Page 28 of From the Shadows
“I understand. Go. Make sure you stay safe.”
He smirked. “We’ll do our best. Don’t let that little ass eat all of our pizza.”
He melted into the shadows as he mentally told the rest of the team to hit the bricks.
Shay had given up belief in a higher power after Mick had nearly killed him, but that didn’t stop him from sending a wish to the universe to bring the team home safely.
Then he headed for the kitchen to check on Jeremy. Shay was glad he’d bought that tub of cookie dough ice cream. It was going to be a long night.
As soon ashe entered the perimeter of the hotel, Diego could sense other vampires. There were at least a dozen, maybe more. They moved quickly, in and out of the range of Diego’s senses. Worse, he could already smell blood, and a lot of it. Whoever they were, they hit hard and fast and were in the process of ripping into the humans.
He had to bite his cheek to keep from hissing his rage. He tapped Borne on the shoulder and pointed in the direction he believed they were heading. Borne nodded, then flashed away in a sulfuric cloud as he traveled through hell dimensions, hoping, as always, not to get caught.
Em?
Go ahead, Diego.
They’re here and it smells as though they’ve killed people already. Borne is checking out where I think they’re headed.
Good. Keep me informed. I have a link established with your group.
He always appreciated Em’s powers. No chance of being out of range when you had her linking your minds.
Ranna, are you up for a little frontal assault?
Just tell me where.He could hear the smile in her voice. Even as vegetarians, Ranna’s people were consummate warriors who had no problem spilling blood in the name of revenge or justice.
It’ll be you and me through the front door. When we get in, you go left, I’lltake right. Check every room until you find them. Keep an eye out for Borne. He’s trying to locate someone in charge.
Can’t we just follow the scent of blood?
If only it could be that easy. A vampire could smell the subtle differences in blood. More iron, deficiencies, variances in blood type, etc. For a vampire, these markers would be akin to a fingerprint. Diego could scent at least two dozen victims already, the smell nearly overpowering. If Shay hadn’t procured something for Diego to eat, he would have gone crazy being here. Why was there a change in tactics? In their last attacks, the coven had drugged the people and had kept the deaths to one event, held in a single room. This time it seemed like they were spreading out and killing as many as they could.
Could there be more than one coven? Could this be an attempt to bring the humans to heel, like back in the old days, when there wasn’t a pact between the paranormal races that said people were off the menu?
There’s already been a lot spilled blood.
Understood.A pause.Can we kill these bastards?
If we can find the coven leader, I want them alive. Beyond that, tear the fuckers apart.
Nowthat’swhat I’m talking about! Martin doesn’t know what he’s missing out on. This would give him a perfect opportunity to roast killer’s asses. He doesn’t get to let loose nearly often enough.
Martin would have been perfect for this assignment. Most vampires, unless they were exceptionally ancient, had a weakness against fire, and even though it wasn’t nearly as hot as it had been in the past, Martin’s flames were still a force to be reckoned with.
Borne? Anything?
Diego, I…. It’s bad. I’ve already counted thirty-eight dead bodies, many of them killed in the last few minutes. There are still other people running around, parents trying to hide their children, but the vampires are tracking them down. They killed the adults while the kids screamed, then dragged them out and slaughtered them. They’re not even draining them this time. It’s like they just want carnage.
White-hot anger seared through Diego at the news. Morechildren who would never see another birthday. When he was young—well, three hundred years ago—he’d wanted a family. He often fantasized about beingnormal, finding a wife, and having children with her. Kids they could raise, instill values of helping your neighbor in, loving your brothers and sisters—even when you wanted to lose them in the forest—and being all-around good, decent people.
And these sons of bitches were destroying that dream for everyone.
Okay, Ranna and I are on our way in. Your assignment has changed. Protect the humans at all costs.
Understood.
And Borne? Don’t hold back.
