Page 102 of Bitten Shifter

Chapter Forty-Five

I throw myself backwards,twisting just enough to feel the whisper of air as his razor-sharp claws slice past my face.

Too close.

He’s too fast.

I’m going to die.

Leonidas laughs and lunges, his snarling face filling my vision. His claws are mere centimetres from my throat when a surge of magic explodes through the room. The force is violent, slamming into the vampire. His red eyes widen in shock as he freezes mid-strike, locked in place by the spell.

He is solid.

Frozen.

I crash onto the floor, pain shooting up my spine from the jarring impact. My breath comes in short, frantic gasps as I scramble backwards, my shoulders hitting the wall.

That wasn’t me. That was not my magic. I didn’t even think of using it.

Powerful energy crackles in the air, buzzing across my skin like static. Whatever spell holds Leonidas is potent, thrumming like a live wire. Yet it didn’t touch me, even though I was right there.

“What the heck just happened?” I whisper, pressing a trembling hand to my chest. Was it the building’s magic?

The answer strides through the French doors, calm and unhurried. Lander’s wand spins lazily between his fingers as he gives me a wave, his smug smile broadening as he surveys the immobilised vampire.

Before I can process his presence, the main door bursts open. Merrick and Riker charge in, their expressions feral.

I blink, my body still shaking so violently that my vision blurs. Merrick crosses the room in three swift strides and scoops me into his arms, his hands roaming over me in a frantic search for injuries.

He’s here. He came for me.

This is all my fault.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay,” I rasp, my throat raw.

Merrick came for me just like he promised.

He pulls me close, his lips grazing my forehead. “I’ve got you,” he murmurs. “You are safe now. We got him.”

A sob breaks free, and I collapse against his chest, clinging to him as though he might vanish. Everything feels too raw—too much—but he is here.

That was too close. Far too close.

“Merrick!” Lander’s sharp voice cuts through the moment.

Merrick pulls back reluctantly, his thumb skimming my cheek. His expression is shadowed with guilt and something darker—something I can’t quite name. “I need to handle this,” he says quietly. “I will be right there.”

I nod, unable to form words.

“Stay here. You are safe now.”

Riker offers me a small, reassuring smile and a quick wink as he follows Merrick. “Nice chompers,” he teases, tapping his teeth.

Chompers? My hand flies to my mouth, and I realise my teeth are still wolfed out. Mortified, I focus on pulling the shifter magic back. Slowly, my teeth and claws shrink, returning to normal.

My knees threaten to buckle, but I force myself to move. I grab my necklace from the bathroom, fumbling to secure it around my neck. The cool weight offers a thin veneer of security. Back in the main room, I shove my feet into my boots, craving something solid beneath me.

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