Page 59 of Fangs & Fur

“It wasn’t meant to go for Noah,” Richard speaks. His voice no longer shakes with terror and his eyes harden as he glares up from his spot. “It was meant for you.”

Multiple growls permeate the room, and even Milo stands from his spot and cracks his neck, his tired gaze locking onto Richard.

“I knew it wasn’t Noah who blocked my number,” Richard chuckles. That thin smile I've grown so accustomed to over the years returns to his smug face. “He doesn’t have the back bone for it. Never did and never will.”

Xander hisses, his fangs descending as he snarls and for a second a flash of fear crosses Richard’s face. But he’s quick to smother it with another painful smirk.

“How could you?” I hear myself asking the question, yet I don't feel the words falling from my lips.

Richard licks his upper lip, his tongue catching a drop of blood. “How could I? You were missing, Noah! You ran away from me. From us.”

My mouth turns to cotton, and I swallow around my dry throat. I’m torn between screaming and crying, yet all I can do is clutch the doll to my chest and struggle through my next breath.

Richard scoffs, “See! Nothing’s changed. You’re still a spineless mess. No purpose, no sense of direction. You’re just a floating mass.”

Xander’s growl lowers an octave and the air in the room thickens as he shakes with anger. “Choose your next words wisely.”

Harlan adjusts himself on Richard’s lap by digging his nails into the sides of his face causing the human to shriek. “What do you want with Noah? S-Speak the…truth.”

By the time Harlan manages to finish his sentence, blood is pouring past his lips and dripping down his throat. He winces as he swallows and Cassius slowly hooks an arm under Harlan’s and pulls him from Richard’s lap.

The human is left alone as he writhes and groans, fighting the compulsion, but he’s exhausted by the dazed expression and glazed eyes.

I watch with bated breath as he slumps backwards, his chin falling to his chest. “Nothing.” His voice hardens. “He was mine long before he ever realized it. My shadow. My constant.” He swallows hard. “I just wanted to save him… make him need me enough that walking away was never an option.”

The room falls silent, and no one moves a muscle. Everyone except Nyx, who stretches. Her back arches high and her tail flicks in the air before she saunters across the living room and climbs right on top of Richard.

He lifts his head, his eyes meeting her glowing red ones, and he flinches. Pulling his lips back, he snarls at the cat as she simply stares deep into his eyes.

Xander takes a step back and holds me tightly. But I find the fire within me. It’s as if his touch on my skin fans the spark.

“You never cared.” I find my voice despite it being shaky. “I loved you. I tried to love you. Was that why you never invited me to meet your family or why you never introduced me to your friends? I was just some hidden ghost you used to warm your bed at night.”

“Sweetheart.” Xander winces at my words and I lean into him, enjoying the fact that this man has shown he’s willing to rip his own heart out for me.

Richard snickers, “You took the word right from my mouth.”

I pounce at him, only for Xander to hold me around the middle, my arm straining for Richard. “HOW COULD YOU!?” I scream at him. “You call me spineless yet here you are, cowering beneath a cat!”

Ambrose chuckles, his eyes twinkling as if this is the first time he isn’t completely bored out of his mind. Cassius holds Harlan against his chest as the little vampire watches with sad eyes.

“Sweetheart.” Xander clutches me, kissing the top of my head as I still try to break away so I can pummel Richard. “He’s told us all we needed to know. His fate is with Nyx now.”

His words cool the fire within me as my attention softens to Nyx, who licks at her thin lips. The movement shows off her overly large incisors.

Richard is quick to chuckle. His laugh bounces off the walls of the house and grates against my nerves. “You people are insane! The cat! What the hell is a cat going to do? Scratch me to death?”

Milo steps away from his spot at the stairs and slinks to the back door where he pulls it open, allowing the cold breeze of the night rush inside. “Worse.” His voice is barely above a whisper and I realize he’s only said it just loud enough for my human hearing to catch it.

Milo’s tired gaze meets mine and for a fraction of a second his lips quirk into a smile. My entire body lights up with warmth from just that tiny gesture of recognition. But that shared moment is soured as Richard’s yelp explodes through the house.

Nyx sinks her teeth into his cuffed ankle and gives him a sharp tug, earning herself another plea of agony from Richard. She tugs hard, and he slides forward, his arms raised above his head as he desperately grasps at the couch. Yet, with his injured arm and cuffed wrists, he can’t manage to find a handhold.

“WHAT THE HELL IS IT DOING!?” He shrieks and tries kicking at her, but with his ankles restrained his attempts are futile as Nyx rips him away from the couch and begins dragging him through the house, right towards the back door.

“NOAH! HELP ME!” Richard cries, tears streaming down his cheeks as a glob of snot drips from his nose. It mixes with the trickle of blood and smears disgustingly across his lips. I sneer in his direction.

“Help yourself, dick,” I mock.