Page 57 of Fanged Temptation

“You’re not taking me anywhere.” I squared my shoulders, pinning my focus on the monster in front of me. “And I’ll never be your bride.”

He chuckled softly, a sound that slithered under my skin. “Bravery doesn’t suit you. Though I confess, your defiance is–”

I didn’t let him finish.

In one swift motion, I hurled the fuel canister at his head. It shot through the air and caught him square in the face with a resoundingcrunch. Liquid splashed his immaculate suit, droplets flecking his oiled hair.

Gregor staggered, a grunt of surprise escaping him. Then his expression turned stormy, rage and wounded pride carving deep lines across his pale features.

I hardly had time to brace before he lunged at me, faster than I could track. His hands found my collar, wrenching me forward. I jerked away, but his grip on my jacket was ironclad.

“You insolent wretch,” he snarled, voice booming in the skeletal hangar. Fuel dripped from his hair, staining the glossyfabric of his suit. He jerked his head back, before hauling me forward, colliding our foreheads with a bone-rattlingthud.

I hissed, ignoring the sting, and retaliated, driving an elbow into his stomach. His rumbling growl told me I’d connected and I pressed the advantage, hammering at him with all the strikes I had honed in secret—years spent training for this inevitable confrontation, always hiding the full extent of my ability. Now it was time to show it.

With a vicious roar I swung again, swinging out my fist in a diagonal arc. He tried to dodge, but I’d learned from our last fight. My punch glanced off his jawline, sending his teeth snapping. Surprise flashed in his eyes—he hadn’t expected me to move so fast, to strike so hard.Good.

I followed up with a kick that rocked him backward, forcing him off balance. The euphoria of landing solid blows was electrifying.

Gregor let out a guttural roar, swinging his arm out in a wild slash. I ducked, weaving beneath the blow and slamming my shoulder into his battered ribs. He hissed at the impact, stumbling backward, and I landed another quick jab to his temple, snapping his head back.

But Gregor wasn’t finished yet. In a sudden burst of speed he blinked out of sight, reappearing to my left, and drove a powerful kick into my stomach. Pain exploded through my body and the wind whooshed out of my lungs as my feet left the ground. The next thing I knew, I was hurtling out of the hangar’s wide entrance, skin scraping raw as I skidded across the tarmac.

Rain pelted down from above and the world spun before my eyes, slanting out of view. The pavement scraped my elbows, my knees stinging as I slid, coming to a stop with a trembling gasp.

My head spun and my vision blurred. But I had to get up. I refused to let him see me broken. I forced myself onto all fours, wheezing and cursing while hot blood rushed in my ears.

Heavy footsteps approached and I looked up to see Gregor looming over me. He raised his arm, another clawed blow aimed at my head—one that could very well end me if it hit its mark.

My instincts roared and I coiled my body, diving to the side and springing up behind him.

With a feral shriek, I leapt at his back like a wild animal. My legs locked around his waist and I jackhammered an elbow to the side of his head, a blur of wet hair and furious motion.

Gregor groaned and dropped to his knees, one hand bracing on the tarmac. Air hissed between his teeth and I took the opening, landing on my feet and pummeling him with rapid punches, pouring every ounce of pent-up rage into each devastating blow.

Blood slapped the rain-slicked pavement and Gregor coughed, stunned by the relentless assault.

“Y-you–” he managed between thundering blows, blinking against the downpour. He looked almost… mortal for a moment, bleary and beaten under my clenched fists.

But then his lips curled into a sneer, exposing bloody, pointed fangs. I saw his eyes lose focus, and a pulse of unsettling energy coursed through the air, raising the hairs on the back of my neck.

No.Turning my head, I realized too late—I hadn’t yet burned the minions, rows upon rows of those wax model creatures.

I sensed the sickly hum of supernatural energy crackling through the gloom, emanating from Gregor himself. One by one, the figures came to life, perfect, well-dressed wax forms milling at the entrance like marionettes at attention.

A chill stabbed my spine. Gregor’s trump card.

Mouth twisting in grim rage Gregor shoved me back, scrambling to his feet. I watched in horror as the wax minions poured from the hangar doors, dozens of them, their glassy eyes vacant, dripping with fuel I hadn’t managed to ignite.Rain cascaded over their polished suits and dresses, ties and bowler hats, feathers and scarves, their footsteps clacking on the tarmac.

I staggered back, chest heaving. I couldn’t fight them all. And Leah…

“Leah!Run,” I shouted, frantically scanning the fence line. “Get out of here!”

I spun on my heel, racing to the rusted barrels where I had left her.

But Leah… wasn’t there.

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