Page 55 of Shadow Hunter

He fired another shot straight into the ancient bloodsucker’s chest, blowing a massive hole in Caius’s body, but at Caius’s age, the skin and organs knitted together again in seconds. Damon tucked his gun away and ripped a silver dagger and his wooden stake from his jacket.

Fangs already down, Caius hissed, and the two of them charging each other.

They collided at full speed, meeting each other blow for blow. A normal man would have stood no chance against a vampire as old as Caius but gifted with the speed and strength of his training, Damon held his own. Anger and rage fueled his every move.

No vampire hurt Tiffany and lived. None.

Raising his dagger overhead, Damon slashed the knife across Caius’s face. The leech hissed in pain. Blood gushed down his cheeks, and the wound smoked as if Damon had poured acid into it, but that didn’t deter Caius. He blocked the swing of Damon’s stake and punched Damon in the solar plexus. Gasping for air, Damon rushed the vampire, hitting him straight in the midsection. They toppled to the ground and Caius grabbed for Damon’s stake, but Damon held tight. No way in hell was he giving his weapon up that easy.

Rolling his body overtop Caius, Damon plunged his knife downward and nicked Caius’s arm, but the vampire managed to roll out of his grasp. Caius jumped to his feet and gripped Damon’s throat, lifting him into the air. Damon was over six feet, but still Caius managed to dangle him above the ground.

Tiffany screamed. Shit. She was still unarmed.

She lungedfor a piece of flatware.

Damon triedto shake his head to stop her. “Tiff—” he choked out.

With both hands,she jabbed a fork into the back of Caius’s neck, causing the vampire to whip his head around to address the distraction.

Exactly the opportunity Damon needed.

Though the vampire’s attention was on her now.

He twisted and kicked his foot straight into Caius’s gut. Caius’s grip faltered. Seizing the vampire’s arm, Damon drove the blade of his silver dagger straight through the bone. A loud roar ripped through the empty room, as Caius grasped at the dagger, pulling the blade out so his wound could heal. Bloodspurted from his forearm as he threw the blade with expert precision straight into Damon’s shoulder.

Pain exploded through Damon’s flesh as adrenaline cut through him. He fell to his knees. Warm blood gushed down his chest, and he faintly registered the sound of Tiffany yelling his name. Clutching the dagger by the hilt, he ripped the blade from his wound. His vision spun from the pain, but he would not falter.

Not when the woman he loved was at stake.

A fresh wave of energy pumped through him as Caius rushed forward, but Damon swept the vampire’s legs out from under him. The bloodsucker toppled over, and they rolled in a heap on the ground, both fighting to gain the upper hand. Caius’s fist slammed into Damon’s face.

Damon hit the bastard with an uppercut to the jaw, sending him flying backward. Only for Caius to scramble across the floor as Damon jumped to his feet. Using every ounce of strength he possessed, he gripped Caius by the throat, lifting him into the air and slamming him down onto the dinner table. Shattered plate shards scattered the floor.

Damon lifted his stake over his head, growling as he brought it barreling down. “I’m going to enjoy this.”

Caius caught Damon’s wrist mid-stab, struggling to hold off death. Blood dripped across Caius from Damon’s injured shoulder, but Damon fought through the pain.

The image of Mark’s face contorted with pain flashed through his mind giving him strength. This leech had killed his fellow hunter, his closest friend. Had robbed Tiffany of her brother. Damon couldn’t allow him to live.

Caius would die.

Damon shook as he shoved against the ancient vampire, losing blood, and fast. He felt the wooden stake being raised as Caius gained the upper hand.

No.

Damon’s vision blurred. Blood poured from his wound, and he felt the color drain from his face, but he refused to give in.

Caius. Would. Die.

He released one of his hands from the stake and saw Caius grin. The dumbass thought he was losing the fight. Not a chance.

With his free hand Damon pulled his gun from his belt. A bullet to the chest wouldn’t deter Caius, but he knew what would. Glancing up, he aimed his gun straight for the fragile hook that held the chandelier in place. He squeezed the trigger.

The bullet blasted into the plaster of the ceiling, and the chandelier teetered before plunging toward the ground. Damon jumped back, shoving Tiffany out of the way along with him. The gold bars and crystals of the chandelier exploded on top of Caius’ body.

Writhing beneath them, Caius squirmed to release himself from their weight.

“Tiffany,” Damon shouted. “Now.”

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