by Gena D. Lutz
His arm banded tighter around her waist, stealing her breath. “Oh no you don’t, bitch.”
In the next moment, the vampire clamped down on her hair harder, pulled a collar from somewhere that Maze couldn’t see, and then snapped it around the dragoness’s neck. All of this happened within a matter of seconds. He then released his hold and she toppled to the ground.
Against the cool grass, her cheeks instantly washed white, the fire churning in her lungs and creeping up her throat extinguished. All she was left with was a feeling of utter defeat, useless to protect the child growing within her womb, and her mate dying only feet away from her.
The vampire stepped away from Maze and ran a hand through his short blond hair. His brown eyes filled with satisfaction.
“Finish him off!”
The wolves leapt forward in unison, landing with fangs tearing and claws shredding the flesh from the rapidly dying man, who managed to choke out a few words with his final breaths.
“I love you, Maura.”
“Oh. My. God!” Poppy’s hands flew over her mouth. Tears welled, and then streams of liquid rolled from her eyes, spilling over her shaking hands. “They killed him! They killed my father!”
Sonnet folded her arms around Poppy to soothe her, and then cursed herself for letting the poor child watch that dreadful scene unfold. She’d tried breaking the psychic connection the moment the wolves attacked Gaelen, but to her utter horror, had been too late.
A haunted expression moved over Maze’s features. It was a look that was creepy and heartbreaking all at once. “It’s okay, sweetheart, Mommy killed the wolves responsible for taking him from us.”
It was a by the book sentiment mother’s told their children to try and make them feel better, even when it wasn’t okay.
Sonnet frowned while she thought about what Maze said, “The two wolves in your memories, they’re the same men you killed here, in Phantom City, aren’t they?”
Tears spilled from her eyes. “Yes.”
“And the vampire, the one who seemed to be orchestrating it all, where is he?”
Her gaze fell. “I had him, but he got away.”
“Do you want to call Dom in, or should I?” Anya asked.
“You do it.”
Sonnet moved next to Maze, with Poppy still tucked within her arms. She reached out to the she-dragon, who in turn accepted the embrace.
Never in a million years would Sonnet have believed she’d be in this position, with her arms wrapped consolingly around Poppy and her birth mother. But there she was, trying to be a rock for two of the most powerful creatures she’d ever encountered.
“Don’t worry, ladies. This isn’t over, not by a long shot,” she said.
Poppy tipped her head up enough to gaze deep into Sonnet’s eyes. “What do you mean?”
She kissed the tear-drenched curls plastered across her daughter’s cheek, and said, “I’m going to hunt down the vampire who did this to your parents, and I’m going to make him pay.”
Poppy pressed a hand to Sonnet’s cheek, and as a single tear rolled down her flushed skin, she said, “You’re the best mom ever.”
Maze straightened from the group hug, and settled a hand on Sonnet’s shoulder. “You’re right, Poppy; she really is.”
Epilogue
Thirty seconds later, Anya and Dom pushed through the door. The vampire squad, and Bane, had been left in the hall, which was a good sign; it meant none of the otherworldly creatures in the vicinity felt threatened by the uncaged dragon. And after what Sonnet gleaned from Maze’s memories, if they—hell, the entire city, for that matter, including herself—had stayed out of Maze’s way, they never would have had to be.
The only beings who’d had anything at all to fear from the riled dragon seeking vengeance, was the vampire and the two werewolves who’d hurt her.
“Anya said you needed to speak with me.”
“Yes,” Sonnet said, leaving the two she-dragons sitting next to each other at the interrogation table.
It was about time the newly reunited mother and daughter had a few seconds together that weren’t tense-laden.
“We’ve made a grave mistake, Dom.”
He raised a black brow. “Is that so?”
She nodded. “Maze is innocent.”
“Can you be more specific?”
She held his stare. “What Maze did, those killings, they were done in self-defense.”
Dom glanced over at the dragon in question. “Do you have proof?”
She nodded. “If you trust the mind power of a she-devil, and my word, then yeah…I do.”
A deep groove formed between the captain’s eyes as he mulled things over. “Can you show me what you saw?”
“Yes.”
After Anya gave Dom a mind-visual rundown of events from Maze’s memories, he moved across the room and opened the door. “Go grab me the incident report from earlier today, the one labeled ‘Lax Core’.” He then made a dismissive motion to whoever else was on guard out in the hall. “All of you can go now. I have everything in here under control.”
In an instant, the room jumped in degrees, and with it, a warm flush in Sonnet’s cheeks. You’d think she’d be used to Maze’s temperature fits by now, but crap, was she getting tired of feeling like a half-baked cookie.
“How do you know that name?” Maze growled the question at Dom.
A bead of sweat formed at Dom’s hairline and streamed down to disappear within a thick brow. “A vampire using that name came into the station today. Seems he was attacked by a dragon-shifter outside of the hotel he was staying at.”
Sonnet’s curiosity piqued at that important bit of information. “Which hotel?”
“Eternal Slumber,” Maze supplied.
The door swung open and detective…uh, what’s his name…waved a manila folder at the captain. “Here’s the report you requested.”
Dom swiped it from his hand, and nodded. “Thanks.”
“Yup,” he said, shifting his feet, and then with a quick, nervous look over at Maze, he left.
Dom opened the file. “Ignore him. He was at the hospital when Maze performed her fire-breathing-dragon act in front of the entire town. It was his first time seeing a dragon-shifter in true form.”
Poppy gave him a wry smile. “Then it must’ve really freaked him out to see two of us flying the friendly skies.”
He drew a hand through his long, black-and-white hair, and chuckled. “I thought he was going to piss himself.”
Sonnet strolled over to Dom. “So you think this is the guy who attacked Poppy’s parents?”
He nodded. “I know it is, recognized him from the vision Anya stuffed into my head.”
“Really? That’s helpful. Mind if I take a look?”
He handed the folder over and Sonnet read the report.
Full name: Lax Core. DOB: 3-05-1903. POB: Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Last known address: New Orleans, Louisiana. Species I.D: Vampire.
“It’s not a lot, but it’s enough.”
Everyone’s gazes locked on her, but it was Poppy who asked, “Are you going to hunt him down?”
She grinned at her. “I hear New Orleans is pretty lively this time of year.”
“I love you,” she said as she ran over and gave Sonnet a dragon-sized hug.
The End
Gena D. Lutz lives in the blistering heat of Arizona with her husband, four kids, and two high-maintenance dogs— a Chihuahua and an Australian shepherd. When she is not busy writing, Lutz can be found watching the classics, like Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, marathon style. Lutz enjoys reading, riding horses, and playing poker, and she looks forward to the day she can travel the world.
Find Gena online!
facebook.com/GenaDeeLutz
twitter.com/GenaDLutz
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Books by Gena D. Lutz
Contact the author:
About the book:
Chapter One
&n
bsp; Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Epilogue
About the Author
Table of Contents
Books by Gena D. Lutz
Contact the author:
About the book:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Epilogue
About the Author
