Vampire King’s POV:
"You should have run faster."
The lion pounced with a roar, teeth flashing, claws extended like knives. I ducked low, sidestepped, and grabbed its mane as it lunged past. Its weight hit the earth with a thud, but it rolled and came at me again. This time, I let it. Let it taste hope.
I caught it mid-air.
My hand wrapped around its throat, lifting it clean off the ground. It thrashed, kicked, snarled into my face. The beast was massive—muscle and fury—but still soft where it counted. I stared into its golden eyes as its roar faltered to a rasp.
“Majestic,” I whispered. “But foolish.”
With one sharp twist, I slammed it into the rocks. The crack echoed through the trees.
The lion twitched once, then stilled. The ground was damp beneath it, soaking in its final warmt
