Twist by Dannika Dark

I stared into the eyes of a hunter between those strands, and it reminded me of a trip I took to the zoo as a little girl. The big cats were on display behind a glass wall, giving the illusion they were in the room with us. Despite the fact that we were safe, I was too petrified to move—convinced that the wall didn’t exist.
    “Wouldn’t try it, Mage. I can run much faster. Open the door.”
    My skin crawled with each syllable, and the phone slipped from my pocket, clattering to the floor.
    “Little bird, little bird, let me in .” His lips peeled back and I was transfixed on those sharp instruments.
    “No,” I whispered.
    Without warning, the door flew open and slammed against the wall. I staggered backwards, running into the edge of the bed. The tall man loomed in the doorway, cocking his head to the side, collecting me with his eyes like a curiosity.
    “What do you want with me?”
    “If I had a dollar for every time I heard those words. Don’t be coy; you know what I want.”
    His skin changed again, but it flickered and was gone. The patterns were various sizes, and subtle shades of honey and sand.
    “I don’t even know who you are; what bone do you have to pick with me?”
    “Great choice of words,” he mused. “As much as I’d love to pick and chew on your bones, I’m here on orders to collect and deliver.”
    “Whose orders?”
    His tongue slicked around a sharp fang. “If I am here, then you know who wants you. He is the man behind the curtain, pulling all the strings.”
    I couldn’t believe it. He was talking about the Mage who stole my light. Novis nicknamed him the benefactor, but I had a few other colorful names for him. Samil lent me over to a man who didn’t see me as a person, but a source of power after tasting my light and discovering I was a Unique. Regardless of their business dealings, he was not willing to meet Samil’s price, and my Creator put a few obstacles in place by presenting me to the Mageri; it gave him leverage with the bargaining.
    Logan’s movement was so unexpected that my hair blew back from the rush of air. I didn’t think anyone could move faster than a Mage. We stood chin to chest. A rumble filled his throat with every breath against my temple. I hesitated, unsure of how to respond, but I knew one thing: I was afraid of him, so afraid that I couldn’t even summon my own energy.
    He stepped back and retracted his fangs.
    “What’s the matter, lose your appetite?” I dared.
    Fear was starting to morph into something ugly, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my mouth shut.
    “My feathers don’t ruffle easily, Mage. Why does my employer want you?”
    “So he can use me.” The words hung in the air like dirty laundry, all ripe with humiliation. “Are you his minion for money, or debt?”
    “I am no one’s lackey. Perhaps I simply enjoy it.”
    “I call bullshit.”
    He arched a brow. “You call what ?”
    “No one works for free. You’re either a weak man who follows the leader, or the fool that owes a debt. Which is it?”
    His cheeks puffed out as he sampled the air. “Your scent is altered. Are you provoking a Chitah?”
    “So what if I am?”
    He stepped forward. “You would challenge me rather than go to him? I could kill you, lickety-split.”
    “Death is better than captivity.”
    “Are you offering to be my prey?” He looked down at me and it became evident that no one challenged a Chitah.
    “I’m no one’s prey,” I said with a sharp tongue. “Do you like to hunt? Well… let’s go.”
    I widened my stance and he widened his eyes. I was ready to take on this man, whoever he was, without hesitation. I swallowed my fear and looked him square in the eye. Then, he blinked.
    Twice.
    I flashed behind him and threw a punch into his lower back. He snarled and before he could turn, I yanked his long hair, keeping my distance. His back arched and he swung an arm out to grab me. Forced to let go, I leapt back.
    Justus helped me identify