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from the ground. He wanted her to see him as she took her last breath, wanted her frightened out of her mind. He laughed harshly in her ear as she struggled, pulling at his large hand as it closed tighter and tighter around her throat. He suddenly let her go, grabbing her arm and swinging her around so he could savor the terror on her face.
    “Elle Connor, at last.” He let out a guttural laugh. “You’re strong but not nearly strong enough to take me down. You’re a little nothing. You’re welcome to fight for your life as I take it. In fact, I would enjoy that.”
    She kneed him in the gut as he reached for her and let out a surprised yelp when he made a counter move that put her flat on her back on the street pavement, looking up at him in visceral fear. He pinned her shoulders to the ground with both hands, restricting her movement. He was taken back when he saw the anger, as well as the fear, on her face. “Who the hell are you? What do you want from me?” Her tone was clipped, and she sounded far from intimidated.
    A flash of hot rage ripped through him. The bitch wasn’t even terrified. He was deeply insulted and also felt a pang of unease. Perhaps this wouldn’t be as easy as he had imagined it would be. He dismissed the unease, letting his handsome human face ripple a bit to flash the demon beneath. He raised one hand as it began to glow a deep crimson. Her eyes widened, and she screamed from deep in her belly, trying to buck him off. He smirked, now satisfied with her reaction. He put his hand close to her face, letting her feel the extreme heat.
    ****
    My God, I’m going to die! He’s going to melt my face, and I’m going to die. How is this really happening? That was Elle’s last coherent thought as the monster who only looked human lowered his glowing hand to cover her face. She snapped her eyes closed, bracing for the excruciating pain to come. She heard pained gurgling and cracked one eye open. A giant of a man, with graying hair and dressed all in black, tightly squeezed the monster’s throat from behind. The monster released his one-handed grip on her and grabbed at the strong hand closing his throat. His crimson fire hand burned her savior, smoke rising, but he didn’t flinch or loosen his hold.
    “Let me know when you have endured all you can, Pyro. If there’s more fight in you, I can easily continue to do this for quite a while longer.” Her savior’s voice was gravelly and very welcome to Elle at the moment. She didn’t know for sure if he was really her savior or if he planned to kill her along with the monster, but if this was something to settle between the two of them, maybe she could just get up and walk away from the incredibly surreal situation without third degree burns.
    The one named Pyro raised his hands in submission, struggling to stand as the other man slowly released his hold. Elle scrambled to stand and her savior easily caught hold of her arm, effortlessly lifting her to her feet. She met his eyes with tears in her own and was surprised to see the kindness in his eyes.
    “Young Elle, always a magnet for trouble and forever a pain in my side.” He nodded at her, a faint smile on his lips.
    Elle blinked in surprise. Her voice was hoarse. “How…how do you know me? Thank you for saving me, but I have no clue who in the hell you are.” She glanced quickly at Pyro who was doubled over, snarling and sucking in huge gulps of air. “Or who…or what the hell he is.” She focused her attention on her savior, taking in his heavy black clothing, head of graying dark hair, and smooth, expressionless face. He turned to Pyro with an angry glare.
    “You had to know this attempt to destroy her would be a failure, Pyro. I am everywhere, I see all where she is concerned.”
    Pyro straightened himself, still snarling. “Fuck you, Tagas. You won’t always be this vigilant protecting her, and I’ll be there when you slip to handle you and her. Hell wants her rotting in the