Page 92 of The Darkest Night

Vlad could sense the heavy presence of black magic inside the structure, as well as the corrupt energy of demons. It made the incubus in him stir with bloodlust.

Tarang shifted restlessly at his side.

Vlad stroked the tiger’s head. “It’s okay. You’ll get to play soon.”

The familiar snarled hungrily, pupils flashing crimson.

“Our men are in place,” one of his bodyguards said curtly.

Vlad dipped his chin. His father and the seniorBlack Devilsgenerals had approved his request for their men to be deployed to take downOniks. Vlad was aware that his reputation as heir to the crime syndicate was on the line. If they failed to overpowerOniks, the blame would be placed squarely at his feet.

Not that he cared. He might be the adopted son of Yuliy Vissarion, but his power and influence in theBlack Devilswas undeniable.

The low growls of motors reached his ears. Vlad turned. A pair of sport bikes were winding their way rapidly up the shadowy alley, lights blinking off as they approached. The lead motorcycle screeched to a halt a couple of feet from him.

Mae removed her helmet and climbed off the back seat, her face tight with determination. Nikolai turned the engine off and joined her, Violet and Miles alighting from the second bike.

“That was quite some move back there,” Vlad said quietly.

The magic Mae had released over New York had made him shiver as it washed over him a while ago, the potency of the spell raking at his very soul. It had unraveled the magic shielding the Dark Council members in the city and helped Mae identify their hidey-hole.

“It’s a new party trick.” A muscle jumped in Mae’s cheek as she scrutinized the run-down factory looming against the darkening sky. “The New York coven are on their way. I don’t think we can wait that long.”

“Why not?”

“Because he knows we’re here.”

A wave of demonic energy blasted out from the building near the pier.

Cold fingers skittered down Vlad’s back at the rage he sensed within it. “That’s one pissed-off fiend.”

“I’m going in alone.”

Vlad stared at Mae, unsure he’d heard her right. “What?”

Nikolai stormed over and clutched her shoulder in a white-knuckled grip. “Are you crazy?!”

“I’m not saying I’m gonna fight them on my own.” Mae met their tense stares with a calm expression. “I want to make sure Ryu and Ye-Seul are safe first.”

Vlad clenched his teeth so tight his jaw ached. He exchanged a frustrated look with Nikolai and the Nolan cousins.

Mae moved past them and headed toward the factory, Brimstone at her side.

“Stay here until you get my signal,” she said in a hard voice.

“What signal?” Violet called out, confused.

“You’ll know when you see it.”

Vlad watched the witch and the familiar disappear into the gloom, unease a heavy weight in the pit of his stomach.

Chapter 42

Dirt puffedunder Mae’s boots as she entered the run-down building through a loading bay. She passed files of looming, steel columns and tired, metal frameworks and soon reached the center of an immense, debris-strewn floor, the shadows around her alive with malice. She stopped and looked up.

Graffiti-covered walls and galleries of orange-rusted machinery extended to a yawning section of roof high above. A dangerous growl left Brimstone where he stood beside her.

Most of the catwalks spanning the width of the factory were impassable, as were the staircases rising to the upper levels. It hadn’t stopped the small army the devil and Oscar had gathered from occupying the walkways, guns in hand and magic flaring at their fingertips as they emerged from the gloom.

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