Knight-in-Arms - Ultimatum: (BWWM Interracial Paranormal Billionaire Shifter Romance Part Four [Final]) Read Free Page B

really a lot Rochelle could do other than leave it with them. Her heart felt relieved that it was over. Her head, however, told her not to place hope in things that had not been verified.
     
    She went home.
     
    Maria was gone.
     
    There was no note or explanation other than that Tobias had her. None of her family had been in when Maria had disappeared. Rochelle sat down on her bed. Just when things were starting to get better, they got worse.
     
    *              *              *
     
    A loud clock wound into action and struck nine. Its booming chime reverberated round the headquarters of the Order of Jessick. Around ten cloaked and hooded figures began to pour from a room and make their way towards a grand, wooden staircase. One of them was Maria, making her way to bed, along with other expectant mothers brought in under the reach out programme.
     
    She didn’t see the extra cloaked person hiding the shadows but the intruder had seen her. As she walked past, the figure grabbed her, pulling her into the shadows. Maria tried to scream but a hand was clasped over her mouth.
     
    “Shh”, whispered a voice, “It’s me”. The owner of the voice pulled back the hood. Beneath it was a woman whose blonde hair was drawn back in her characteristic bun. Dr Astor.
     
    Maria stopped struggling.
     
    “Come on” said Dr Astor, leading Maria down a dark corridor. In a matter of seconds, they had melted into the darkness and were gone.
     
    Dr Astor hadn’t come alone. Xavier walked along the corridor to the chambers of Tobias Maximus Heath. He had taken the neutralisation drug three days before. He was still weaker than his normal self but stronger than when he was when he was dying. He hoped he had enough strength to make Tobias pay for what he’d done to Rochelle.
     
    Xavier knocked on Tobias’s door. Tobias opened it. Seeing Xavier, he tried to close it again but Xavier was too strong. He held the door open and went inside. Tobias backed away from him.
     
    “Wait, no, Xavier, I’m sure we could come to an agreement” he stepped backwards until his back was up against the wall.
     
    Xavier grabbed him by his shirt. The beast was threatening to come out and Xavier didn’t want to suppress it.
     
    “The time for negotiating is up” he spat.
     
    It angered him to think how he had used Rochelle to do his dirty work.
     
    The paged guards ran in and stood poised, deciding the exact moment to attack. Xavier looked at them out of the corner of his eye. There were more than last time and judging by the armour and weapons, a lot better equipped. Hmm. In his current state, this would be difficult.
     
    No longer alone, Tobias gained confidence.
     
    “Seize him!” he ordered, “And I want him alive!”
     
    The guards made their way towards him, cautiously as he still had their Chief Protector up against the wall.
    “Looks like today is your lucky day” said a voice.
     
    Tobias looked up. His men turned round. Sebastian stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He seemed amused. But then, he stood up properly and shrugged off his jacket. Slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt and removed it.
     
    “It’s fight one, get one free”.
     
    He slinked forward, graceful, yet dangerous, like a predator. His wings unfolded slowly, panning out across the room.
     
    “You see, Xavier here is all twisted and bitter because you hurt his girlfriend”, he said, “whereas I’m naturally mad, bad and dangerous to know”.
     
    The man nearest to him ran at him with a knife. Sebastian caught him and a second later, disarmed the guard, swinging him round to face his fellows. The man was pinned against him. Sebastian raised the knife to his throat and pressed it against his skin, so hard, blood began to trickle. And then, he dragged the knife across the guard’s neck, slitting his throat. He let go of him and the man collapsed to the floor.
     
    Sebastian licked the blade of the knife.
     
    “Mmm”, he