I watch as Thaddeus punches Orion and somehow flings him into the dresser. Orion shakes himself off, getting to his feet when the lights flicker. My heart hammers in my chest and I find it hard to breathe as I watch them fight each other.
Thaddeus kicks Orion, and he smashes through the wall. Orion doesn’t even have a chance to get up before Thaddeus stalks toward him. Rushing forward, I grip Thaddeus’ arm, trying to stop him when he shoves me away, making me fall onto the carpet at the end of the bed. My body hits the floor with a soft thump.
I gasp and see Ryland move to help me up when Thaddeus’ eyes snap to mine. His entire body turns as he reaches down, grabbing my ankle. I kick at him as I try to scramble backward, clutching my towel to me. Thaddeus growls, and I look to Ryland for help, but he just stands there, confusing me. Out of nowhere, Thaddeus lunges at me. I try to shove him off, and he growls low, making my hair stand on end. His face is in the crook of my neck as he inhales.
When he pulls his face back, I see my reflection mirrored in his demonic eyes. Fear floods into me as I see Orion stand. I scoot back on my hands, but Thaddeus just stalks me, following me. He then knocks me flat on my back, his hands clawing at my towel as his lips and tongue move to my neck. I try to shove him off.
Panic consumes me as I watch Orion and Ryland step closer. They do nothing but watch as he pulls me around like a puppet on strings, forcing my hands above my head. I watch as he lifts his head, as his nose runs across my cheek. I feel my breath get caught in my throat when I realize he isn’t a man at this moment but the monster lurking beneath the surface. The monster everyone fears, The Dark King.
I can feel my heart pumping blood around my body and hear my pulse in my ears as he leans his weight on me. Tears brim in my eyes as I watch, horrified, as his fangs graze my lips, and I feel my blood trickle down my chin. When he drops his head into my neck, I know he will bite me.
My heart thumps against my chest erratically, and I struggle against his hold on my hands before dropping my face, trying to shield him from my neck when he growls.
“Orion, please,” I plead with him to help.
I see how he tries to step forward, but Ryland’s hand stops him. “Leave her,” he tells him, making my blood run cold. Why won’t they help?
I struggle against Thaddeus, but his grip gets stronger as he tugs my towel down until he can palm my breast. His hold is so tight, so rough, it’s painful. I cry out when he squeezes it. I feel his fingers bruise my skin. I try to free my hands that are trapped in one of his. Thaddeus’ face is leaning closer, his eyes don’t leave my neck, and I can tell he wants to feed on me.
He is gone, too far gone; at this moment, everything that makes him part human is gone. His growl is feral, and I see Orion hesitate, but Ryland’s hand grips his wrist, tugging him back.
“She needs to learn,” Ryland says, making my eyebrows furrow.
Learn what? How to fucking die? I think I am a master at near-death experiences.
Thaddeus watches me curiously, his head tilting to the side as he examines my face like he is trying to remember who I am and what I am to him. His eyes flicker oddly between their hypnotic green and the black orbs.
My eyes dart to his razor-sharp fangs so close to my face, making me wonder if dying will hurt when he sinks them into me. Adrenaline courses through me. I watch as he sniffs the air, closing his eyes and relishing my scent, and I do the only thing I can in the position I am in, completely at his mercy.
I kiss him.
His fangs slice through the skin on my lips. He freezes for a second, and I can practically see the wheels turning in his head, trying to decide if he wants to kill me or take me.
I am about to pull back from him, unsure, when his hand grips my hair tightly, making me scream at his viciousness. His tongue plunges into my mouth, swallowing my scream as he hungrily devours my lips, pushing himself between my legs.
His hand grips my hips, and his nails bite into my flesh painfully as he continues his brutal assault on my lips before finally letting me catch my breath. His lips move to my chin, and I suck in much-needed air. His lips bite and suck on my flesh savagely as he uses his hand to tug my towel down, exposing my breast before he bites into it.
Tears brim in my eyes and fall down my face as I try to get him to loosen his grip, his nails cut into me everywhere he grabs me, his fangs graze my ribs as he hungrily devours my skin.
The pain becomes too much, and I know I am covered in bite marks and am bleeding onto the carpet. I feel his fangs sink into my other breast, and I gasp, choking on air at the searing pain.
“Please stop! You’re hurting me, Thaddeus,” I choke out, and he freezes again.
My hand shakily touches his face, pulling it away from my chest. He looks at me as if it’s the first time he has noticed me. Really noticed what he is doing to me. He sits up on his elbows and looks over my body, and I can see the fear in his eyes at what he has just done. His hand goes to the bite mark on the top of my breast, and I wince when his fingertips brush it, making his eyes dart to mine.
“I’m sorry. I… I…” He doesn’t finish, just gets up and looks down at me as I clutch the towel, trying to wrap it around me and cover myself. He then turns on his heel and leaves the room.
Ryland and Orion watch me as I sit up. Orion offers me his hand, and I slap it away. “Why didn’t you help me?” I ask, feeling tears run down my cheeks. My skin is stinging, and I can feel blood running down my thigh from my hips as I stand up. Orion looks hurt by my words, but then, he turns and glares at Ryland.