Page 133 of Devilish Ink

It was a wraith with no worldly powers though. The depth of my rage could not stop him alone.

For one long moment, Ihatedbeing a woman. Because I hated that being a woman meant being prey. Unable to stop one single man if he felt like he wanted to take something from me, no matter how many hours in the gym I’d done, no matter how many fucking martial arts classes I’d taken.

The unfairness of it consumed me so I felt like I burst into flames hot enough to burn this world down.

I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.

The last of my scream heaved from my lungs.

But the pain didn’t come.

A deep, enraged roar caused my eyes to fling back open. Balor was pulled off of me, my arm now free.

Through blurry vision, he was lifted into the air and slammed back against a rack.

I gasped as the hulking figure, more shadow than man, unleashed a violence against Balor that might have shaken me with terror if not for the relief coursing through my body.

Black-gloved fists pummelled Balor’s face into a messy red pulp, his cries gurgling against a mouthful of blood. Teeth rattled against the floor. It was like a toy in a dog’s gnashing teeth as it whipped mercilessly back and forth, spittle flying.

Liam.

Somehow he had found me.

I felt fingers at the rope around my still bound wrist.

“Rian.” I exhaled heavily.

My best friend wouldn’t look at me as he worked on the knots. His fingers trembled as he fought with the knots, his eyes wide with a frightening intensity, reminding me of when he was high.

I grabbed Balor’s knife from the other bedside. I pushed the handle into Rian’s hand.

“It’ll be faster,” I whispered, my voice hoarse.

He finally looked at me. His eyes were blown wide, making them childlike. “Ry… I thought…we thought…”

Yeah. Me, too.

He hacked at the ropes and one by one, my limbs were returned to me, pins and needles stinging my hands and feet from the blood rushing back in.

He helped me sit up.

The sight of Liam took my breath away. He’d never looked wilder. He was practically feral with blood splattered across his stubbled jaw and his teeth bared like he was rabid.

“Liam!” I cried out. “That’s enough.”

I could only imagine the blood rushing against his ears, thepounding of his heart. Even though my voice had been weak and raw, he stopped and looked up, rage-blind eyes searching me out.

Only when he finally saw me did it seem like he could actually see.

I saw the bloodlust in his eyes which he fought to force back beneath the surface as he stared at me, panting harshly. Then he rushed to my side.

Balor collapsed to the floor like a limp doll, his head cracking against the floor.

Rian helped Liam take me up into his arms.

His lips were all over the crown of my head as his fingers tried not to squeeze too tightly.

“You’re alright,” he murmured. “You’re safe now. You’re safe.”

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