Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae #1)(19)

“I can lick the humor into you.”

“That’s…not…flattering for you.” She hurried toward the door. She could fight him off, sure, but his dick’s standing ovation was disconcerting. It’d be best if she got the hell out of there.

He bounced off the bed like he’d been ejected and landed on the floor next to it, his knees bent to absorb the impact. He straightened up slowly, and the soft glow of the clock revealed the smile curling his lips. “You’re gorgeous. A refined, pixie-like beauty. All natural. I love it. I hope you taste as good as you smell.”

“Nope.” She reached for the handle, hardly believing what she’d just seen. This guy should be in the naked Olympics or something. “Jesus, man, put that thing away.”

He surged forward, a little jerky but incredibly fast despite it. She ripped the door open, her body in flee mode. She’d never fought a naked guy coated in sex, and she really didn’t want to start now.

His reaching fingers grabbed the side of the door. She stopped, planted a foot, and side-kicked with the other. Her foot hit the man’s chest center mass. The sound of material ripping competed with his grunt as the loudest thing in the room. She’d ripped Sam’s dress.

“Damn it,” she said as he flew back. “Look what you made me do!”

She plunged into the hall, the scuffling behind her electrifying her body. She started jogging as pounding feet ran behind her. The kick hadn’t deterred him. He was coming after her!

Before she could decide to run faster, yell, or turn and confront her fear of bodily fluids smeared on a naked man, a door swung open ahead, emitting a ghastly creature born in a nightmare. Long, matted hair fell over bony shoulders. Breasts like deflated balloons drooped from a skeletal, greenish chest, the skin hollowed between a xylophone of ribs. A ghastly face hissed, showing two huge fangs protruding from black gums.

“Holy fuck-tarts, what the fuck?” Charity said, dodging a reaching claw-like hand, its nails ending in sharp points. Horror blocked out her thoughts. The discomfort from a moment before turned into full-fledged panic.

More doors swung open, strange howls ripping at the night. Charity ran so fast that she could barely feel her legs. She hit the stairs, taking them two at a time, hearing animal-like thumping behind her.

Faster!

She jumped down the last four steps, stumbling on the marble floor, and sprinted for the front door. For a way out. Maybe even for Devon. He’d been interested in her safety, hadn’t he? Maybe he wasn’t crazy or high after all. Besides, he was strong. Powerful. Allying with him was the best chance she had.

If she could get to him.

Her bare feet slapped the marble before she jumped down two steps into a den. A shape appeared in the far archway. A flaccid penis waggled between bowed legs, swampy skin nearly white. The thing was cutting off her exit.

A burst of fear exploded deep in her gut. That ember within her, which she’d first felt outside, flared to life again, but this time the heat started to burn through her middle. Electricity zapped down her arms and legs, filling her body. Clearing her mind.

She spun and barely zipped past the creature that had been chasing her. Its clawed hands reached for her, flicking her hair as she passed. A horrible, inhuman screech filled the room.

Mind buzzing with barely contained panic, she thundered down a hallway and burst into some sort of sitting room. Veering right, hearing the breathing behind her, she sprinted toward the next doorway and around a corner.

A claw came out of nowhere, reaching for her face. She screamed in surprise, batting it away and ducking under the other hand, never losing speed as she bolted into the kitchen.

The sliding glass door! Up ahead and thankfully open. All she had to do was get through that door. She was sure of it.

The click-click-click didn’t make sense at first. Until she saw one of the creatures running, trying to head her off.

Faster!

With a burst of speed she didn’t realize she had in her, she raced that thing to the exit.

It reached the opening in the glass at the same moment she did. Claws raked down her arm. Crying out, she veered and bounced off the doorjamb. She staggered, but caught herself, and pushed her way into the night air.

Another creature came at her from just outside. Claws swung at her face. She screamed and dodged out of reflex. Fangs glistening in the moonlight, the thing screeched like a bird of prey. Black saliva dripped from equally black gums.

“Oh God!” she cried, pivoting. A claw raked across her back. Pain made her adrenaline throb.

She jumped off the two steps beyond the door and landed awkwardly on the stone walkway. Her weight took her to the ground, the fall too awkward for her to turn it into a roll. She glanced up with her heart in her mouth, seeing a claw slashing down.

Lightning surged through her body, responding to her fear. A strange power throbbed deep inside her gut. Sweet effulgence flooded her, electricity sizzling down her limbs as she threw her arms up to protect her face.

Like a strobe light with the wattage of the sun, radiance rained down on the swampy creature. It howled in pain and rage, shrinking from the intense glow.

Not knowing what was happening, but knowing she’d gained an advantage, no matter how short-lived, Charity hopped up and surged forward, sprinting down the stone path toward the front yard, desperately hoping that safety was close at hand.

When she was halfway down the path, exhaustion creeping into her limbs, the light blinked off behind her. The night washed back in, cutting down her visibility. Her toe hit a divot and her body lurched toward the side of the house. Bouncing off the siding, she staggered forward, desperate to keep her momentum.