly be accusing me of—” She cut herself off mid-sentence, flames flickering in her eyes as a glimmer of irritation filled her features.

It made him pause for only a moment. He liked it when she was like this.

“We have been doing nothing for weeks but trying to find you. I have researched for hours while simultaneously fulfilling my obligations toyourkingdom. I have hardly slept. Corbin and Lange make sure I eat. And all of this on top of—” She stopped speaking again when he came to a stop directly in front of her. Her next words were breathy, but still laced with anger. “How dare you accuse me of doing that when I would do anything for you.”

“You smell different,” he said, reaching out and wrapping a coil of black around his finger.

Something akin to surprise crossed her face, but she snapped, “You just plain old smell.”

He smiled a pointed thing. “You would do anything for me?”

“Yes,” she rasped as he released her hair and skated a fingertip along her jaw. Her eyes fluttered closed, and her entire body leaned into that single touch.

“Sacrifice anything?” he said, that finger sliding down along the column of her neck.

Her eyes flew open as she jerked back, but she wasn’t nearly fast enough. His arm was already wrapped around her waist while his other hand clamped onto the back of her neck.

“Axel! Wait! I need to tell you?—”

Her words dissolved into a strained whimper as his teeth sank into her throat. Warm and luscious, she tasted exactly like he knew she would. Hot and fiery. Sweet and citrusy. He groaned, sucking harder, and his power wells.Gods.His power wells stirred in excitement, thin wisps of shadows appearing. Her hands were on his chest, pushing and shoving againsthim, but she would never be able to overpower him. Even when her fire appeared, he had enough magic now that his shadows created a barrier, keeping him safe to feed, and it only strengthened with each pull.

He took, and he took, and he took.

Life must give, and death must take.

Every second made his shadows thicken. Every minute strengthened him. Every swallow had him only wanting more. The chase. The hunt. The victory. This was his prize. After weeks of waiting, weeks of agony, this was his to claim. His to have. His to make bleed.

He took another hard pull. Her fingers had curled into his shirt, but they loosened some, another strained cry coming from her lips.

Axel, stop.

Her voice was faint, a whisper in the back of his mind.

Relax, kitten,he crooned back.It will all be over soon.

All of him was focused on her. On how she tasted. How her blood felt sliding down his throat and how her skin felt beneath his fingers and tongue. That scent that still was off yet somehow right. Sounds were fuzzy and muffled because nothing mattered but this.

Until there were hands on his shoulders and darkness wrapped around him, dragging him away from what was his.

Axel snarled as his mouth was ripped from her, his canines scraping and tearing flesh. Blood ran down her neck. All that blood being wasted! Seeping between the fingers of another who had his hand pressed to the wound. She was lax in his arms, and the male was murmuring low, trying to wake her. Who was he to touch what was his?

He snarled again, baring his teeth, but when he tried to attack, he was yanked backwards again, so violently he fell, landing on his back. Another male was instantly on top of him.Inky black swirls obscured emerald irises as the male tried to pin him down. But he had his magic back, and he had just fed. He was just as strong, and with a roar of rage, he rolled the male, landing a punch to his side.

“Axel! Enough! You were going to kill her!” the male barked, grabbing his shirt. He pulled, the fabric ripping, and Axel landed another punch, this time to the male’s jaw. He spat out blood, another wave of his magic throwing Axel to the side. “Don’t make me do this, Axel,” he pleaded. “I know you’re experiencing blood lust, but I need you to?—”

He was cut off when he went flying backwards as shadows picked him up and threw him. Axel didn’t give a fuck what he needed. He only cared that this asshole had taken him from what was rightfully his and someone else had her. From a swirl of shadows, he pulled a dagger, advancing on the male who now had black wings.

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