Page 116 of Filthy Royal

Usually, her gift simply erupted, harming whatever was closest to her, despite her fighting and stifling and trying her best to corral it.

But she’d never surged with this level of power before. She’d never had Damien touching her while she tried to channel it. Never been so in sync with the darkness thrumming beneath her skin, instinct whispering to her that all she needed to do was let go, and it would do as bidden.

And she’d never, ever been so certain that if Damien touched her now in vengeance and anger, there was no way she’d be able to forgive him.

“Last chance, Omega.” His hand rose, and she knew he was preparing to deliver on his threat.

Another spurt of rage and her gift erupted in a silent, incensed shriek.

But still, when the cuffs around her wrists snapped, she almost didn’t believe it.

“What the fuck?” Damien’s reaction convinced her it was true.

Rearing upward, triumph slamming through her, she didn’t bother trying to grab for the hand in her hair. Her brother had taught her better than that.

She aimed her freed fist straight at the cock in her sightline.

Unfortunately, Damien was a trained fighter. An Alpha. And far stronger and faster.

He caught her hand easily. Then grabbed the other.

Jerking her to her feet, he loomed over her, his stare harder than she’d ever seen. “That all you’ve got, Omega? ’Cause it’ll take a lot more than that to save you from me.”

Rage and need engulfed her, punching against her ribs before erupting outward. Undirected. Ferocious. Dangerous.

A terrible rumbling sounded overhead.

Their chins jerked up together.

“Shit!” Damien moved before she’d even processed what was happening.

He shoved her backward just as a section of the ceiling caved in overhead. Right where they’d both been standing. Right where he still stood.

“No!” Scarlett screamed as rocks, dirt, and debris tumbled to the ground between them.

The cracking overhead grew louder, and more rocks fell.

The momentum of his push sent her slamming into the wall, then she tumbled onto her ass. On instinct, she curled her arms overhead to protect herself as sharp edges pinged against her skin, the deluge of falling rocks keeping her from springing up.

Coughing, she peered through the thick haze of dust and falling rock, searching for the male who’d stood there only moments before.

But there was no sign of him. “Damien!”

“Scarlett!” A hand shot out of the pile of rocks and clamped onto her ankle.

She shrieked, more from surprise than pain.

Rocks were tossed aside. Then Damien appeared, scrambling over rubble on his hands and knees. He loomed above her, his hands pressed to the wall on either side of her head, his thighs straddling hers as he curled himself around her, forming a barrier between her and the falling rocks.

A cut bled above his eyebrow. But it was the wild, savage look in his eye that had her heart pounding in her throat.

Recent memories of other angry fists and cruel retaliations juxtaposed with his image for an instant. Then disappeared just as fast.

Because Damien wasn’t like the others. The concerned look in his eyes told her everything. No matter what he said, no matter what he threatened with the taming chain, she refused to believe he’d ever be a monster. He had not changed that much.

But she had.

She only had to look around to see the destruction she’d wrought. Either one of them could have been crushed when the whole ceiling gave way.

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