Page 10 of Oath of Blood and Joy

That didn’t make sense to me. He wasn’t that strong. The Unseelie chains were unbreakable, not even the First Vampire could escape them. Someone had to have released him. Keir must have done so out of frustration.

I grabbed his arm and hauled him up next to me, my fingers digging into his leather jacket. “Our objective is to rescue Joy, not to leave a trail of bodies.”

Steve didn’t flinch from me, his ice-blue eyes boring into mine with a defiant challenge. “Why do you care if I kill those bastards?” He spat on the ground, his lips curling into a sneer. “They’re fucking assholes.”

Angelo would be furious if we started a war without his consent. A cold chill ran down my spine at the thought. There would be hell to pay. “Because we don’t want a war. Not yet. Once I have Joy, you both return to your homes. I will take Joy toSangue Reale.” I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “We get in, get Joy, and get out.”

Misery and sorrow swelled inside my chest for the other girls condemned to lives of misery, but my main concern—my only concern—was Joy.

“There will be collateral damage,” Lorcan said as he examined his sword, running his thumb carefully along the edge, his expression grim but resigned. “It’s unavoidable.”

Stalker released a low growl as if in agreement, his dark eyes gleaming with predatory anticipation in the darkness.

I released Steve abruptly. He stumbled backward, catching himself against a tree trunk. “True. But the message will be clear.” My jaw tightened with determination. “Do not lie to us. Maximo and Simon need to be taught a lesson.”

Steve scanned the grounds, his posture tense like a coiled spring. His blue eyes had turned blood red, the hunger visibly taking over. “What are we waiting for?” He cracked his knuckles, impatience radiating from every movement. “A fucking invitation?”

Damn Keir! He knew I would have my hands full with rescuing Joy. My temples throbbed with frustration, a warming pulse that always preceded violence. Managing a newly formed vampire wasn’t on the agenda. He’d just let loose a wolf among sheep.

“This is a rescue mission, not a blood bath.” I grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to look at me. “If you don’t get yourself under control, you’re going to have the vampire mafia king hunting you down.”

Steve shrugged with forced nonchalance, but a flicker of fear passed in his eyes as he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

The only reason he was alive was because of me. I had turned him without Angelo’s permission. Something that had put a wedge between us, a wedge that had never been there before. But I did it for Joy. If I hadn’t, Steve would be dead.

There were only two guards posted outside. Simon was lax in his security, but then, he didn’t have any reason to believe we would attack either—although he knew none of us approved of human trafficking, we normally let it slide.

Until one of our own became involved.

A hefty price Simon would pay.

From our vantage point, the mansion’s windows glowed honey-gold against the deepening twilight, each one framing silhouettes of the wealthy and powerful as they moved through the rooms. Music drifted across the grounds—a string quartet playing something classical and refined, a jarring contrast to the ugliness of what was happening inside. The air smelled of expensive cigars and cologne, the scents of privilege and entitlement carried on the evening breeze. Those same windows would witness bloodshed instead of revelry. Those same guests would learn the true meaning of fear.

Since they were only humans, they would be powerless against us. Even an army of humans would have difficult time taking down a vampire, an Unseelie, and wolf enforcer. We were feared by our own kind—humans would cower beneath us.

“Stalker, you take out one of the guards, Steve you take the other one. Lorcan and I will bust through the door. We need to get Joy out of here before the buyers arrive. Angelo wouldn’t want any of them to know of our world.” I mapped out our plan as I scanned for any unexpected movement in the fading light.

“Neither would Keir,” Lorcan admitted, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his blade. The last rays of twilight caught the edge of his Unseelie markings, making them shimmer beneath his skin like dark constellations. “Human interference is annoying and would harm our family business.”

The humans lived among us but didn’t know what we were. They knew about the lethal Santi family and the other two fractions—the Unseelie and wolf—but never suspected what wereally were. It would be too dangerous for them to acknowledge us. We’d be hunted and that’s not something we could afford.

Steve looked at me, anxiety flickering across his too-pale features as shadows lengthened around us. “How will you find her? That place is huge.” His fangs kept threatening to descend, a clear sign of his newborn status.

I broke out in a smile, inhaling deeply as if I could already taste her on the air. Her scent was calling to me like honey to a grizzly bear. “Don’t worry. I’ll find her.” Possessiveness clung to every word. “She can’t hide from me.” I flexed my fingers, feeling power pulse through my veins as the last light of day surrendered to night, ready to tear through anyone who stood between me and Joy.

The guards would most likely be armed but bullets were like bee stings to us. The only one vulnerable would be Stalker and that would only be if the guards had silver bullets. But why would they? They weren’t expecting an ambush.

“Let’s pay Simon a visit.” I tilted my head and we emerged from our hiding place.

Stalker crept low into the damp grass, his powerful muscles coiling with each silent step as he approached one of the guards. From behind, I could see his dark silhouette merge with the shadows, becoming nearly invisible in the deepening twilight.

Steve dashed across the distance using vampire speed, nothing but a blur against the darkening sky, and sank his fangs into the guard’s neck with savage inexperience. The man gurgled, eyes widening in horrified realization as his fingers clawed uselessly at air, unable to react fast enough against the supernatural attack.

The other guard’s heartbeat spiked—I could hear its frantic rhythm even from this distance. He fumbled for his revolver, the metal scraping against leather, but Stalker lunged at him with a snarl that echoed across the manicured grounds. Thewolf’s massive form collided with the human, taking him down in one fluid motion. The guard’s scream cut short as Stalker tore through his throat with sickening efficiency. Blood sprayed in a warm arc, its copper scent filling the air as it ran down the guard’s neck and soaked into his uniform.

Adrenaline surged through my veins as Lorcan and I rushed across the lawn, feet barely touching the ground. The thrill of the hunt, of being so close to Joy, made my fangs descend involuntarily. I reached the door first, my focus narrowed to a razor’s edge. I didn’t slow down—didn’t even hesitate—and plowed through the ornate entrance, sending wood splintering into the entryway with a thunderous crack. Fragments showered around me like deadly confetti, but nothing except fierce determination pulsed through me. Every cell in my body was attuned to one thing only: finding Joy.

Chapter Seven

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