Page 56 of Anger

McIntyre

He was lost in a world of pain. Some rat bastard was burning his nerve endings with a naked flame, and he was trapped at their whim. His body screamed to shift, but something was stopping him. Well, Mac assumed it wanted to change; having never done so before, he was more than confused.

A wave of darkness swept over him, sending him tumbling and spinning out of control. Mac had no idea where he was or what was happening.

He sensed something coming from his body and looked down to see a golden rope. Mac’s brow creased. That was incredibly important. Mac touched the bond, and his eyes widened as a wave of love and strength hit him. Mac recognised that aura.

Lamia! Lanie! They’d mated, and this was their mate bond.

So, what attacked him? Mac’s sight adjusted, and he saw an inky black bond in the darkness. He touched his mate bond, and the area brightened, and Mac flinched at the evil he sensed around him.

“She’s mine,” a distorted voice hissed.

“Think again,” Mac replied.

“Weak fool,” came the sneering reply.

“Who are you? What are you?” Mac demanded.

“Your death.”

Mac was blasted, and his golden rope dimmed a little. Before his disbelieving eyes, he watched as blackness tried to dim his rope’s light.

Mac fought back, somehow instinctively knowing what to do. This darkness needed to take a hike. Lamia was his soul mate.

???

Mac was tired, so tired. It had been hours, and the darkness seemed to be holding steady while he grew tired. He longed to lie down and sleep but knew the evilness would overwhelm him the moment he did. Mac had no intention of giving up, but he wasn’t sure how much longer he could fight.

Worse, he didn’t know what he fought. Was this the manifestation of Anger or something else?

Mac rubbed his brows and readied himself for another bout when soothing blue energy floated over him. Mac blinked as his wounds healed and the bond in his hands strengthened.

“No!” the voice screamed in dismay, but Mac grinned. Someone had just cured him. He wasn’t alone. Lamia had got help!

“Come on, beastie. Let’s dance!” Mac growled as the voice howled in the darkness.

???

More hours had passed. Mac was sure of it. The fight went back and forth, neither side winning, and Mac wondered if this would ever end. He sensed something poking around near him and reached out and slapped it.

“Foolish child,” Chimera moaned.

Mac closed his eyes as Chimera’s strength flowed over and into him. Moments later, Tisi joined him, and Mac stood strong, bolstered by love.

Mac stepped forward, and for the first time, he felt fear in the darkness surrounding him. Gritting his teeth, Mac took the battle to the blackness further, boosted when Lamia merged her power with his.

Vladimir/Vampire

Another day passed, and worry swept through the castle. Lamia, Tisiphone, and Chimera had been under two and a half days now. Sixty hours in total. Vladimir and Jase swapped glances. How could Mac still be battling on and not have succumbed? He was only human. Lilith and Baba Yaga had taken watches over them, sending them healing power every few hours.

Vladimir noted that Andie didn’t seem too worried, and until she did, he wouldn’t stress too much.

Achere was watching over her, and he was calm too. The again Achere was always composed. Even when he shifted into Quasimodo, he remained serene. Vladimir sat next to Rhett, who had his eyes firmly fixed on the tableau on the bed. Chimera stayed in his monster form, as did Lamia and Tisiphone. Tisiphone’s wings were tucked in tightly against her back, but they were visible. All of them now seemed pale, but Lilith, Baba Yaga, and Pandora had all agreed they were fighting and strong.

Vladimir watched as his siblings and his sister’s mate fought a battle he could only watch. The urge to protect them all was immense, and yet, for all his strength and cunning, Vladimir remained as helpless as a lamb. It was a horrible feeling.

There was a loud snap, and Vladimir looked towards the bed in panic. His eyes widened before he smiled.

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