Page 77 of A Vampire Bewitched
Cedric didn’t pause before he grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him back around to face him. “If ye dinna like it, Lucian, ye’r welcome tae find a fresh pack. Unless ye think ye kin lead this one better than I kin?”
Shockwaves rippled through the males—vampire and wolf alike—as the gauntlet was thrown down and tension crackled in the air between them.
Nik surreptitiously took Emma by the hand and carefully pulled her behind him, as everyone backed away from the pair.
For a few insanely anxious seconds, it seemed there was going to be a fight for dominance. Lucian’s face turned as red as his hair, his anger at being called out in mixed company plain for all to see.
But he must’ve decided it wasn’t worth his life, for he took a deep breath and dropped his gaze in submission. After a moment, he lowered himself onto one knee before his pack leader.
Cedric visibly relaxed, laid a hand on Lucian’s shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze. “A'right then?”
Lucian gave a terse nod. “Aye.”
And just like that, the tension dispersed as quickly as it had appeared. Nik exchanged a look with Aiden as he took a deep breath. “Okay, then. Let’s do this.”
Chapter 43
Emma’s heard resumed its normal rhythm as Lucian rose to his feet and everyone relaxed. Nik wasn’t kidding when he said they “run kind of hot”. Their emotions were so up and down, she was mentally exhausted from spending just a few hours with them.
Aiden clapped his hands together loudly. “Alright then! Let’s go see my girl!”
Cedric gave Nik a questioning look, but Nik just shook his head. “You really don’t want to know.”
With a sideways look at Aiden, Cedric motioned for everyone to huddle in, sticking Emma in the middle of the towering males.
Within minutes, they had their plan of attack.
“All right.” Nik squatted down on his haunches, and drew a rough map in the dirt by the creek with a stick he’d snagged out of the water. The rest of the group hovered around him in a circle with their hands on their knees so they were able to see. Craning her neck, Emma tried not to fall on him as she peered over his shoulder.
“So, the main access to the hideout is still about a mile downstream. The creek flows directly into it, but we’re not going to go in that way. Leeha’s sure to have more guards stationed there.” He pointed with the stick to an area around the right side. “There’s another entrance here. It should be less guarded. Aiden and I will go in first. We’ll take out whoever’s there and make our way inside.”
Standing up, he pulled Emma around in front of him and casually wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind as she studied his drawing. Her skin felt hot and sensitive where he touched her, even through her clothes.
She stared at his rough drawing, not quite believing she’d be with her sister again before the night was out.
Nik kepther within the circle of his arms. Her eagerness rippled through him, and he felt his own adrenaline rise in response. He tamped it down with effort. He needed to stay calm and focused.
“When da ye want us tae join ye?” Cedric’s face clearly showed what he thought about missing out on any of the fighting.
Duncan had a similar sour expression. “Or are we just here tae look bonnie?”
Nik understood how they felt. Still holding Emma with one arm, he gave Cedric a punch on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, old friend, there’ll be plenty of action for you three.”
Hugging Emma to him again, he kissed her on the head. He didn’t know what it was, but something was telling him to keep her close. “Once we get in, we’ll get ourselves ‘captured’—”
“Thatwasa brilliant idea you had with Emma,” Aiden told Cedric.
Nik grudgingly agreed. “I hate to admit it, but it was. We’ll try the same tactic on the inside. We’ll get ourselves ‘captured’, check out the layout, get a count of who’s there. You four will wait out here, and when the opportunity presents itself—”
“Wait. Hold up a minute.” Emma held up her hand. “You said four. You expect me to wait outside with these do…wolves?” she corrected. “No. I want to be inside with you. I want to help. And I need to see Keira for myself.”
Nik crossed his arms and shook his head, not willing to give in on this one. “No. Absolutely not, Emma. Unlike some others standing here—”
Cedric eyebrows rose, his face the picture of innocence. “Whaa?”
“I’m not willing to risk your safety,” he finished.
“No-o?” she repeated.
