Page 73 of Heimlock

Trinte steps fully in front of me. “Don’t talk to her. We’re here for Janeeka’s things. That’s it. Then we’ll be out of your hair.”

Huracio reaches the bottom of the stairs and lets out another chuckle. “Boy, I don’t know who you are, but you probably aren’t aware of who you’re with. That little slut right there will—”

Trinte’s arm moves. A crack sounds, then a loud thump. He stalks forward, allowing me to see Huracio crumpled against a wall where Trinte’s wind threw him. Wide eyed, I watch the blue Dragon lean down and snatch him by the throat.

“I said don’t fucking talk to her. That includes talking about her.”

Huracio’s eyes bulge as Trinte squeezes. Choking, he grins and holds out a hand toward me. Vines lash out like whips, snatching all four of my limbs before Trinte or I can react.

I scream, slamming into the wood floor. Too many memories flood my mind, making it hard to think.

Hands. Mouth. Teeth. Vines. Thorns. Shoving. Thrusting. Biting.

Trinte roars and throws Huracio. Plaster collapses inward as the Sprite’s body lands inside the wall. Still, the vines squeeze. Out of an old habit, I try to gnaw at them with my teeth. Tears stream down my face, and I can’t stop screaming.

The vines slacken. Trinte yanks them off my limbs and picks me up in one fluid motion.

“Hold on,” he growls. We make it three whole steps, then we’re both falling forward.

I yelp as we slam into the floor. Huracio’s vines yank Trinte back by the ankles. He tries to twist and tear at the vines, their thick, leafy shafts refusing mercy. More appear, wrapping around his body. His body’s alight with electric bolts, but the vines barely shutter.

Huracio’s laughing. “You didn’t realize who would be here, did you? Janeeka knows me as Laurice, but you, Cockroach … You know me as so much more.”

Trinte whips his tail at Huracio. The Forest Sprite leaps back, barely escaping the attack. Trinte cranes his neck to look at me. “Run!”

I’m frozen, unable to make a decision. He’ll kill Trinte — I know he will. He’ll kill us both. Trinte looks at me, terror written deeply in his expression. Terror for me.

Years ago, I decided enough was enough; I’d fought back, and I can do it again.

That snaps me out of it.

I’m no longer the teenager being terrorized by a grown man with mommy issues. I’m the fucking Firecracker who spent her entire adulthood learning how to prevent this shit. Icy rage sluices down my veins, exploding into blue fire at my fingertips.

Pushing myself up to stand, I snarl, “Let him go. Or I’ll burn this fucking house down, too.”

Huracio’s eyes flicker with fear, then resolve. “You broke in, little Cockroach. I’m merely defending myself.”

“Janeeka gave me a key.”

“This isn’t her house. It’s my house.”

The fear returns for a split second. That definitely complicates things. My expression must show this newfound understanding.

Huracio grins. “I see she neglected to inform you of this.” Trinte grunts as vines shove themselves into his mouth. He hasn’t stopped struggling, but the bursts of lightning he’s pouring into the vines aren’t doing anything. Wind whips around Huracio, but he’s used vines to root himself into the flooring. The blue Dragon, unless he shifts and destroys this entire building, is useless.

But he hasn’t yet, which most likely means he thinks it’ll hurt me. Which also means I need to leave this house.

Cocking my head, I try to stay calm. “Let him go and you can do whatever you want to me.”

Trinte screams with renewed rage, desperately chewing against the vines preventing him from speaking.

Huracio sucks air through his teeth. “See, I would, but I think he actually likes you. And that means he’ll go out of his way to find you. I don’t feel like being chased by a Dragon for the rest of my days. They’re so damn territorial.”

One of Trinte’s forearms snaps. His body seizes from the pain, and a tear drops from the corner of his eye. I cry out, rushing forward. Huracio builds a wall of vines; I collide into the fortification. Slamming my palms onto the greenery, I ignite it. Ash flies in the air as I level a menacing glare at the Forest Sprite.

“Let him go,” I say with velvety softness. “And I’ll let you out alive.”

“In case I wasn’t clear, I won’t be doing that.”