the pain in his one good eye.
“The bitch tried to blind me!” he shouted, drawing the attention of his accomplices.
Alexandra was about to jump up and make a run for it when a loud thump came from somewhere at the rear of the alley. The earth beneath them vibrated and the lid of the big, rusty Dumpster slammed shut. All eyes turned toward the shadows.
“What was that?” Bubba asked.
Weasel shrugged. “How the hell should I know?”
Using the wall for support, Alexandra stood slowly. She shot a glance to the exit of the alley and when she looked back the three men were approaching her.
Scratch, who was squinting, retrieved his knife from the ground. “I’m going to teach you a lesson, bitch!” he spat.
Another sound emerged from the rear of the alley, making them pause a second time. It was a low and ominous growling that was like nothing Alexandra had ever heard before.
“Man, what is that?” Bubba asked again.
The noise grew louder and a large figure loomed in the shadows.
Weasel took a step backward. “Maybe a dog,” he suggested nervously.
“Man, that ain’t no dog,” Scratch said.
“Then what is it?”
The dark figure flew from the ground into the shrouding darkness overhead, rattling the fire escape. Incredulously, Alexandra blinked her eyes. The thing had moved quickly, but the brief moment in the light had been enough for her to recognize it. And if she’d seen correctly, then the thing that stalked them was the very creature that had visited her the night before. But … how could it be? She’d been hallucinating, right?
Her three assailants stumbled backward with their gazes turned to the sky. “Where’d it go?” Weasel shouted.
“I don’t know,” Bubba replied as he pulled a short knife from his pocket. “But if it comes down here, it’s gonna get what it’s looking for.”
Scratch kicked angrily at the gravel. “Come out!” he taunted. “Show yourself so I can cut your throat!”
Before the last word spilled from his lips, loud vibrations from the fire escape echoed through the air and the shadow sprang forward, disappearing again into the overhead darkness.
Weasel retreated a few paces. “What the hell!” His eyes were wide and fear danced within them. “Did you guys see what I just saw? That thing has wings!”
The low, guttural growls persisted and in the next moment, the creature leaped from the shadows, coming to land before them in a huddled position. Slowly, it rose like a demon emerging from the pits of hell, its wings spanning a full length of about twelve feet, its long tail slashing the night air.
Alexandra stood frozen with her back pressed against the wall. She couldn’t believe her eyes. The creature was just as she remembered him, tall, powerful and beautiful. For an instant, his transfixing eyes set upon her and a shudder racked her body. Hours ago those penetrating eyes had draped her with lust and blazing desire. Hours ago he’d spread her thighs wide and tasted the very core of her womanhood, when she’d shuddered with a climatic release that would’ve put a wanton to shame.
A scorching heat made its way up her legs and down her breasts, coming to unite in that soft place between her thighs.
Her present danger was forgotten and all she could think was that the creature was real—flesh and blood and not a figment of her imagination!
Marius flexed his wings, assessing the situation.
The three men stumbled backward another step. “Hey, it’s too early for Halloween!” The one called Scratch sneered.
“Man, I don’t think that’s a costume,” Bubba said as he and Weasel staggered away another few paces.
“Oh, yeah? Well, watch me cut that ugly mask off his face!” Scratch poised himself for a fight, his fingers flexing over the handle of the knife. “C’mon, you weirdo freak!”
With slow, confident strides, Marius advanced upon them, his gaze pinned to the man wielding what appeared to be an arrowhead. He’d been following Alexandra when, from the roof of an apartment building, he’d spotted her turning into an alley. By the time he’d discreetly found his way to the roof overlooking the alley, the three men had trapped her. An unexplained rage had filled him as he’d witnessed Alexandra being thrown against a wall. Then when the largest of the trio had brought the tip of his weapon against her chest, severing her button, a new anger had possessed him—the very anger that flooded him now. He told himself that it was due to the fact that the Lunar Ritual had already began and should something happen to her before its completion, his family’s curse would be sealed for eternity.
The man called Scratch charged, his knife held high for the anticipated assault. Marius turned his attention toward his assailant just as Scratch swung his blade. Marius caught the man’s arm, but not before the sharp point slashed his chest. His eyes narrowed on the thin film of blood forming where it had made contact and a deep growl reverberated within his chest. His grip tightened on the thief’s wrist and the weapon fell from the man’s fingers.
Scratch let out a loud, agonizing cry that was cut short when Marius snatched him off his feet by his throat. Holding him high, Marius regarded him with distaste. He was of half a mind to snap his neck and end his repulsive existence, but he hadn’t come to New York to start a laundry list. The man was insignificant. With an aggravated growl, he threw the thief toward the Dumpster, where Scratch hit the brick wall and fell unconscious to the ground.
“Let’s get the hell out of here!” Weasel exclaimed, and he and Bubba turned and fled.
Slowly, Marius approached Alexandra, who remained motionless against the wall. He paused when he came within a few feet of her, his wings folding. His gaze drifted to her full mouth, parted so sweetly as she took small gasps of breath. Her blouse remained open where the button had popped away and he could see the smooth mounds of breasts that he knew were ripe and soft. Yet lust didn’t beset him, for he also caught sight of the red bruises on her forehead and wrist. The knowledge that those men had done this to her rekindled his anger and he wondered how he could feel protective toward someone he intended to kill himself.
She feared him—he could see it in her eyes, smell it even—and she was wise to do so. Yet he was tempted to assuage her worries—to tell her that she needn’t be afraid. He considered the hilarity of such a gesture. He stood before her, a monstrosity, a beast, a prince of hell—to expect her to simply dismiss his appearance was insanity. Then there was the fact that she was his enemy, that before the passing of the Spring Equinox, her blood would be on his hands.
A moan followed by the scurrying of rats sounded from beside the Dumpster. The thief was coming to.
Marius shot a look over his shoulder then returned his attention to Alexandra. “Leave this place,” he growled.
Feeling torn by emotion, he spread his wings again, shrouding her in darkness. Their gazes locked for an instant, hers reflecting unspoken gratitude, among other things. Time seemed to pause in that brief moment, preserving the torrent of sensations between them.
He turned away and took to the air,
