Fanged Desire (Leyore Coven #3)

Chapter 27

Hunter

“Dear Hunter. What trouble have you gotten yourself into now?”

I stiffened immediately, hackles raised, and turned, ever so slowly.

The mask he wore couldn’t hide the sharp angles of his face or the shock of crimson hair cascading down his shoulders. Coal-black eyes glinted with something that might have been amusement.

Elliot. Elf bastard.

I bristled, my instincts telling me to prepare for a fight, and I bit out, “What are you doing here?”

Elliot’s smirk widened. “Oh, Hunter. I never imagined you could be so hostile. I should be the one asking you that question. You’re far from your usual circles, aren’t you?”

“Don’t play games with me,” I snapped, lowering my voice to avoid drawing attention, though my fangs were already probing past my lips. “I should have known you’d be working with Cathy–”

“Ready for a brawl?” Elliot interrupted, arching a brow. “I wouldn’t bother. I’ve already brought backup.”

I narrowed my eyes, claws elongating and ready to slash. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

A sudden crash, followed by a high-pitched shriek, had me turning again, my attention snapping to a commotion near the entrance. A voice called out – a familiar one – and a shock of red hair gleamed in the light of the chandeliers.

Jordan. She tossed a masked elf aside like he weighed nothing. When she caught my eye, she raised a hand, flashing me a thumbs-up as if this were just another day at the office. And she wasn’t alone.

Dylan, River, and a host of Leyore vampires surged into the room, alongside a contingent of armed elves who wasted no time scattering the partygoers. Gasps and cries of alarm rippled through the crowd as the masquerade descended into chaos.

Elliot was suddenly right beside me with his usual snobbish expression. “Now don’t aim those claws at me. We’re here to apprehend every cunning little shitstain at this event, including dear old Cathy.”

I blinked, rounding on him while my muddled mind struggled to catch up. “You’re not in league with Cathy?”

“Of course not. I’d never side with someone like Catherine Raine.” Elliot gave a careless shrug, smug and unbothered by the chaos erupting around us. “I’ve been investigating those human disappearances for months, but I was never able to identify a culprit. Really, Hunter, you should have come forward with your findings sooner rather than relying on that pretty little vampire friend of yours to piece things together.”

Pretty little vampire friend… Maxine. Of course, it was Maxine who figured out what I’d been up to. Before I could speak again, a sudden crash drew my attention. A table was flipped over, spraying shattered glass and macarons all over the place. Ethan backed up into me as masked figures streamed past us, shoving and jostling each other to escape the sudden attack.

The masked elves who had been enjoying Cathy’s party moments ago now darted and clashed with a force far greater than they’d expected. Leyore vampires and armed elves storming the mansion – two opposing groups moving with synchronized precision.

River was nearby, making easy work of an aggressive masked elf in a striped tuxedo. She grinned my way and delivered a precise punch to the guy’s jaw, sending him sprawling without ever breaking eye contact. Then there was Dylan, moving like a shadow. She spotted me from across the room and shook her head, her lips twitching in what could have been exasperation or amusement.

Something swelled in my chest at the sight of them. Jordan, River, Dylan, and the rest of the Leyore women were here, and they had my back. Somehow, despite the secrets I’d kept and the promises I hadn’t, they were here.

I tore my eyes away from the scene and turned back to Elliot, raising my voice to be heard over the commotion. “The elves are working with the Leyore vampires?”

Elliot arched a brow, his smirk faintly amused as we backed out of the way. “Surprised?”

“Understatement,” I yelled, dragging Ethan with me as the brawl spilled further into the grand hall. The staggered blond’s eyes were wide as saucers and he slumped in my arms like a sack of potatoes.

“I can’t believe the elves and vampires are working together. To protect humans, of all things.”

Elliot tilted his head, guiding us toward an alcove near the back. “You forget, I’m a half-elf. My mother was human, just as you once were. Half my blood comes from her. I understand what it means to be caught between worlds, to want to protect something you’re not fully a part of. I owe it to the part of me that’s human to protect and avenge Cathy’s victims.”

I could only gawk as I kept pace with him, staring at the snarky bastard with a fresh perspective. This wasn’t just a power play for Elliot – he meant it.

Elliot’s smirk returned swiftly. “You’re not the only one full of surprises, Hunter. Now, I’d suggest you get your human friend out of here before this place turns into a bloodbath.”

Right on cue, Ethan grabbed at my arm, his wide eyes darting from the melee to me. “Yeah – what the hell is happening? Are we fighting? Is this a fight? Are those vampires?! ”

“Just stay close to me.” I glanced back at Elliot who disappeared into the throng with a parting grin. “And do not try to fight. I’ll get you out of here.”

I grabbed Ethan’s arm and yanked him away from the crowds, shielding him with my body as an elf hurled a thrashing vampire against the wall with a blast of supernatural force. Ethan let out a strangled yelp, clutching my sleeve like a lifeline.

“Is this normal for you?” he hollered into my ear, stumbling alongside me as we made a run for one of the arched doorways.

“Define normal!” I had to shout to be heard, keeping my eyes on the chaos unfolding all around me.

I had to get Ethan to safety, but he wasn’t the only one. The party had gone completely off the rails and Addison was somewhere in the mansion, possibly caught in the crossfire.

“I’m going to find Addison!” I yelled near Ethan’s ear, elbowing a masked elf out of the way moments before they were tackled by a snarling vamp.

“What?” Ethan’s voice was a strangled squeak. “Don’t leave me alone out here!”

I ignored his protests, dragging him into a small cloakroom and hiding him amongst the expensive jackets. “Stay here. Keep your head down. And take the damn mask off.”

“But–”

“No buts, Ethan! Stay here, or I’ll knock you out myself.”

He swallowed hard but nodded, his face pale beneath the mask.

The chaos in the mansion was suffocating, the sound of clashing bodies, growls, and shouted orders echoing off the walls as I pushed through the fray. Every swing of my fist, every kick, every punch had a singular purpose.

Find Addison. Find Addison. Find Addison.

A masked elf lunged at me from the left and I sidestepped, whirling on him and delivering a punch sharp enough to slacken his jaw. He slumped over, but I wasn’t done, hauling him upright and throwing him into another elf charging toward me. The pair went down like dominoes, but there were more – always more.

Two more rushed at me, guards this time, batons raised. I bared my fangs and let out a low, guttural hiss that made them hesitate for a split second. It was all I needed. I grabbed the first one by the collar, yanking him forward and sending my knee into his stomach. As he doubled over, I used him as a shield against the other elf’s swing, the baton striking his partner instead of me. Then I let go, slamming my fist squarely into the second elf’s face with enough force to knock him out cold.

The taste of adrenaline, or bloodlust – or both – coated my tongue as I fought my way toward the quieter end of the mansion. The further I went, the fewer fighters there were, but the tension in my chest only coiled tighter.

Down one deserted corridor, a flicker of movement caught my eye and I spotted a figure slumped against the wall. My heart stuttered to a stop when I recognized that sickeningly pink outfit.

“Maxine!” I sprinted toward her, sliding to my knees. Her normally vibrant face was pale, even under all that blush, her eyelids fluttering as she tried to sit up. She was tangled up in some sort of braided cord, leaves and berries twined into each segment. I ripped it off her, snapping the charmed tripwire in my hands.

“Hunter! Ugh, that was unpleasant,” she murmured, pressing a hand to her head. “Elf charm. Packs a punch. Almost worse than a bad date.”

I helped her lean against the wall, kicking away the stretch of twined rope – eleven magic at its finest. “Are you okay?”

Maxine waved me off with a weak smile. “I’ve been through worse. But Hunter.” She grabbed my wrist, her head lolling to the side as she spoke through gritted teeth. “I fucked up. Some of the elves… they’re trying to escape with the humans. Cathy’s leading them. And your girlfriend – I mean – Addison. She’s with them.”

My stomach dropped. “Where?”

“They were heading out back.” Maxine sucked in a strangled breath, managing a faint smirk despite her state. “By the way, Addison is really cute. Way out of your league, though.”

“ Not the time!” I snapped, already bolting down the hall.

After what felt like hundreds of twisting corridors and wrong turns, I burst out of the mansion’s back doors, the cool night air hitting me like a slap. In the parking bay, a frantic group of elves were loading people into sleek black vehicles, kicking up gravel in their urgency. Cathy herself stood by, glinting sunglasses still in place as she barked orders at the rest of her crew.

And there was Addison – kicking and screaming and fighting with all her might in the arms of a bulky Elven guard, her blood red dress like a beacon in the dark. A red flag to a raging bull.

I didn’t think. I acted.

A snarl tore from my throat as I sprinted toward them, my claws extending and my teeth sharpening. The elves closest to me turned, their eyes widening as I bore down on them like a storm. One swung a baton, but I caught his wrist mid-air, twisting it until he screamed. With a vicious kick, I sent him sprawling.

Two more came at me, but I was faster, stronger. I ducked under one’s swing, swiping my claws across his chest. He crumpled with a faint cry and I spun to face the other, sinking my teeth into his arm before ripping it to ribbons. I barely registered the blood, the scent held no sway over me. I was there for Addison.

I reached the car where she’d been, but it was already empty. My eyes snapped to the lead vehicle, caught Cathy snaking into the driver’s seat, Addison shoved into the back by one of the remaining guards.

“No!” I roared, sprinting toward them.

The last guard stepped into my path, but I didn’t stop. I slammed straight into him, my claws sinking into his chest before I tossed him aside like a rag doll. The vehicle’s engine roared to life and I lunged for it, my claws scraping the rear bumper as it peeled out of the driveway.

“ No! ” I screeched, but my cries were no good.

The vehicle was already disappearing down the road, Addison’s petrified face pressed against the window, wide eyes fixed solely on me.