Beth flashed a grin as she turned around. "He's here."
Sera kicked and spit as she renewed her struggle. "Stay still, little girl!" her captor grated in her ear. "Or I'll break you like a twig."
"Liam, no!" Sera screamed.
A blast of fury ripped into her skull. Sera went limp as Liam's presence invaded her mind and soul. She whimpered as panic and wrath chilled her from the inside out. Tears instantly began to slide down her cheeks. He was alone; she knew that. He had come alone, and he was going to die. He couldn't beat them, not alone.
Please go away, she pleaded silently. Please.
He didn't go away but appeared within the tunnel of the cave. Her heart leapt into her throat as his gaze fell upon her, red and livid. For a second, his eyes flickered, and the brilliant green of them blazed forth. His eyes returned to a vibrant ruby color as they landed on the man holding her. His face twisted into a furious snarl, and a vein in his forehead jumped forth as his jaw clenched.
"Hello, lover," Beth taunted.
Anger rushed through her as possessiveness swept her like a tsunami. She stiffened in the man's grasp. His hand dug into her neck as his claws pierced her skin. She bit back a cry of agony.
Slowly he turned from her to look at Beth and the other two men. "Beth," he growled.
Beth's smile was taunting as she gracefully moved around the fire. Everything inside him screamed at him to destroy and kill everyone here. It was only the thought of Sera keeping him at bay. If he attacked Beth now, he knew the man holding Sera would kill her.
"Did you come alone? Not smart lover, not smart," Beth continued to taunt as she stopped before him.
He glared at her hatefully, but every sense focused on Sera. Her fear beat at him as she remained unmoving within the man's grasp. Her silent plea for him to leave was the only thought he could register from her.
Beth's eyes sparkled with malice as she took a step forward. "What exactly do you plan to do?" she asked sweetly.
"I plan to kill you," he grated.
Sera couldn't suppress a whimper as the hand dug deeper into her throat. The man holding her lifted her, so her toes barely touched the ground. Liam's eyes flashed violently. The men in the shadows moved slightly forward.
"She'll be dead before you can move," Beth said laughingly. "It makes you mad he's touching her, doesn't it? Holding her? Stroking her?"
Sera whimpered again as the man nuzzled her neck. He seemed to be taking some cue from Beth. "She smells sweet," the man said huskily.
Sera tried to twist her head away, but he held her firmly as he leisurely licked her face. She couldn't see past the red haze clouding her vision as Liam's rage slammed into her skull.
"That really does upset you," Beth whispered. "Think about what they'll do to her when you're gone."
His last thread of control unraveled and he lunged furiously at Beth. She writhed within his grasp, hissing and spitting as he pulled her against him. His hands ripped into her arms, causing her blood to flow.
"Let her go!" he bellowed at the man holding Sera as his hand wrapped around Beth's throat.
The man holding Sera laughed as the other two steadily crept forward. "You're not going to kill her as long as I have this one. We can survive without Beth, can you say the same?"
Liam dug deeper into Beth's throat; he wanted to rip her throat out, destroy her; tear her apart. Sera's eyes were haunting as they fell on him, her terror beat against him.
He took in the air around him. He could sense his friends, they were coming, but they weren't close enough. "If I were you, I would let her go before I rip out your girlfriend's neck," the man holding Sera warned.
Sera's gasp brought his attention back to her. The blood trickling down her throat was a vibrant splash of red against the paleness of her skin. The sight of it tore at him as it clawed into his gut. His hold on Beth involuntarily tightened, and his fingers dug deeper into her flesh. Beth spat as Sera flung herself backward.
The resounding crack that followed filled her with satisfaction as the brute's nose gave way beneath the force of her skull. He howled and released her as he grabbed his shattered nose. Sera twisted, braced her feet against his legs, and shoved forward. He grabbed her again, but then his grasp slipped, and she plummeted to the cave floor. Her hands and knees stung from the impact, but she launched herself back to her feet.
Liam had only a second to react as the other two rushed toward her. He ripped his hand across Beth's throat. Blood poured across his hand as she gurgled in distress and her hands flew to her torn windpipe. He shoved Beth aside and leapt over the fire as Sera jumped to her feet.
He grasped hold of her arms and pushed her backward as one of them grasped for her. Sera cried out as her back connected with the rock wall. She didn't have time to register anything before Liam was shoved against her. The two monsters were on top of him, clawing and hissing viciously. The one she wounded was recovered and coming at them again.
Sera screamed as one of them slashed at Liam. Blood spurted from his arm and splashed across her face. She struggled to get away so she could help him, but Liam kept her pinned against the wall as they slashed and punched at each other.
Claws tore at her as the one she injured arrived at Liam's side. She cried out as they ripped through her clothes, tore through her skin, and sliced across her ribcage. Liam howled as he grabbed hold of the arm and ripped it back. Claws ripped into the side of his
