Page 86 of Twilight of Embers
“I heard there was a little dragon bitch, but I didn’t believe it. Let’s see how you scream.”
43
MADDOX
The world slowed around me, my blood roaring in my ears, as I saw the Corbett enforcer grab Hayden.
Cillian shouted, and I saw another soldier out of the corner of my eye. He launched himself at me, but he was too slow. I pulled my blade, slicing him clean across the throat.
And then I was running. Toward Hayden. Toward my mate.
She’d risked herself to try to warn me. If something happened to her now, it would be all my fault.
We should’ve known the Corbetts would risk everything as soon as they knew of her existence. Should’ve known that they wouldn’t wait to attack.
And now, it could cost us everything.
As I ran toward her, the enforcer’s face came into view, and my blood ran cold. Jerome Corbett. He was one of their worst. Sick and deranged. I couldn’t think about what he might do to Hayden if he escaped with her.
She screamed as he yanked hard on her hair, pressing a knife to her throat.
Jerome cackled, pressing the blade harder against her until a trickle of blood slipped free. “Such a beautiful scream. I can’t wait to hear more.”
“Stop, Jerome,” I growled.
His gaze flashed to me, anger heating it. “If it isn’t the professor. A day late and a dollar short, but what’s new?”
I gritted my teeth. “Let her go.”
Jerome just laughed harder. “Sorry, pal. It’s not going to work that way. Dex wants her bred. Think of the new army we’ll grow with all the babies she’ll give us.”
All the color drained from Hayden’s face at his words.
Rage pulsed through me, my beast pressing at my skin, demanding to end this threat to our mate. “You know you’ll never get away with her. We already have reinforcements heading this way.”
Jerome glanced toward our territory, his jaw hardening. “Then we’ll just have to end her altogether. Better than letting you abominations have her.”
The blade slipped lower and sliced across Hayden’s chest.
She screamed in pain, crimson blood staining her lavender sweater.
I charged, but Jerome jerked her back a step, bringing the blade to her neck again. “Ah ah ah. Don’t move, Maddox. I might slip and get her jugular next time.”
Hayden’s breath came in quick pants, pain filling her expression, but her eyes locked with mine. There was so much trust there, hope and determination. Her gaze flicked down to her hand repeatedly, and that was when I saw it. A scalpel.
My focus jerked back to her face as she mouthed, on three.
Terror swept through me. It was too risky. But what other choice did we have?
Hayden licked her lips, mouthing again.
One.
Two.
Three.
She jerked her hand up and then slammed the scalpel into Jerome’s thigh.
