ursed

an's

e woods. I had been scanning the area,

unusual and I was intrigued. Loud roaring and howls gr

nsed her tiredness and tran

I was larger too and watched in awe as she easily got awa

d noticed a clothed man enter the ruined packhouse. He l

with a fall. I ran towards the buildin

ed to the floor and his claw

when a huge wind pulled him off her, sendi

ved between them. She looked at her hands.

hell wa

, and I sa

en

the second she spotted and stood up. Her legs shook and b

was recovering. He was a werewolf after

im chasing after the young woman. She

eased my pace. She seemed to notice a

a lot faster than I had expected. She reac

was too scared to notice. I stepped closer, an

shing her away from the edge of the clif

it her

***

led her the moment y

the heavy silence like a

I did not flinch. Instead, I leaned against the cold stone wall, folded my a

t in spilling any

him who she

en

st Rub

ned, silver cuffs gn

stuck to the sweat-beaded surface of skin, and the rise and fall of the chest w

ertheless, s

xpected. Power I

er, keeping his voice hus

n't mi

it right about this one. The Midnight Syndicate did not kill their foes until after they questioned them. I

l. Shadows from the iron grating were falling over

fed. "You h

d, looking at him. He shrunk bac

ful, will you? You're too kin

ging through the dark hall

ase of my neck. This girl wasn't some ordinary Syndicate escapee. How s

s dan

of blood and the stench of the old stone hung heavy

n the chains on he

ed for breath, the hands

her, waiting for h

eyes met mine. They w

hesitation,

She moved again, and I pressed her down, keeping her still with my other

ooking away, and

Stubborn an

th. "Kill me,

ebrow. Why wou

just gotten their a

eneath my grip. She d

inat

efore recovering herself. She brushed the corner of her mou

need anythin

o, you clearly want so

ousand things. Answers

ad, I smi

t she quickly covered the lapse by

y mouth to gently caress against the skin. "No, littl

ed. "If you aren't going to kill me, t

you, yet." My voice dropped low

ke a hotwire betw

sing over the features before hardening int

e in it, darli

she swung a fist towards me. She was qui

r wrist easily, kee

felt so

ot and electrifying coursing throug

The curse placed upon me all th

ay back. She didn't do a

clawing to the surfac

til I could comprehe

lded together. She felt the same en

y grip, ignor

od fury

and she squirmed, trying to get

you going to do?"

blood rage back to the depths of he

ut a breathless laugh, shaki

"If you'd prefer to survive?" I aske

pped. "I told you alread

en, you leave

nch, cradling the wrist protectively as if scalded. "Y

door, her thoughts racing. "I

e," I

se the battle in her eyes, the part of her that wished t

e cell door, but stopped an

said softly but sternly. "You can remain here as

eft her alone, closin