Page 74 of How to Stake a Vampire
The lights flickered.
A cry from the direction of the reception area had us whirling around.
Didi cursed in the distance. Gavin yelped.
The hairs rose on the back of my neck. Something was coming.
A low growl left Samuel as he prepared to transform. Crimson filled Barney’s pupils, the vampire growing a foot in height. I’d barely loosened my hold on my wolf when a figure flashed around a corner and barreled toward us.
I caught a glimpse of hungry red eyes and sharp fangs before it slammed into me and sent me crashing through the double doors into the storage area.
“Abby!” Samuel shouted, the word an alarmed half growl.
I landed on my back with a grunt. My eyes widened.
I rolled and narrowly missed the claws headed for my eyes, my breath misting in front of my face in the icy room.
The vampire lunged at me with inhuman speed.
The transformation hit me hard and fast. My bones lengthened, my muscles expanded, and my senses exploded as my wolf emerged under the flickering lights.
My world shifted into a myriad of colors, scents, and sounds.
Ludvik’s eyes blazed with an unholy light as he approached, his features etched sharply across my enhanced vision and his heartbeat anything but steady in my ears.
I could smell his fear. His rage. And something else—something old and rotten that clung to the vampire like expensive cologne gone bad and made my stomach roil.
I missed his attack by a hairbreadth, raked his chest with my claws as I leapt, and landed behind him with a solid thud.
Samuel’s black wolf joined me, the anger thrumming through our mate bond reflected in his glowing eyes and his vicious snarl.
Are you okay?!
I nudged him with a shoulder.Yes.
Barney flanked my other side, his face tight.
Ludvik straightened and stared at us with an ugly expression. He was tall and lean like Barney, with sharp cheekbones and the kind of eyes that suggested he’d outlived everyone he’d ever cared about. His dark hair was perfectly styled and his clothes immaculate but for the damage my claws had inflicted.
I lowered my head and growled when he touched the blood I had drawn and licked his fingers.
“What a waste.” A cold light suffused Ludvik’s crimson gaze as he studied Barney. “Uncle Barnabas, you haven’t changed one bit since I last saw you. Where was it again?” His mouth twisted mockingly. “Oh yes. The Austrian vampire court. If I remember correctly, you tucked your tail between your legs and disappeared like the obedient dog that you are the moment you were instructed to do so.”
Barney ignored the insult and narrowed his eyes. “You, on the other hand, have changed a lot, dear nephew.”
My wolf stirred uneasily at the undercurrent of dread in Barney’s voice.
Ludvik smelled wrong for a whole lot of reasons I didn’t understand. Even Samuel watched the vampire with a wary look, like he couldn’t make out what he was exactly.
I tensed when Ludvik’s gaze found me.
“So this is Amberford’s famous white wolf. You are not quite what I expected.” Disdain underscored his words.
My hackles rose. I bared my fangs with a feral sound, muscles bunching.
Ludvik’s laughter was cold and empty.
“How refreshingly direct. That’s about the only thing I ever liked about you dogs.” He paused and smirked. “I must say, your friend’s transformation was highly disappointing. I had hoped she would provide a suitable distraction.”
