Page 100 of Blood Sacrifice

They were obviously trying to trick us, only they didn’t know about the creatures who could walk on the ceiling.

“Everyone into groups of three,” I instructed. “Watch each other’s backs.” We were about to move forward when Dominiclanded on the floor beside us in a perfect crouch before straightening.

“I know this is your mission, but can I make a suggestion?”

I eyed the vampire wearily, imagining a scene from a horror film with blood everywhere.

“The witches made potions before we left,” he continued. “Perhaps my people should be in the first wave, and drop those potions behind enemy lines to distract them before the big, bad wolves come knocking on their door.”

Jethro chuckled beside me. “The vamp is definitely growing on me,” he said. “I like your style.”

Dominic straightened the cuff of his long black coat. “Thank you, a well-tailored suit never goes out of fashion.”

My lips twitched at his comment because everyone knew Jethro had not been referring to his clothing. “Okay.” I waved the magic users forward. “The first wave of attack will be magic. I doubt they’ll be expecting that since all our witches were assholes and liars.”

One of the witches stepped forward, placing a backpack on the ground. “We packed some spells that were neutral and can be adapted to a situation,” she said. “What do you need?”

From the time Luna walked back into my life, I had slowly realised that what I thought magic was capable of was nothing like the real situation.

Dominic pouted, his hands rubbing his chin as he contemplated her question. “Fear is a powerful emotion and can paralyse the strongest warrior in battle. I think maybe we need to start with that. I remember a spell from a few years ago that can make a person see their worst fear manifest in front of them.”

My eyebrows rose as I listened to the exchange.

“Yeah, we can incorporate that,” the witch replied. Other magic users moved forward to prepare the potions they hadwith them. “Can I suggest something that will freeze everyone’s otherworld abilities? It means we need to stay back for a few moments until it dissipates, but the wolves will be unaffected if they are already in their moon form.”

“My men?” Dominic asked.

“If they are already in their moon form also, then their strength and speed will remain,” she replied. “The spell will contain everyone to their current status, so if the warlocks are not currently engaged in a spell, they will be powerless, and lycans will be trapped in their human form.”

“That sounds terrifying,” I said. “Remind me to never piss you off.”

Her grin transformed her features. “These are basic spells that we can easily incorporate into these potions. You should see some of the magic Luna and the higher-level witches can accomplish.”

There was too much about my mate that I didn’t know, entire lifetimes with her that I had missed because of the evil that lurked in this place. Anger burned in my chest so hot it scalded my insides. My wolf clawed his way to the surface. He wanted to destroy everything in his path, reclaim what had been taken from us. I wanted to turn back the clock and experience life with her, to walk the Earth and grow old together. Instead, war had been my playground, and violence my language until death meant nothing to me.

For the first time in forever, I felt real fear because Luna was out there and vulnerable without me to protect her.

This underground world was the only thing keeping me from being with her to keep her safe from the enemies hiding in the darkness.

While the witches manipulated the potions, the vampires turned into their moon form, their facial features sharpening, nails elongating into talons, and fangs descending. They weredeadly predators who would strike fear into the hearts of anyone who came face-to-face with them.

Dominic took a handful of potions, nodding as he listened to the witch who had been working on them. My mouth fell open slightly as I watched him leap from the floor, spinning midair to allow him to use his talons to cling upside down to the ceiling.

“There’s a reason we didn’t see them in the past,” Jethro said from beside me. “We were standing on the ground, and they were scurrying around the ceilings above us like demented bats.”

I creaked my neck from side-to-side, my wolf clawing his way to the surface ready to do battle. My canines ached in my gums and my nails transformed into claws. After countless years of war and bloodshed, I had avoided allowing my wolf free for years until I was able to look at myself in the mirror.

To get to our mate, I released the tattered remains of my humanity.

My vision lightened as my wolf took over, my pulse pounding in my ears. Jethro transformed beside me, others in my pack becoming black dire wolves inside the chamber as we allowed our beasts to emerge. The walls vibrated as our growls filled the air, the sound of claws scraping on stone floors as wolves made their way toward the exit.

“When the spells activate, everyone will be frozen in their forms, but I don’t know for how long as it depends on how many are in the room, and how powerful the creature is,” the witch said. “We’ll be following behind you with prepared potions and spells.”

I nodded once to indicate I understood.

Faints screams echoed from somewhere in the distance, an indication that the vampires had reached their targets and had engaged the enemy. I pushed my way through until I was at the front of the group, and I led the charge.

Adrenalin spiked in my veins, a heady aphrodisiac that screamed for the bloodshed of my enemies. My feet pounded on the ground, creating a drumbeat into battle. When they had discovered we had breached their underground city, they had amassed to ambush us. There was a reason Balor had selected the dire wolves as his personal guards. We were vicious in a fight, and didn’t stop until either we were dead or our enemy slaughtered.

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