Chapter 53: A Fight Against the Shapeshifters

Michael’s POV

I did not slow down.

The moment the possibility crossed my mind that the shapeshifter had followed Emerald, everything else around me became irrelevant.

I could hear the music from the ballroom, the conversations of the guests and the steady movement of people around us, but none of it mattered anymore.

Emerald was still inside the restroom. And the shapeshifter was gone.

Alaric followed closely behind me. "Michael," he called.

"I heard you."

"Then slow down."

"No."

I continued down the corridor towards the restrooms. Several guests were still moving around, completely unaware of what was happening.

I could hear every footstep, every conversation and even the faint clinking of glasses from the reception hall behind us.

Then I heard it. A dull impact came from behind the restroom door. I stopped immediately.

Alaric came to a halt beside me. "What is it?"

I raised my hand to signal him to be quiet, then listened again. Another sound came through, unmistakably different this time. Someone was struggling inside, and then I heard Emerald.

My expression hardened. "She’s inside."

Alaric’s face changed instantly.

We moved towards the door, but it was locked.

I didn’t bother searching for a key. I pushed my power towards the lock, and the mechanism snapped apart with a sharp click. The door swung open.

What I saw inside immediately made my blood run cold.

Emerald was pressed against the far wall, her face pale with fear. The actress stood between her and the exit, but she no longer looked like the woman who had been smiling and speaking with guests in the ballroom.

Her eyes had changed.

There was something unnatural about them, and the softness that had been present in her features earlier was gone.

Her movements were also different. Everything about her carried an unmistakable predatory quality.

Emerald’s eyes found mine. "Mr. King..."

The actress turned towards me. For a brief moment, surprise crossed her face. Then she smiled. "So you came."

I stepped inside. "Move away from her."

Her smile widened. "Or what?"

I took another step. "That was your last warning."

She moved before I could say anything else.

Her speed was far beyond anything a human could possess. She crossed the distance between us in an instant, and I raised my arm just as her fist came towards me.

The impact shook the entire restroom.

My back slammed against the tiled wall, cracking several tiles beneath the force, but I recovered almost immediately.

She came at me again.

I caught her wrist before her second strike could land. She twisted her body with surprising speed and strength and drove her other hand towards my chest.

I blocked the attack, but the force pushed me several steps backwards. She was strong.

I tightened my grip on her wrist and swung her across the room. Her body struck the wall, and the mirror behind her shattered into countless pieces.

Emerald screamed. I turned towards her for a fraction of a second. That was enough distraction. The shapeshifter came at me again.

I barely had time to turn before her fist passed my face. I caught her arm, drove my elbow into her side and watched her stagger backwards.

Alaric stepped forward. "She’s fast."

"I noticed."

The shapeshifter straightened and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. Instead of looking afraid, she smiled.

"You Primogens think you’re untouchable."

Alaric gave a low laugh. "We don’t think." Then he disappeared from where he stood.

The next moment, his fist connected with her body and sent her crashing into the counter. The sink broke beneath her weight.

She rolled away before he could grab her and immediately attacked him.

Alaric met her halfway. Their bodies collided with enough force to shake the room. She managed to drive him backwards, but he caught her by the throat and lifted her from the floor.

She clawed at his arm. He didn’t even flinch. "You’re quite strong," he told her.

She kicked him hard in the abdomen. Alaric released her, and she landed on her feet.

I moved towards her. She turned in my direction. The next exchange happened too quickly for Emerald to follow.

I struck first. She blocked the attack and immediately countered. I caught her fist, but she twisted her body and freed herself before striking again. I avoided the blow, caught her by the shoulder and drove her into the floor.

The tiles cracked beneath her.

She was still for a moment before pushing herself back up. I narrowed my eyes. She was still standing. That was more than most creatures could have managed after taking that kind of hit.

She lunged again. I met her halfway. My fist struck her shoulder, and the force sent her spinning across the room. She stumbled but recovered almost immediately.

Then I felt it. Another presence. My head snapped towards the door.

Alaric noticed the change in my expression. "You felt that."

"Yes."

Before either of us could say anything else, the restroom door exploded inward.

A second figure appeared, embodying the same presence I had felt earlier in the ballroom—the second shapeshifter.

He didn’t hesitate. His eyes immediately found Emerald, and he moved towards her.

I was already moving. I stepped between them before he could reach her. His fist struck my chest, but I didn’t move.

His eyes widened. I grabbed him by the throat and lifted him from the floor. "Wrong target."

He struck at me with his free hand, but I caught his wrist before the blow could land. His strength was considerable, but it wasn’t enough to force me backwards.

He snarled as he struggled against my grip. Then he smiled. "You don’t know what you’ve stepped into."

I returned his smile. "Neither do you."

I threw him across the room. His body crashed through what remained of the shattered mirror before he hit the floor.

Behind me, the first shapeshifter immediately attacked Alaric again, but he met her with a grin. "Now this is getting interesting."

I looked towards Emerald. She was still pressed against the wall, staring at us in disbelief. Her face had gone even paler. She had seen too much already. I couldn’t allow this to continue.

Whatever these creatures wanted, they had chosen the wrong place and, more importantly, the wrong people to challenge.

I had to end this quickly.