~ Shea sat uncomfortably in the middle of the four pairs of eyes that regarded her. She could hear running feet and men shouting orders outside. That was where she wanted to be. Out there with the pack. Preparing for the danger that was coming for them. The four leaders before her were cool and collected, considering that an unknown threat was heading their way.
“Do we need to do this now? I should be out there.”
“Living on the verge of war is now our reality. We need to know the enemies we are up against, and you have information that could assist in our efforts,” Vescovi said.
“You are helping just as much in this room as you would outside these walls—maybe even more,” Roan added, his voice to Vescovi’s reasoning.
“And Marx?” she knew they had a point, but she
~Shea held her side as her wound healed. She stood between her past and her present, confused about how it could be possible. Barabbas was supposed to be dead. She had watched him die. His life had drained from his eyes, leaving them lifeless glass windows to a vacant soul. She knew it was him by scent, tainted by the smell of death. Though he fought the others, his primary focus was on her and Ichiro. Shea bit back a sound of distress. The foolish man had come to her aid. Barabbas scored his pound of flesh. Zigor was with Ichiro trying to stop the bleeding. There was so much blood. Barabbas was proving to be too much for the inexperienced members of her pack and the natives that came to join them. She threw her head back, howling, calling for Daniel and Helick. Bryan came running in with Yuri. “Get t
~“You need to take it slow.” “Don’t tell me to take it slow!” Sven roared. He had woken to find out that days—weeks had passed since Penny dispatched him at the portal. Sven could not remember how long it took him the first time to come back, but it had not felt like an eternity had passed. Then again, the first time had been unexpected, and he was not in the middle of his plot for Lansguard. Upon realizing that his most trusted lieutenant—Barabbas—was dead, Sven went over the edge. “It makes no sense pushing yourself like this when you are not at your full strength.” Sven, in anger, lifted the bed he woke up on, flipping it over onto its side. It was the only thing between him and Passerini who was trying to pacify him. Sven grabbed the vampire by the neck, slamming him into the nearest wall and pinning hi
~Penny had to be smart about moving through the city. She stuck to roofs, staying out of sight in the morning, picking up her hunt at night, sticking to the shadows. In her pursuit for Sven, Penny followed the tiny residues of shadow magic to the source. Though faint, the trace was the newest lead she had in finding Sven. She followed it to the heart of the city. To the heart of Pentorium. Whomever Penny found would have had contact with the man recently. She stayed in the shadows and waited. A man came out of the building, rushing down the steps to the sidewalk as he spoke on his phone. He wore a sensible black business suit and carried a silver briefcase in his free hand. There was a town car parked at the curb and waiting by the open passenger door was the driver. Penny turned her head to the side, her ear in the man’s direction as she listened. “Tes
~ From her talk with Barabbas, Shea knew some changes took longer than others did. Ichiro was back in the house now after Penny pumped his system with her venom. They had no idea how long it would take for the change to start or for it to end. Everything was watching and seeing how it all turned out. If Ichiro turned at all. Martha had the cure for the poison on standby, but the added factors of the situation had her chewing her nails to the quick. “His body is undergoing so much stress,” she told Ava. They were standing out in the hallway. “His heart could give out before the change even finishes.” Ava shushed her. “Shea needs this. Whatever happens, just do what you can.” Martha nodded and went back into the room. Ava ran a hand over her face.
~Marx remained trapped. He knew the things he saw weren’t real, but they felt real. The acrid smell of blood and death seemed as real as anything else in his life. The dry, hot air against his skin, the sounds of battle that had his heart racing. It was hard for his mind not to succumb.Before him, a war raged.Vampires.Werewolves.Humans.Shadows. Not like the ones Sven conjured, but the real deal. There were so many of them. Their wispy forms merged, weaving around the vampires, werewolves, and humans who fought them. It seemed like a never-ending battle. All sides were denying defeat as they fought, many to their last breaths.Among the warring factions was his fam
~Ava’s concern about going to Pentorium fell on deaf ears. According to the others, the vampires would have to learn to play nice. They were all in this together, despite the conflicts of the past. Ava could not help but consider the fact that this mess was all of her doing. In her overzealous attempt at gaining equality for her people, she triggered a vicious war. Many died and from the ashes, a greater monster emerged. Two monsters. Make that four—the King, Sven, Salvay, and Passerini. Her actions had destructive consequences, and she could not blame the vampires for their inability to overlook the causes and effects. One had to be there to witness and understand the full extent of the devastation. With Marx unable to take point, she was at the front of the line. She was now Marx’s reluctant second in command. Ava was not sure when she inherited the t
~“Avana.” Ava stopped when she heard Philippe calling her name. She did not want to argue with any of them, but if Philippe started an argument, she was going to finish it. She’d accept her penance, but not their abuse. “Walk with me,” he said. Ava followed Philippe to the elevator, then to his car. They traveled in silence to his R and D facility. Eyes watched her. Those who were once pure hearts with curiosity and those from Lansguard with subtle malice. Philippe spun the handle of a vault-like door. It hissed as it opened. Inside the massive room, the lights came on as they stepped in. Smack in the middle of the chamber was a cell; controls lined off at the base. “What is it?” Ava asked. “Since we found out abou
~Daniel stood over the body, Ava at his side. “What does this sign mean?” he asked of Philippe, who was with them. “Purists.” Philippe zipped up the body bag, closing the corpse inside. The woman, a human, had her throat slashed, and a symbol carved with crude care into her chest. “Seems they are calling Vescovi’s bluff,” he said, standing. Nodding, he gave the coroner the go-ahead to take the body away. “A human found the body this morning, but Anabella is taking care of that.” “Things always get worse before they get better,” Daniel said. “I suppose so.” Philippe ran a hand over his mouth, watching after the coroner’s van as it drove away. “If you will excuse me, I have some other matters to attend to.” Dan