“I have two hundred and fifty immortals at my back, young Abel. Do you honestly think you can take us all?” Etienne returned, brows lifting.

“Man, wise up,” Abel shot back derisively. “I’m a destined member of The Three for a reason. So is my mate. Trust me, you do not wanna learn those reasons.”

“Honey,” I said, sidling toward him, not taking my eyes off Etienne, “don’t give away the good stuff.”

Abel’s hand shot out in a wink, capturing mine and tugging me behind his back.

“Don’t worry. She will not die. I have uses for her.” Etienne’s eyes slid down me in a way that made my stomach turn over nauseatingly and caused fury to start beating from my man. “You, we’ll take your head. But she will watch.”

“Done with this. You’re not gonna get on your knees, quit talkin’,” Abel demanded. “Time to play.”

Etienne shook his head like Abel was all kinds of stupid.

Then he said, “As you wish.” He turned to his right and nodded. “The both of you.” He turned to his left. “And both of you.” He twisted his torso and nodded three times. “You, you, and you.” He pointed beyond the supernaturals to an extra-large, extra-scary golem. “And you.”

He turned back to us and smiled, not quite finished, showing clear as day he was enjoying this.

Immensely.

“Secure the mate. Bring the hybrid to me alive.”

Eight-on-one and Abel had no weapons.

My stomach dropped.

“Now,” Etienne whispered.

* * * * *

In an Apartment Somewhere in Washington DC

“Thank God, he saved the girl,” a woman whispered, her coffee cup forgotten on the counter beside her, her eyes glued to the TV hanging from underneath her cabinets. “Now, I hope those two know what they’re doing.”

It kept going.

She kept watching.

And hoping.

* * * * *

Gregor

“Oh God, I can’t watch!” the woman with the clipboard cried, her board crashing to the ground as she turned, lifting her hands to her ears, her eyes shut tight.

Gregor turned his face to the ceiling.

“Where are The Three?” he boomed.

* * * * *

Delilah

The supernaturals shot forward.

I heard grunts.

All Abel’s.

I felt wind whipping around me.

I saw blood splatter on the Tarmac of the street.

And I knew it was the end.

Wild and free.

Wild, okay.

But not free.

Never free.

Suddenly, I heard other grunts and saw action that I could actually focus on.

My heart slid up, lodging in my throat.

Xun, Wei, and Chen were there.

Weaponless.

But also fearless.

I saw an opportunity, bent low, whipped my leg out, and hit hard. The pain spiraled from ankle to hip as I connected with what felt like a tree trunk, but I’d caught him unawares.

The golem teetered, and with ungainly swings of his arms, he fell.