Page 71 of Clash of Sin and Secret

I lead the way, keeping us downwind from the buildings. I won’t risk her picking up the scent of mine or Tucker’s human blood and tipping her off to our presence.

Tucker falls silent as we reach the trees where Link has set up a surveillance position. It’s the cluster of trees where Zane and I hid earlier.

Link is perched on a thick branch, scanning the darkened buildings, his skin and clothing as black as the night itself.

“All quiet here?” I whisper up to him.

“Outside, yes. The team inside is still searching for intel.”

I shift my feet, staying behind the thick trunk to remain invisible from the parking lot. “Do you think she’ll come back tonight?”

Link tilts his head from shoulder to shoulder. “There’s no way to know. We’ve only got another hour of night left at most. If she’s not back by the time the sun comes up, we’ll be stuck here waiting until nightfall tonight.”

That’s not the answer I was looking for. I want her to come back so I can snap her neck, and Tucker can rip it from her scrawny shoulders.

Tucker squeezes my arm as if he’s sensing my swirling thoughts. Right. He can sense them. The magic that we share bonds us in some crazy ways. “You’ll get your chance, beautiful.”

Link taps his earpiece and holds up a finger. He listens for a moment and then drops from his branch and lands in a crouch beside us. “One of the men inside found something. I’ll check it out if you two are good to keep watch.”

“We’ll be right here when you get back.”

He accepts my assurance, scans the grounds between our position and the main entrance, and then disappears into the cover of darkness.

“We should take up our position.” I point up the tree and am about to start my climb when Tucker stiffens beside me. “What is it?”

He turns, tilting his head as if he hears something on the wind. Absently, he shifts me closer to the trunk of the tree as he scans our surroundings. “We’re not alone.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Tucker

Blocking Scottie from danger the best I can, I shift closer to the wide, rough-barked trunk of the nearest trees. Scottie’s shoulder brushes mine as we maintain our position among the ancient oaks.

A twig snaps behind us.

I spin, but Daeva is already there. She comes at Scottie, swinging her extended claws, her burgundy hair flying, a cruel smile twisting her lips. I throw out my palm, striking her square in the chest and knocking her backward into the tree behind us.

Five vampires materialize from the shadows. We’re surrounded in an instant.

“You fucking bitch!” Scottie’s voice drips with malice as she drops into a fighting stance beside me. Power crackles in the air, her squire magic coming to life. “You’re not leaving here alive.”

Daeva chuckles. “You understand that we’re vampires and you’re a living juice box, right?”

“You’re not real vampires,” Scottie scoffs. “You’ve got stumpy little fangs and tainted blood. You’re mutt abominations.”

They attack as one. I dodge the lunge of the first vampire, my fist connecting with his jaw. The crack of bone is satisfying. Scottie’s magic flares, sending another attacker flying into a tree trunk.

“Alec, take the girl!” Daeva commands.

A dark-haired vampire charges. His speed is impressive, but there’s no way I’m letting him take Scottie. I launch between him and Scotland, blocking his strikes and his access to my mate.

Behind me, Scottie is holding her own against Daeva and another one of her vamp army. From what I’ve learned, she has always been one hell of a fighter and now, with her squire powers coming into play, she’s even better.

She hasn’t totally learned to wield her powers, but even with what she knows, they make her stronger and faster. She’s also creating a deadly light show.

Alec takes another run at getting around me to access Scottie. My size gives me an advantage as I grab him out of the air and slam him to the ground. I follow up with a knee to his sternum and am about to snap his neck when I get tackled by two more from behind.

There are too many.

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