Page 105 of Deadly Alliances

Shea placed a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks for listening. Let’s go and meet up with her.”

He nodded, then looked at me and pointed an accusing finger. “Hey, I know him. He’s the vampire who tried to stab my dad in the back.”

Surprise and fear spiked through my heart, feeding my growing apprehension.

Shea let loose a nervous laugh and gave a dismissing wave. “He and your dad have a long history. But Julian has been trying so hard to protect your sister, and that makes him one of ourfriends.”

Alex eyed me for a few more seconds. “Okay,” he relented with tight lips and suspicious eyes. “Where are we going?”

Shea gave him an encouraging smile. “To the roof. Have you ever been to the roof before?”

Excitement burst on his face, and he began to bounce on his toes. “It’s one of my favorite places in the citadel.”

“Well, we’re going to play a game up there,” Shea said, beaming. “Hide and seek.”

Alex’s eyes widened. “Ooh, that sounds fun!”

It was a partial-truth, and I admired Shea’s ability to handle the child so well. I didn’t do well with humans in general, but children were a whole other issue entirely.

“Let’s go,” she said, taking Alex’s hand. She shut his door, then we went back down the hall.

Miraculously, Rainbow came into view as we bound for the stairs. I looked past the cat, expecting to see the vampires hot on his tail. But there wasn’t even a sound. Rainbow must’ve lost them somehow. The cat jumped up, and I caught him gently, overwhelmed with relief that I wouldn’t have to leave him.

We pressed on down the stairs, and Alex kept turning and looking at me with his big, blue eyes.

“Why do you have a cat?” he asked in his admittedly cute voice.

I chuckled. “I don’t know. Maybe Shea could help us out on that one?”

“It’snotstory time,” Shea quipped. “Less talking, more running. We’re almost there.”

We came to a blank landing, and my brows crumpled. Sheastared at the wall, her hands on her hips.

“It’s locked,” a voice said behind us. “I think from the outside.”

I whirled about defensively. “Piper!”

She stepped up the stairs and approached me timidly, shoving her glasses higher on her nose.

“I’m so sorry about what happened to you,” she said, a pitying look in her eyes.

I stepped the rest of the way to her and wrapped my free arm around her, bringing her into a side-hug while holding Rainbow in the other. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m just glad we’re all getting out.”

Off to the side, Shea looked up the stairs nervously. “I hate to break up the happy reunion, but we’ve got to get through this door.”

“It’s a special lock,” Alex said, stepping forward. He placed his hand on bits of the stone, and a grinding sound came from the faintly-outlined doorway, but it didn’t budge. He frowned, pouting his lower lip. “That’s never happened before.”

I ran a finger along the dark material and discovered the issue. I swallowed as defeat settled like a stone in my belly. “The door is welded shut.”

Several footsteps sounded from around the corner, and I shot my head in that direction.

“They’ve found us,” I hissed.

“We’re trapped,” Piper chirped, her voice barely audible. “Why did I ever get involved with vampires?”

“Get behind me,” I commanded, dropping the hissing Rainbow and reaching my arms out protectively.

Shea put her hands on my sides while placing her head against my shoulder to get a good look at our attackers.

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