Page 20 of Crimson Mourning

“I told you,” I reminded her, as I leaned forward and twisted the wood in her heart. “You were going to die.”

Michelle howled in pain. But she didn’t die.

Her howl transitioned to a chuckle as I scrunched up my face and then released, trying to regain my calm.

“You think you’re the only one with a mutation? Arrogant cunt, that’s why I fucked your man! You werenevergood enough for him.”

My ears pounded as adrenaline rushed through my body. Everything else faded away, and all I could see was her neck. I roared and extended my fangs, lifted her chin with one hand and bit deep. I was ravenous and pulled from her with such intensity my entire body tingled.

I fisted her short brown hair in my hand to gain greater access to her neck. Michelle let out a high-pitched whistle. It wasso high and loud, I thought every stray dog in the area, if there were any left, would come running. I withdrew from her to latch on at a better angle, but when Michelle slumped to the floor, I knew there was nothing left to drink.

“Who the fuck are you?” An airy voice asked.

I was unfamiliar with the owner. I pivoted on my heels, and came face-to-face with a young woman, with long, braided, golden-brown hair, green eyes, and smooth brown skin.

“Who the fuck areyou?” I returned. “You’re inmyhouse.”

“I’m Julia,” the young woman answered, and leaned over to get a better view of the body on the floor behind me.

“I’m her daughter, and now I’m going to kill you.”

Michelle and I grew up together in the valley. We weren’t friends, we were too competitive to be friends. She was always a cunning bitch. She had always played the victim quite well until she got what she wanted, then she would turn on you in a heartbeat. She had prepared for this. She’d joined the elite and had already made herself a daughter.

“Mother?”

Make that two daughters. Another young woman appeared in the doorway and moved to the side of the one named Julia. They looked at each other, then sped forward and were on me in an instant. Their attack was random. Vicious. Both clawed and scratched me, rip me to shreds. I fought with everything I had. I dropped kicked them both, and as they scrambled to recover, I sped through the door.

“Coward!” One of them screamed after me.

“Pussy!” The other yelled.

I ran until I could run no more.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

LAWRENCE

He came as I knew he would. I followed his movements with my eyes as he walked up the path, through the door, and stood before me as I remained seated on my couch where Cassie and I had made love a few hours earlier.

“I had a feeling you weren’t dead, Damon,” I said and shook my head. “Tough bastard. I would have been so disappointed if all it took to final death you were a couple of humans.”

“Where’s Cassie?” He seethed.

“Oh, she left,” I answered nonchalantly. “She left with my seed in her, but she left.”

The vein in Damon’s forehead jumped.

“You joined her?”

“I fucked her senseless. Or rather yet,shefuckedmesenseless. It’s why I’m still sitting here instead of tearing into you. I can’t move. She’s drained me dry, brother.”

Damon shifted his line of vision all around the area.

“No need,” I told him. “I assure you, we’re quite alone here.”

“And I’m to take your word for it? The word of a liar?”

“Hey! I never lied to you,” I corrected.

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