Page 61 of Fanged Temptation

And lastly—Leah. My pulse hammered. Despite the rain, wax, and exhaustion painting every inch of her, she lit up the moment our eyes met. Her hair was tangled and pasted to her neck and her hand shook when she waved to me, but she was alive.

“How–” My voice stuttered out when the wax minions on the tarmac slithered to their feet and I braced my fists in the air. But there was movement at my elbow, a tall lanky figure in a red coat.

“Of course you’d pull a stupid stunt like this.” To my left, River stepped up beside me, flexing glinting talons as she eyed the wax creatures. “It’s a good thing we got here in time. You think Jordan wouldn’t have guessed exactly where you were going when you up and disappeared?”

“Yeah, enough with the self sacrifice. You’re getting predictable, Maxine.” To my right, Dylan appeared like the grim reaper, decked out in black and unblinking as she surveyed the collection of wax models slowly regaining their footing.

“All right!You can bully me later.” I glanced around. The wax minions, battered but not destroyed, were struggling upright, limbs creaking as they rose once more. “Now help me kick some ass.”

On the staircase Jordan cracked a smile, though her eyes narrowed as the minions collectively turned their attention toward me. Or, more accurately, toward something behind me.

I turned and felt a streak of grim satisfaction upon seeing the state of my fiancé.

Gregor looked haggard, blood staining his bared teeth. His once-pristine suit hung in ragged, fuel-stained tatters, rain slicking his hair tight against his skull. He leveled a venomous stare at me, and I felt a small thrill of triumph at the sight of his blood. He was not invincible.

Across the water-lashed runway the wax minions tottered—misshapen, but continuing to rise at their master’s summons.

River cast a glance over the ragged man, snorting a quiet chuckle as she muttered in my ear, “Took you long enough to show your true strength. It’s about goddamn time.”

There was a knowing glint that lit her dark eyes, and I realized with a start that she must’ve foreseen this moment.

She’d known I would finally stop hiding what I was truly capable of.

All those early years in a gilded cage, living under my family’s thumb, had shaped me. Even after I had escaped them, that small voice in the back of my mind had stuck around. It told me I had limits, that I had to make myself small.

It told me that I was incapable and no matter how hard I tried, I would never be strong enough.

Even when facing my family and my bloodthirsty fiancé back at the powerplant, the voice had remained. It told me I would never escape them, that it was futile trying. That if I were to unleash myself, it would still not be enough.

Now, that voice was silent as the grave. The notion that I had to be what they expected me to be—weak and delicate—was dead in the water, crushed under my heel. Now, there was only stark, crystal clarity. And a roaring fire in my chest that told me I was capable of more than any of them could ever comprehend.

I clenched my fists, locking eyes with my fiancé who slowly stalked toward us. “Yeah well, better late than never.”

“Then let’s get this over with,” Jordan said grimly, stepping up behind me.

Hunter limped beside her, while Addison hung back, sheltering on the wax-splattered staircase with Leah. Dylan was a silent specter at my elbow, her gaze locked on the incoming tide of nightmares.

A fresh wave of them poured from the hangar entrance, marching across the tarmac with that same eerie synchronization.

“Enough,” Gregor snarled, yanking my focus back. His fangs bared in a cruel sneer. “Your coven can’t save you from me. Nor can they keep you from your duties, wife.”

I bristled, stepping forward. “I already told you, I amnotyour wife. And I never will be.”

At that, Gregor raised a hand, fisted it, and the wax model minions jerked into motion, heading straight for us. Gregorhimself lunged with a guttural roar, but I met him halfway, slamming into him so hard he staggered.

Around us, chaos erupted as the Leyore women clashed with the wax minions in a frenzy of fists, fangs, and curses. Through the tempest of rain and violence, I caught glimpses of Dylan, half-transformed, knocking two minions’ heads together, River slashing with glinting talons, Jordan tackling a horde of mannequins single-handedly, shifting into her true form to tear them apart.

Gregor circled back, hissing, and lashed out at me with lightning speed. My forearm ached as I blocked his blow but I shoved him back, pounding a fist into his ribs with enough force to send him skidding across the soaked tarmac.

He spat blood, fury etching new lines across his face.

“You’re nothing!” he snarled, lunging again. My claws snapped out and I slashed as his own sharp talons grazed my jaw. With the vampire man momentarily off balance, I twisted around and drove my elbow into his sternum. He stumbled, breath ragged.

From the corner of my eye I caught Sky and Jordan, back-to-back and locked in battle against a trio of wax minions. The wax models buckled under their assault, but more were rising behind them.

I had to end this.

Summoning every shred of power left in my battered body, I rushed Gregor, fangs flashing. He tried to dodge but I was faster this time, hooking my leg behind his knee and forcing him down.

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