Page 64 of Love Lives
And all I could do was wait for lightning to strike me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Aldrich waited with bated breath,watching the situation unfold from his hiding point amongst the rubble of the old safe house. Where were the Keepers? He'd told the wolf when and where, so why...?
Frustration coiling in his stomach, Aldrich readied himself to jump in on the action. If Vlad got any closer to Remy...
Seriously, what the hell was Remy thinking, just standing there? What the hell had he been thinking coming here at all? That family was insane. The whole bunch of them. If it were up to Aldrich, they would all be hiding on the other side of the planet, somewhere in the tropics. With margueritas for the mortals and drunk man's blood for the vamps.
Maybe he could convince Remy of that once they got out of here.
If they got out of here.
Vlad drew closer to Remy, reaching one hand out. Aldrich's gaze narrowed. What was that fucker about to do?
As quietly as he could, Aldrich shifted into his ocelot-form and approached. If Vlad hadn't been so focused on Remy, the predator probably would have noticed him, but as it was, Remy was doing a great job of drawing all attention toward himself.
Aldrich glanced at Leandra. He really wanted to rip into her for what she'd pulled on him the last time they'd met, but sadly there wasn't any time for that now. He was about to launch himself at an ancient vampire, after all.
Maybe he was just as insane as Remy's family.
Maybe he'd spent too much time with them and the crazy had rubbed off on him.
Whatever the reason, when the air shifted with Vlad's magic, Aldrich felt himself move too. He broke into a run, then a jump, until his claws dug into the older vampire's coat and Vlad's back hit the ground.
Things happened quickly then.
The vampire's spell broke, letting the others move again. Feet were rushing toward them. Aldrich paid them no mind. He saw Vlad's neck and he went for it, needing to sink his teeth into it, toendthe other vampire. Before he could, though, Vlad regained his composure. He made a subtle motion with his hand and a shockwave grabbed Aldrich and threw him back several feet.
Oh no, no way. Vlad wasn't going to get rid of himthateasily.
Aldrich wasted no time lying on the ground. He jumped to his feet and threw himself at the older vampire once more before the bastard could regain his footing.
"His pocket!" Remy urged.
Aldrich had no idea what the hell he was talking about, but Remy's command sounded urgent enough that Aldrich found himself pawing at Vlad's coat anyway. With his teeth, he tore a large chunk of it off the vampire.
Vlad did that thing with his hand again, but this time, Aldrich was prepared for it. He snarled and dug his fangs into Vlad's arm, holding on. The most unnatural thing was that Vlad didn't scream as Aldrich's teeth sank into his flesh. It didn't seem to bother him at all.
"Fucking cats." Vlad shook his arm, and Aldrich with it.
Remy’s voice rang through the air again. A question. “Do you at least remember Keenan?”
Aldrich didn't know why, but Remy's words distracted the older vampire. Not for long, only for a split second, but Aldrich realized his opportunity. Making use of his vampire-speed, he shifted into his human form, reached into Vlad's coat pocket, pulled out something round and heavy, no,tworound and heavy things, and jumped back with them in his hand.
Vlad whipped around to him again. "You must think you're very clever." As the same time as Vlad spoke, Leandra moved toward him, but she stopped when Vlad held a hand up. "It doesn't matter," he said. "He's not leaving here alive. None of them are. But that one..." He glanced down at his arm where Aldrich's teeth had left a bloody wound. "I'm going to dispose of that one myself."
Aldrich's jaw clenched as he readied himself for another attack.
He really should have come up with a better exit strategy. Sure, he could hold his own withanyvampire for a minute or two, but a death match with Vlad? He was going to lose, no doubt about it.
That didn't mean he had to make it easy for the bastard, though.
If he could give the others enough time to get out of here...
Or maybe the others could givehimtime to get out of here? He spared a quick glance at the group, at his old partner. Everyone seemed ready to put up a fight.
Maybe that wouldn't be bad either. If they all went out together, guns blazing.
