Chapter 53
The blonde-haired man lunged, reaching for my wrist, but I twisted away just in time.
“Don’t touch me!” I shouted, my voice cutting through the stale air.
“Oh, don’t be so tense, darling,” the snake-eyed man drawled, his grin as sharp as his tone. “I promise you’ll scream with pleasure before the end. We’ll make sure of it.”
I took a step back, my heart pounding against my ribs. Behind me, I remembered there was an alleyway between the shelves. It was risky, but it was my only chance. My gaze darted to a box of documents perched within reach. Without thinking, I grabbed it and hurled it at them with all my strength. The instant it left my hands, I bolted for the exit.
But my heels betrayed me, slowing me down. “Why on earth did I wear heels today?!” I cursed under my breath, knowing the ankle straps made them impossible to kick off in time.
The blonde caught up first, cutting me off just as my fingers brushed the door handle. With a vicious shove, he sent me flying backward. I collided with the nearest shelf, the metal edge slamming into my head. Pain exploded in my skull as I touched the back of my head, my fingers coming away slick with blood.
“You smell divine…” he murmured, leaning over me.
His hand gripped mine, and he leaned closer, his tongue darting out to taste the blood staining my palm. I yanked my hand back, scrambling away, but he was quicker.
“Don’t run, sweetheart,” he crooned, grabbing my ankle and dragging me closer. “It’s amazing no noble has marked you yet. If they had, you’d be untouchable. But since they haven’t...” He chuckled darkly, his words dripping with malice.
“I-I could be marked,” I stammered, my voice trembling as I gambled with my life.
His sly grin widened. “Oh, but you’re not. If you were, we’d sense it, and your noble would already be here to save you. Lucky for us, that’s not the case.”
His laughter grated against my ears as he crouched beside me. My eyes darted to the shelf. A metal strip, sharp and jagged, caught my attention. It wasn’t much, but it could work. I took a deep breath, flattening my body to reach for it.
In one swift motion, I grabbed the strip and plunged it into his stomach. He snarled, his eyes wide with surprise. He hadn’t expected resistance. While he faltered, I jumped to my feet and dashed for the door.
“Where do you think you’re going?” The snake-eyed man’s voice froze me mid-step. He grabbed my hair and yanked me back, throwing me to the ground.
All three of them loomed over me now, their laughter echoing in the room. Even the blonde, whose shirt was stained with blood, seemed unaffected by the wound I’d inflicted. His grin widened, baring sharp fangs.
Panic surged through me. I couldn’t let him mark me. I’d rather die. Summoning every ounce of strength, I swung my fist, smashing his nose. He howled in pain as I leapt to my feet, fists raised.
The other two lunged at me simultaneously. I ducked, dodging one’s punch, and swept the legs out from under the man in the cap, following with a kick to his groin.
“You’ll regret that, you little bitch!” the snake-eyed man roared, his nails transforming into deadly claws.
Fueled by adrenaline, I spun into a roundhouse kick and drove my heel into his eye. He screamed as his eyeball burst, dark-red pulp splattering his face.
I tore off my heels and ran barefoot, weaving through the shelves. My chest heaved as I scanned the shadows, listening for their footsteps. I couldn’t hide forever, but I had to buy time. Lucian—he had to know something was wrong. Unless... Unless he’d planned this.
The cameras on the ceiling caught my eye—black, lifeless. My stomach sank. This was a setup. I’d been played. My anger flared, but it was too late for regret.
A voice above me snapped me back. “Gotcha, little bitch!”
The man in the cap leapt from the shelf, claws flashing. I dodged, but his swipe raked across my abdomen. Pain seared through me as blood soaked my dress. I doubled over, gasping, as the scent of my blood drew the others closer.
They surrounded me, their eyes gleaming with hunger. My back hit the shelves, and I had nowhere left to go.
The cap-wearing vamp caught my kick and sank his claws into my leg. I screamed, wrenching my foot free, ripping flesh in the process. Their laughter filled the space, mocking my futile resistance.
The blonde stepped forward, his claws tearing deep gashes across my chest and stomach. I crumpled to my knees, a roar of agony ripping from my throat. My blood pooled beneath me as my vision blurred.
They closed in, their fangs bared. My body refused to move. This was it. My fight was over. I shut my eyes, bracing for the end.