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137

137 Ava: A Shocking Finale (1)

137 Ava: A Shocking Finale (I)

I need to replace Lisa. @

Those uncharacteristic texts have me in a panic as I watch the commotion through the kitchen doorway.

That’s not how Lisa texts. So either someone has Lisa’s phone, or someone has Lisa and her phone.

Be careful. I can sense from Selene’s voice that she’s on her way, but this isn’t the time to ask how she got past the guards.

Kellan.

I need to text Kellan.

But when I turn on my phone, there’s no signal.

And the texts from Lisa are missing.

Selene, something’s wrong.

Understatement of the century right there.

All of the shifters have left the kitchen, running forward to the fight. I can hear some words that have me rooted to the ground in panic, my mind spinning.

137 Ava: A Shocking Finale (1)

Vampires.

Bloodsuckers.

The words send a chill through my bones as the commotion escalates in the living room. There’s no doubt in my mind; they’re here for me.

I don’t know why.

I don’t know how.

All I know is that I need to replace Lisa, and we need to

run.

Shaking off my panic, I make a decision. Lisa was with Bren, so they’re probably upstairs, in a room

somewhere.

I’m about to bolt for the stairs when the back door swings open. I whirl around, my heart leaping into my throat. A tall, slender man with long silver hair and

• piercing red eyes stands there, his gaze fixed directly n me. Recognition flashes in those unnerving eyes.

“What a surprise. The second little kitten is already here.” His silky voice drips with malice in an unnerving purr. It’s a beautiful sound, but only serves to send terror straight into my heart.

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137 Ava: A Shocking Finale (1)

My eyes dart past him and land on Lisa. Her face is a mask of sheer panic as she stares at me, frozen in place.

At least I don’t have to hunt her down.

But now I need to keep her safe. A human stands no chance against vampires.

“Lisa, run!” I scream. “Get help!”

The vampire lunges for me with inhuman speed. His icy fingers close around my wrist like a vice. I twist, using the self–defense moves Jericho drilled into me. Breaking his grip, I spin away.

Ava, no! He’s too strong! Selene’s frantic voice echoes in my mind but I can’t stop now.

I sprint toward the living room, diving headlong into the fray. Shifters are locked in vicious combat with a group of vampires. Snarls and howls of pain fill the air. The metallic scent of blood assaults my nose.

I have no plan. No idea what I’m doing. I just need to lead him away from Lisa. Buy her time to escape.

You can’t fight him alone! Selene warns as I weave through the chaotic tangle of bodies.

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137 Ava: A Shocking Finale (1)

She’s right. I’m no match for a vampire. But maybe I can slow him down.

I risk a glance over my shoulder. He’s right behind me, his red eyes glowing with cruel amusement. He’s toying with me. A cat playing with a mouse.

A few shifters try to attack him, but he sends them flying with an invisible force.

Fuck.

I’m screwed.

I dash for the front door, hoping and praying that Kellan kept his spies around somewhere and that help is coming.

Now, I feel stupid for demanding that they let us attend the party without guards on our ass.

I put on a burst of speed, my heart hammering against my ribs. I’m almost there. Just a few more feet.

uddenly, an invisible force slams into me from behind. I go flying, crashing into a table. It shatters beneath me, shards of wood biting into my skin.

Before I can move, he’s on me. Pinning me down with his body. His breath is cold against my neck as he

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C 137 Ava: A Shocking Finale (1)

leans in close.

“Did you really think you could outrun me, little kitten?” He chuckles darkly. “How adorable.”

I thrash beneath him but it’s useless. He’s too strong. Panic claws at my throat as his fangs graze my skin, and a cold tongue flicks against it.

“Let her go!” Lisa’s voice rings out.

My heart stops. No. She was supposed to run. Get to safety.

The vampire lifts his head, his lips curling into a cruel smile. “Ah, there you are. I was beginning to think you’d abandoned us.”

He stands, yanking me up with him. His arm is a steel band around my waist. I claw at him desperately but he doesn’t even seem to feel it.

. Lisa stands in the doorway, her face pale but

determined. “I said let her go.”

“Lisa, no! Run!” I yell, struggling against his iron grip.

The vampire laughs, the sound sending shivers down my spine. “How brave. But foolish. You can’t stop me. No one can.”

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137 Ava: A Shocking Finale (1)

The vampire starts dragging me toward the back door. I dig my heels in but it’s like trying to stop a freight

train.

“Come along, kitten,” he purrs at Lisa, who looks between us.

“Run,” I hiss at her, but she doesn’t fight when he uses his other hand to grab her wrist and drag us along.

Back to the kitchen. Through the back door.

We’re being kidnapped, right out of Westwood lands.

I glance at Lisa, who’s terrified, but has her jaw set in a stubborn line.

I’m not going to be kidnapped again. This is what we trained for, right?

Okay, maybe not this exact situation.

And we definitely didn’t train against vampires.

But I’m not weak anymore. I can fight for my freedom.

Desperation floods through me as the vampire drags us out the door. I thrash against his grip, kicking and twisting, determined not to make this easy for him. He’s strong, impossibly so, but I refuse to be a victim

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137 Ava: A Shocking Finale (1)

again. Not after everything I’ve been through.

As we stumble into the yard, my eyes land on a body lying in the grass. Confusion turns to horror as I realize the man’s pants are pulled down to his knees, exposing him. Bile rises in my throat as recognition hits me like a punch to the gut.

It’s Bren.

I almost vomit right then and there, but I choke it back. I can’t fall apart now. We have to get away.

Lisa must see him too because she starts fighting with renewed vigor, thrashing and clawing at the vampire’s arm around her waist. He snarls in frustration, his red eyes flashing with annoyance at our refusal to come quietly.

“Stop fighting me, kittens,” he hisses, his voice laced with warning. “You’re only making this harder on yourselves.”

But we don’t stop. We can’t. Giving in means certain death or worse. I won’t let him take us. I won’t.

In quick movements I can hardly track, he backhands Lisa across the face. The crack of flesh against flesh

echoes through the night air. She crumples to the

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137 Ava: A Shocking Finale (1)

ground like a ragdoll, and my heart stops.

“Lisa!” I scream, struggling against his iron grip. No, no, no! Please be okay. Please.

The vampire rounds on me, his face contorted with fury. “Now look what you made me do,” he snarls, spittle flying from his lips. “I didn’t want to harm my precious kitten, but you just had to be difficult.”

His words send a chill down my spine. Kitten. He called her kitten. Just like he called me.

I don’t have time to dwell on it because he’s on me in an instant, his hands around my throat, squeezing. I claw at his fingers, gasping for air, but it’s useless. Black spots dance across my vision as he lifts me off the ground with one hand, my feet kicking uselessly in the air.

“I was going to be gentle,” he hisses, his face inches. from mine. “But you just had to test my patience.”

He slams me against the side of the house, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs. Pain explodes through my body as he holds me there, pinned like a butterfly in a display case. I can’t breathe. Can’t think. All I can feel is the crushing pressure of his hand

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137 Ava: A Shocking Finale (1)

around my throat and the cold brick digging into my

back.