Ruthless Fae - Ingrid Seymour Page 0,60

late, I noticed the guard standing off to the side, pointing a gun straight at my chest.

I gasped in surprise, bracing myself for the bullet, but just before the shot rang out, Vaughn soared through the air and clasped his jaw around the guard’s extended arm, deflecting the bullet. It went wild and struck the ceiling above me. The guard fell against a crate, hitting his head and going limp.

Letting out a pent-up breath, I descended toward Alexander as he spoke into the device one more time. “Evacuation required IMMEDIATELY!”

Landing next to him, I yanked the device away and smashed it against the ground. It broke in two and slid away.

Then I stood, seething, and staring at the two people I hated most in the world.

It took all my willpower not to kill them with my bare hands. These two monsters had hurt so many people, had ended so many lives. I wanted to make them suffer the same way.

I wanted to crush them.

Adaline pressed her back against the wall, her shoulders hunched forward, her head lowered as she stared at my raised fist. Alexander joined her like the coward that he was.

Behind me, Vaughn’s claws clicked against the concrete floor as he approached. What would he say if I unleashed my venom on these two?

Trembling, I lowered my hand and took a step back. If I attacked them, it would mean my heart had turned as dark as theirs. That they’d broken me with their games and evildoing. That they’d left a stain on me. But I was better than them, and I wouldn’t allow their tarnish to ruin me.

As I backed away and Vaughn stood at my side, Adaline straightened, regaining some of her usual arrogance.

“Fae filth,” Alexander spat. “We should have done away with you when we had the chance.”

“Yes, you should have.” I smiled with exaggerated satisfaction.

Beside me, Vaughn snapped his head toward Adaline and growled, drawing my attention back to her. She had slipped her hand into her pants’ pocket, a satisfied smile stretching her lips. Pulling her hand out, she came up with a small black device with a red button in the middle.

“You’re good enough in a fight,” she said. “No doubt about it, but you’ll never outsmart us. You’re just a stupid, backward savage.” She pointed the device toward Vaughn and pressed the button.

Vaughn yelped as a high-pitched tone blasted through the warehouse. With a twitch of his neck, Vaughn dropped to the floor, paws twitching once, then went completely still.

I rushed to his side and knelt, my hand burying into his fur.

“Vaughn!” I exclaimed in a panic. “What have you done to him?!”

I reached for his neck, trying to feel a pulse. That was when I noticed a sizable lump under his skin. I pushed on it, and it shifted under the thick layer of fur.

“What is this?” I asked in horror.

Vaughn’s green eyes sprang open, and he scrambled back to all fours, shaking his head and snapping at me. I jumped back as he glanced around, clearly confused.

“Now, you will listen to me,” Adaline said. Vaughn’s attention drifted to her and his eyes went blank. “Good doggie.”

No. No. No.

Adaline turned to her brother. “Fetch the radio and call again. I’ll take care of these two.”

He did as he was told, picking up the scattered parts and snapping them back together. He pressed a button on the side and the device crackled to life. “It works.”

“Good,” Adaline said, taking a step toward Vaughn, who stood completely immobile as if made out of stone. “You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you, Tally? You will pay for ruining this.” She pointed a finger at me as she gave Vaughn the order. “Kill her.”

Vaughn’s head turned to me. His eyes flashed red for a second, then dimmed as he stalked in my direction.

I took a step back, my heart beating out of control. No, this couldn’t be how it all ended. My mind snapped back to the vision Crescent had shown me. This was too similar to be a coincidence.

Vaughn growled, baring his teeth, his head lowered as he prepared to attack.

“Please, stop. It’s me, Tally.”

There was a slight twitch in his muzzle, a faint shudder that rippled over the raised fur on his back, that let me know Adaline’s implant didn’t have full control. Maybe he was strong enough to fight it.

I stopped backing up, and Adaline regarded me as if I were crazy or simple.

“He won’t hurt me,” I