Page 125 of The Wolf and the Chimera
Despite the abuse I had witnessed, rage and betrayal twisted my tongue.
“How could you do this to Ryder?” I demanded. “Haven’t you taken enough from him? Hasn’t he hurtenough?”
“He has,” Kalli agreed. Blood leaked from her wounds, “which is why I got you alone—to warn you.”
Her gaze shifted to my midsection and homed in on the bodice of my dress.
What is she trying to tell me?
“But alas,” Lyall said. “Too little, and much too late. I got word of my mate’s plans, and here I am. Now, she’s merely sped up the timeline. It’s time you served your purpose, Elle. It’s time you share that wondrous power in your veins one last time before your trip back to the court.”
I swallowed my shock and rage and fear. I couldn’t let my emotions misguide me, here on the precipice of eternal damnation.
Memories of that wretched darkness flickered back to me, and my chimera simmered under my skin.
I would not be shoved into the darkness again.
I let Lyall see the steel in my eyes. “Why? Just to bottle some of my power? I know you kept it when you drained me.”
“Such a smart girl,” he purred, “but not smart enough.”
I swallowed and locked my legs. I refused to shake like a leaf in front of him.
“It’s a shame no one will know what you’re giving us.” Lyall prowled closer and smiled softly. He looked back to his mate, bleeding and battered, then looked at me. “No, you’ll be remembered as the monster who hurt the Sovereign’s mate—sweet, silly, artsy Kalli, beloved by her people.”
My stomach turned, but I scoffed.
“You’ll tell everyone I was too wild to be contained,” I said, “that I couldn’t control the sorceress. And everyone will believe you, because who could hurt their own mate except for a monster?”
Lightning fast, Lyall gripped my jaw in his clawed hand and squeezed. Despite the pain he caused and the blood that trailed down my cheeks, I held his gaze like an oath. Dominance poured from him, and the twins sucked in shaky breaths, but I was prepared this time. With my chimera’s power heating my veins, it rolled over me like water.
“You are not my Sovereign,” I spat, “and I am not a wolf.”
His eyes widened, but I was already in motion. As Micah raised a needle with his free hand, I dropped my weight and twisted. The sudden movement caught the twins off-guard, and I freed my right arm. Sheathing my claws for a moment, I remembered what Ryder had taught me. With the speed of my chimera, I clenched my hand into a fist and swung, using my hips to put more force into the blow.
Kowan’s nose crunched against my knuckles, and inside,my chimera roared. Beyond him, Kalli raced for the door.
As I ducked and twisted out of the twins’ grasps, Lyall cursed and ran after his mate.
I lunged for the door, but Kowan stuck his foot out and twisted it around my ankle. I fell to the hardwood floor with a smack and scrambled away from my attackers.
Hello there, pet.
For a precious heartbeat, shock and horror paralyzed me.
The sorceress's presence slammed into me, and she zapped my body of every ounce of strength and warmth. Dark, vicious power clouded my vision.
As she seized control of my magic, the sorceress cleaved my connection to my chimera. Pain seized my heart, my breath, my body.
I couldn’t think or feel or breathe past it.
A weight knocked me to the ground, and rough hands flipped me over. Through the stars dancing in my vision, Kowan leered at me. I barely sensed the hard, inescapable weight of his body.
You were gone,I whispered.You weregone.
The sorceress cackled.Circe is wrong—not even a full claim on your beloved mate could stop me, pet. You’re mine.
Kowan pushed the weight of his hips on top of mine, and his brother forced my hands above my head.
