I had done a miserable job of reading Adamo. The skeevy look in his eyes told me he was not my ally, and with Stan the Barbarian restraining me, I realized that wings and claws would be damned helpful to a fragile hybrid.

"The situation with Vincent, while tragic, also seems fortuitous," Adamo said as he stretched the fishing net between his claws, holding it taut. "Everyone will be searching for him. He is a big deal, as you pointed out. But a hybrid? Who would notice one of them go?"

Shit.

I knew he was a stickler for rules, but murder? These gollums behaved as badly as humans, and that gleam of infatuation in Stan's eyes had been replaced by a malicious smirk. Boris seemed to be the only one left out of the loop, watching curiously but dispassionately as the scene played out.

With my options dwindling like water through a drainpipe, I needed to act fast, and since I had Stan's face right in front of me, I lifted onto my toes and kissed him. Not just any kiss. The kiss of submission. I heard a gasp of shock, which sounded like Adamo, but Stan made no effort to pull away. In fact, he kissed me back and lunged his pelvis forward to share his arousal with me. I assumed he hadn't figured out I was imagining him on his knees, between my legs, desperate to satisfy his lust.

Behind Stan, the river tumbled violently, just one well-placed shove away, and I leaned into him, forcing his legs to carry him backwards over the rocky shore. While Stan focused on pushing his tongue into my mouth, I focused on pushing him into the river, and when I felt his stranglehold weaken, I quickly ducked under his arms and shoved him with all my strength.

"Hybrid bitch!"

Stan cursed as his hands flailed out to grab me, but I was long gone before any of the stunned gollums could react, sprinting for the forest as fast as my snow boots would carry me. All I needed was forty-five seconds to make the change, and I'd have something to fight these lunatics with. I just hoped the trees would slow the winged ones down.

They shouted for Stan to get the hell out of the river, and I calculated my lead time to be fifteen seconds by the time I heard them tracking me. Was I foolish to think I could make the change before I got pummeled? I'd never sprouted wings inside a vest before. With my luck, I'd end up tangled. I was way out of my league with these guys.

Amid the pounding of footfalls, I heard Boris question Adamo behind me. "Think of your reputation, Adamo. You don't want this hybrid's blood on your hands."

"Good point. You take her down. We will say she fell in the river and drowned during our search."

"I thought Stan was your henchman. You two seem to be of the same mind."

"I thought you were, too. Pushed the girl off the balcony of a skyscraper."

"I knew she would never hit the ground. Not with Vincent and her demon boyfriend protecting her."

"What are you saying? That you sympathize with her? She has been copulating with your grandson. She could be holding the seed to another just like her. This needs to be stopped."

"Bloody half breed!" Stan shouted as he joined the chase, banking to the left to head me off. He had assumed his gollum form, giving him all the advantage. No way could I make the change before they got to me. My best hope was to reach the town on the other side of the river... somehow.

I banked away from Stan, making for the snowy shore again, and just in case someone was listening, I whistled to draw attention to my deteriorating situation. If Adamo didn't want his little secret to get out, maybe he would think twice about chasing me into the open.

Seconds after I left the protection of the trees, wings were upon me, and I dove for the shore as Stan landed on top of me, forcing my padded body over the bed of stones. My cheek met with a boulder, and a cringe-worthy crack echoed inside my skull, forcing out a pitiful cry.

"Too bad it worked out this way," Stan said as he bared his fangs at my neck. "I would have preferred a roll in the sack before I killed you."

"So, Adamo put you up to this?" I mumbled into the dirt. "What's he giving you in return?"

"You want to know what your meager life is worth? Revenge is my payment. Taking down a demon like the one who killed my mate."

Brilliant. A gollum with unresolved demon issues.

"I'm more gollum than demon. I thought we were friends. Please, Stan..."

"Pleading won't help you. It only makes you easier prey." Stan growled as he dragged me closer to the river's edge, while I dug my heels into the ground.

"Why me? There are plenty of full-blooded demons to beat up on."

"Why you? Because you're green. You'll be easy to kill."

"You really are a donut, Stan."

Boris and Adamo arrived, and Stan adjusted himself, making it possible for me to address my so-called comrades.

"I grossly misjudged you, Adamo," I said. "I thought someone who enjoyed the freedom of an alternative lifestyle would be more openminded."

"What are you rambling about?" Adamo said, glaring down at me as he struggled to catch his breath.

"You and your mate. The one you don't live with to keep up the ruse. I hear the council turns a blind eye on that, and the fact you haven't promoted the species you so devoutly defend. The perks of being king, huh? Practicing hypocrisy and prejudice when it suits you."

"Silenzio, insolente hybrid!" Adamo shouted. "You know nothing about our species."

"What is there to know? Gollums are no different than humans, or demons for that matter. We all want perfect lives, and we are quick to attack when someone threatens that. I have been nothing but kind to you."

"Kindness is a weakness. You exist. Therefore, you are a threat to us." 

"And killing me is your solution?"

"I asked you to let Vincent go so he could find a suitable mate. Had you done this, I might have let you go live your perfect life."

"Vincent would have come after me. He wants me as his mate, and that is his choice."

"That was his choice," Stan said as he breathed heavily into my ear. "I will agree with Vincent on one thing. He found himself a mouth watering hybrid to fuck."

"Enough talk," Adamo growled. "Just kill her and cover your tracks, Stanhope. But wait until Boris and I are out of sight. If you are caught, the guilt resides with you."

"I won't get caught," Stan said as his hands tightened around my neck.

Adamo stretched his wings and took off, but Boris didn't follow right away. He stood on the shore a bit longer to glare at me. I didn't read the gesture as anything other than a long, hateful look at the hybrid scum who ruined his perfect life. A moment later, he joined Adamo in the air, and I was reminded of Stan's fangs at my neck, trembling anxiously over my wet skin.

"As soon as those two are out of sight, I'm going to let you up," he said.

"What?"

"Just keep fighting me. Make it look convincing." Stan rolled me sideways, keeping my head out of the river as he loosened his grip. "I hope I didn't hurt you."

"What's going on, Stan?"

"I'm saving your life."

Stan glanced over his head, waiting for the two gollums to disappear, then he pulled me up by my vest and hauled me across the slick river stones into the woods. Not for one minute did I believe he was saving my life. He wouldn't risk the wrath of Adamo if I turned up later in Vincent's Manhattan penthouse. I reached out for a pine, pretending to need it as a resting place, and Stan pinned me to the tree, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.

"You smell delicious. I bet you taste just as good." Stan spoke his lewd intentions against my forehead, and I knew what was coming next. "I think you owe me something for saving your life."

And there it was.

"How about 'Thank you'. Most people are good with that."

"I think this deserves a bit more."

With my back jammed into the bark, Stan started kissing my face, removing traces of river water with his lips. I didn't dare move. The sharp points of his talons were at my neck, and I already noticed the bulge in his pocket. Not the one from his dick, the one from the dagger he kept there. I'd seen the hilt catch the moonlight during our trek to the borghetto. Was that why he wore wool slacks?

There wasn't much I could do against a desperate, horny gollum in the dark forest but use his desperation against him. Something about me had Stan behaving badly, and I figured he would do just about anything to get into my pants. If I played along, it might give me an opportunity to nick the dagger from his pocket, but if I seemed too eager, he would become suspicious. The situation called for cleverness and a few convincing tears.

As Stan made his way to my mouth, I imagined Vincent lying cold and lifeless in a casket, and that's all it took to get the tears flowing. When Stan's lips touched mine, a salty droplet landed between us. He pulled away to look down his nose at me.

"Now, why would you cry? I'm going to take all your worries away."

I licked the tear from my lip, then I bit it. "Can I make a request?"

"What is it?"

"Can I ask that you not kiss my lips. I want to reserve them for Vincent."

Stan furrowed his brows. "But, Vincent could be..."

"I know. Please, can we pretend he's alive for now."

"If that's what you want." His lips pinched in disappointment as he brushed his knuckles across my cheek, and I winced when he touched the painful spot where I'd landed on the rocks. "I've hurt you. Let me take your mind off the pain."

He hooked a single claw through the zipper of my vest, pulling it all the way down, and I let it drop off my arms, knowing that was what he wanted. But I wasn't about to let him drag my shirt over my head with those nails, so I went ahead and got rid of it myself. Stan took a moment to leer at me with carnivorous eyes before gesturing with his chin, signaling he was ready for me to remove my bra. I obliged him, exposing my breasts to the elements and his wicked gaze.

"Bloody hell," he whispered as he rubbed his groin with the palm of his hand. "Pants next."

"Um, Stan. Can I make one more request?"

"What?"

"Will you change into your human form before we do this? Otherwise, I won't be able to relax."

"Aw, c'mon. At least, let me take you from behind like this, then I'll change for round two.

Round two? Yikes.

"Why does it have to be from behind?"

"You have a fantastic ass. I want to look at it. Pants."

No way was I letting this guy get behind me, but I did what he asked and finished undressing while I figured out my next move. Unfortunately, my mind kept picturing Vincent popping out of the trees and saving my fantastic ass, but thirty seconds later I was standing buck naked in the woods and still no Vincent.

"Such a shame," Stan said, although he appeared to be talking to himself as he reached out and touched my breasts with the back of his hand, causing my already hard nipples to pucker more.

I tried not to think about the meaning behind Stan's ramblings and let my body do the work, hypnotizing him and taking control of his hormones so he wouldn't notice me reaching for the blade in his pocket. Just as I plucked up the courage to go for it, Stan lowered his pants and the blade to the ground. When his erection sprung free, I did my best not to gape. Was every gollum hung like a bull?

"Turn around and hug the tree," he said with another chin jut.

"I don't think I'm ready yet," I said, wrestling with a plan that might save my life and my ass. "The cold doesn't allow for easy lubrication, if you know what I mean."

Stan grinned. "Oh, yes. Dessert first. I like the way you think." His dark eyes grew rounder, and I got a powerful whiff of his scent. I might have been aroused if I didn't think he planned to gut me as soon as he pulled out. But his hormones were currently in control, clouding his better judgement, and as soon as he got on his knees, I used his shoulder to sling shot over his back, right between his wings. Landing in a crouch, I snatched his pants off the ground.

"What the fuck!" Stan whirled around and assumed his warrior stance, but not before I had the dagger in my hand.

"Stay away from me or this is going between your rib cage."

Stan laughed, giving no regard to the way I had positioned the blade between my fingers, just like I'd been trained. "You expect me to believe you know how to throw a dagger?"

"No. I've only had four lessons, but I remember everything I was taught. I could use you as a target if you want to test my skills."

He laughed again as he retrieved his pants, tugging them on as he pursued me. If he didn't stop moving, I wouldn't be able to gauge the distance between us. Knowing the distance was critical for accurate placement.

"I can see your heart is not in this," he said. "I suppose, we'll have to do it the hard way."

I watched Stan's body language change, and I knew by the hunch in his shoulders he was ready to pounce. With nothing left in my arsenal, I cocked my throwing arm and let the dagger fly. It hurtled end-over-end and stuck in his chest, missing his heart to the left. A perfect bullseye.

Stan dropped to his knees, and his scream reverberated from tree to tree, but it wasn't his voice that had me spinning around. Someone else was screaming. Screaming my name. And I hoped like hell they were on my side.