Morrigan's claws dug into Jax's shoulder, her knuckles turning a sickly shade of grey-violet.
The absolute silence of the ballroom was punctuated only by the heavy pounding of Maegel's heart behind me and the ragged, desperate breathing of the demon woman who had walked in like she owned the world. Only to be beat in her best game.
The noble beastmen—the lions, wolves, and hawks of the court—watched with bated breath. Their ears were pinned back, their tails stilled in an instinctive recognition of a higher predator. They didn't see a 'stray' anymore; they saw the apex.
"You... you little viper," Morrigan spat, though the words lacked their previous bite.
Her gaze darted to Julian and Caelum as they boxed her in, their eyes glowing with the same merciless light as mine.
She looked at Jax, but even the mountain of ash was trembling, his primitive instincts screaming at him to flee from the female standing in red velvet.
