"Lucien," Edmund called out with a steady tone. "Return the human girl. I found her first. She's mine."
Lucien turned his head slowly. His lips curled into a sly grin as he saw the look on Edmund's face. "Oh, is that so?" he drawled with mockery. "You mean this one?" He gestured to Mara, who lay limp at his feet.
The sight of her, barely clinging to life, seemed to amuse him more than anything.
Edmund narrowed his eyes. "I know you're not as reckless as Victor," he said. "I have a claim on her. You already have a human so you can let her go."
Lucien's grin only widened. "Why don't you come and get her, big brother?" he taunted, taking a step back. "Or are you too afraid?"
Seeing Lucien's mocking expression, Edmund steeled himself, ready to retrieve Mara and avoid a fight. But as he took a step forward, Lucien's eyes gleamed with a wicked light.
Lucien swiftly sank his fangs into Mara's neck, biting down with a sickening crunch.
