Page 47 of Red

It’s just me and him—with his hunter skills in his brand new, almost indestructible body.

“You like to watch, don’t you, Alexander? Shall we put on a little show for you?” He licks her skin, ignoring her cries and my snarls. Then, he whispers by her ear, “You’ve been playing me for weeks, you fucking bitch. Since you’re only interested in monsters, maybe now you will pay attention to me.”

“What’s your endgame here, huh?” I divert. “You can’t reproduce anymore.”

“I can still fuck, though.”

“You can’t harm her.”

“Me harming her? No, I wanted to have a life with her. But she’s made her bed. Now, she will be passed around like the whore she is. Not until I break her in first, though.”

I roar, getting ready to jump him.

“Bad doggie!” He laughs so full of himself as if sure of his victory already.

Buying us more time to come up with some strategy, I continue the subject. “You’re useless to them in this form. They’ll eliminate you once they discover what you’ve become.”

“They already know,” he replies too fast.

“Then why did you come alone?”

“The backup is on the way.”

“No, I don’t think it is, Dean. In fact, I’m convinced they don’t even know what the fuck you’re up to. Nor do I believe they were aware you’ve been dead for the past 24 hours, buried deep underground. This little stunt you pulled is not compliant with the orders. You see, we study your kind just as much, if not more, as you people do mine. We know exactly how you operate. You can’t fool me. You certainly can’t win with me alone, either.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

Still holding onto Julia with one hand, he pulls out a gun, and without wasting any time,starts shooting. He misses a few rounds as I keep dodging, but I do eventually get hit. First, in the arm, then in the upper thigh.

I stop in pain.

Silver.

“Oh, I’msogoing to enjoy this,” he says.

Julia screams and kicks, desperately trying to free herself from his grasp.

“Stay still.” Dean compels her, releasing her from under his clasp.

“I can’t move!” She panics. “Alex, why can’t I move!”

“Shut the fuck up!” He snaps. “I’ll deal with you after.”

Only a little whimper leaves her mouth as she stares at me with horror in her eyes, unable to speak and motionless.

I get irrational as I charge at him. But Dean instantly shoots my chest, and pain sears my entire body as I fall to my knees.

Never in my life have I felt this helpless.

I hear Julia’s muffled sobs, and I look at her, mouthing how sorry I am. Tears are streaming down her cheeks and it physically hurts me to see how distraught she is.

“Don’t cry, babe,” Dean says to her. “I’m the hero in this story.”

“A hero?” I mock. “Look at yourself! You’veturned into a thing you hate the most.”

“Youare the thing that I hate the most—the devil spawn!”

“That’s rich coming from a blood sucker. Your god must be truly proud of you.”

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