To his credit, the vampire didn’t let go. He cursed her again, but his hands never faltered at her waist, pinning her against him in a vice-like grip that was as gentle as it was inescapable. Avery’s vision clouded over once more and when she heard what sounded like her sister’s voice, she knew that she had finally lost control of her senses.
“Avery!” Quinn yelled, grabbing Avery’s face and forcing her to look her in the eyes. Avery looked terrible; her hair was a matted, bloody mess and she was so pale that Quinn could barely believe she was still conscious. Her lips were bloodless and her eyes rolled wildly before closing again, her body sagging in Drake’s arms.
“I’ve got her,” he reassured Quinn, meeting her terrified expression over Avery’s bony shoulder. Quinn noticed his bleeding fingers. “I can see she shares your delightful personality,” he added wryly.
Quinn felt only passionate relief that they had caught Avery before she had reached the City. They had travelled through the night, Drake intent on the road, while Quinn bit her nails to the quick in the seat beside him. It was only when they reached the tree-lined road leading towards the portal that Quinn had truly begun to lose hope. They were too close to the City and if Avery had already made it this far, she would no doubt be in Charlotte’s clutches by now. Refusing to give up, Quinn had insisted Drake drive even closer to the portal, but he would not put her life, or those of the other women in the car in danger, and eventually, uttering a harsh apology, he had begun to turn around. Quinn had opened her mouth to protest and that was when she had spotted the dark blue car abandoned off the road, just a short way into the woods illuminated by their headlights. Opening her door, she had lurched out of the still-moving Audi and Drake had skidded to a halt.
“Turn it around!’ he instructed Braddon, who was sitting on the backseat with the three terrified women. “I’ll get her back.”
Drake raced after Quinn, his senses on high alert for any danger. The abandoned sedan was in bad shape and, by the pale moonlight, they could see that a bloody handprint marred the glass on the open driver’s door. Quinn searched the car in vain, calling Avery’s name, but Drake focused only on her scent, the lingering odour of blood permeating his senses.
“Come on!” he hissed, moving away from the wreck. Quinn obliged, knowing he could track its occupant, and, when he broke into a run, she followed.
“She’s not far,” Drake soothed as they moved. Quinn wouldn’t allow herself to believe it was anyone other than her sister who was out in the woods, but she knew this terrain better than he did and a new concern came over her.
“If she reaches the plateau, it’s over,” she gasped, knowing that if Avery were to emerge from the trees she would be an easy target for any of Charlotte’s scouts. “Go!” Respecting her wishes, he catapulted forward.
Drake reached Avery Ormonde only moments before Quinn caught up with them and only a second before she reached the exposed danger of the plateau. Clamping a hand over her mouth to stop her from crying out, he was appalled at how thin and wretched she was. She was bleeding profusely, and he held his breath to block out the sweet scent. His empathy, however, was short-lived, as Avery sank her teeth into his fingers and lashed out at him, fighting with a strength that could only be fuelled by pure adrenalin. When she threw her head back, crushing the bones in his nose, Drake’s immediate reaction was to slap her, but then Quinn was there, facing them and the look on her face was worth all the pain in the world.
“We better get out of here,” she murmured, tearing her eyes from Avery’s unconscious form to glance around. “We’re far too close to the portal; Charlotte’s men could be...” she trailed off as she sensed them.
“Too late,” Drake hissed, setting Avery down gently on the ground before standing to face the eight snarling vampires who appeared like shadows out of the gloomy night.
Stepping over Avery’s body, Quinn drew her stakes and, without hesitating, threw herself at the first vampire, landing a swift kick to his stomach and sending him crashing into the others. The second grabbed her arm before she could use her stake and Quinn twisted violently, bringing her free hand around and smashing it into his jaw. He released her arm and she grabbed his hair, forcing his head down and bending him over at the waist. Her stake flashed, a dart of silver in the dark, and he slumped to the ground.
Drake didn’t wait around to witness her ruthless Hunter side. Instead, he threw himself at another vampire, grappling savagely with the larger man. Quinn was preoccupied, but not enough to keep from watching over her sister, and, as one of her enemies moved toward Avery; she seized him by the shoulder and whirled him around to face her. Staring hatefully into his eyes, she rammed her stake through his chest, not flinching as his body turned grey. Releasing him, she turned to face the remaining vampires but her distraction had proven far more dangerous than she had anticipated. As a shadow loomed before her, she was aware of a flash of movement at her side and then a burning agony as a pair of deadly sharp fangs plunged into her neck.
Drake heard Quinn’s howl of pain and the blood rushed to his head as his rage ignited. Ruthlessly, he ripped the head from the vampire he was fighting, but another stood in his way. Acutely conscious of Quinn, who was still fighting, despite her injury, he held nothing back, tearing through his new assailant like a man possessed.
Quinn had managed to stake the vampire who had bitten her, but the blood streaming down her neck showed no sign of abating, and it sent the vampires who remained into a frenzy. Unable to resist, the four converged on her, leaving their backs open. Quinn hesitated only a moment, before tossing her stakes, over their heads, into Drake’s outstretched arms. The silver points blossomed in a crimson explosion through the chests of two of them, and it sobered the remaining two, snapping them out of their single-minded bloodlust as they turned to face the new threat.
Quinn backed away slowly, pressing her hand to her neck to staunch the flow of blood until she reached Avery. Drake could take care of two vampires on his own, and, armed with stakes, there was no way they would get past him. Crouching over her sister, Quinn quickly felt for a pulse, but she couldn’t tell if Avery had one, or if was simply the blood in her own veins beating in her fingertips.
“Avery!” she croaked, using her free hand to gently cup Avery’s cheek. “Avery!”
“Quinn,” Drake pulled her face toward his. The woods were oddly silent after the fierce sounds of the fighting. She could sense no immediate danger now that the vampires had been eliminated.
“I’m fine,” she assured him, her hand still pressed against the wound. “But Avery...” she gestured helplessly at her sister but Drake soothed her fears without even touching Avery. He could hear her heartbeat from where he sat, faint, but steady. His relief was nothing compared to his concern for Quinn. Noticing how his eyes darted immediately back to her neck, Quinn spoke.
“It will heal, I promise.” Her Guardian blood would heal her and there was no threat other than the blood loss. No bond would form, given that the vampire who had bitten her had been executed and a Guardian could not be turned. Satisfied, Drake looked back in the direction they had come from. They needed to get back to the car.
“Can you walk?” he asked. They were still too close to the City and, if another group discovered them here, they would not be able to fight their way out, with Quinn injured and Avery unconscious.
“Yes,” Quinn nodded grimly, getting unsteadily to her feet. Drake hoisted Avery over his shoulder and together they made their way slowly back to the car.
When Quinn emerged from the gloom, Braddon felt a wave of relief pass over him, but it was nothing compared to the emotion that flooded his senses when Drake appeared a moment later, cradling an unconscious form in his arms. Forcing his legs to move, Braddon took two hesitant steps forward, and then broke into a run as he recognised Avery, her long hair hanging in a curtain toward the ground.
“Avery,” he breathed as he reached them, brushing aside her matted hair to stare into her p
ale face. A lump formed in his throat and words escaped him. His sweet, kind daughter was alive. After all this time believing her gone, she was here.
“How is this possible?” he whispered reverently, turning toward Quinn. Noticing the blood coursing down her throat and staining her shirt, Braddon snapped back to reality. “You’re hurt!”
“I’m fine,” Quinn soothed. “We were attacked. A group of vampires ambushed us at the edge of the woods.” She smiled weakly, “Drake saved us both.”
Her words sunk in slowly and Braddon felt the warmth of gratitude blossom in his chest.
“You have saved the lives of my daughters,” he spoke directly to Drake who met his gaze levelly. “I owe you everything.”
“You owe me nothing, Guardian,” Drake corrected. “I did what I had to. There was never any choice.” His eyes found Quinn and his face softened, as it did every time he gazed upon her. Braddon had known for some time that the vampire cared for his daughter, but he had underestimated the depth of his feelings. Watching them now it was as clear as day that Drake loved Quinn and, though she hid it well, Braddon would bet his life on the fact that his daughter was very much in love with Drake. Braddon’s instincts recoiled against the idea, but now was the not the time to discuss it.
“We should go,” Quinn murmured, embarrassed by the silence and her father’s thoughtful scrutiny. “There could be more of them around here.”
It was a tight squeeze, but they dropped the back seats of the Audi, allowing more room and in minutes, they were racing back the way they had come.
Chapter 31
Aleksei had settled in well at Charlotte’s manor home. He seemed particularly impressed with her dungeon prison, although Charlotte had kept from him the fact that four prisoners had managed to escape during her absence. It would do no good for him to doubt her competence. Inwardly, Charlotte was seething. She could replace the staff who had been killed, but she knew, without a doubt, that the Guardians had had something to do with the rescue. Avery might have escaped on her own, but the mangled lock that lay on the cold stone floor outside the dungeon cell attested to the fact that a vampire had helped the other three human women escape. Drake. It could only be Drake. Which meant that Quinn had discovered that her sister was still alive and had been held captive here. Charlotte’s scouts had yet to find Avery, which led Charlotte to believe that the girl might have found her way back to her people. Tristan would not be happy.
Aleksei didn’t need to know any of this, Charlotte mused, as she lifted her skirts and made her way down the dungeon stairs. And once Cara located her friends, leading Charlotte right to the remaining Guardians and their wards, it would hardly matter. Charlotte had built powerful alliances in her years as a vampire and soon she would put these to the test. Along with those loyal to Sloane, she was building her own army, one which would serve her well when the time came. But would it be enough? How many of her legion would stand against their king when the time came? Charlotte knew she was playing a dangerous game, but she was not content to grovel at the feet of a tyrant who had not earned her respect. First, she would eliminate the Guardians and the last of the wards, and then she would turn her attention to the battle for the throne.
The young Guardian who had reported to Cliffdale, Oliver, was confined to the dungeon prison, experiencing the same hospitality as Avery had before him, and his crystal was safely stowed away. As long as they had the crystal, the Rose Gate could not be opened. Charlotte had already replenished their food supply; a group of young women had taken the place of the others and Aleksei was making a meal out of one particularly striking redhead as she approached.
“My Lord,” Charlotte curtseyed, her eyes feasting on the sight of him. Aleksei ignored her, leisurely draining the last drop of blood from the young woman’s body before wiping his mouth with a white linen handkerchief.
“Have you found them yet?” he asked eventually.
“Not yet, but the gypsy woman has discovered clues that were left behind. It is only a matter of time before we find where the Guardians are hiding.”
“You are going to rendezvous with the gypsy tracker this evening?”
“Yes, my lord. I will leave as soon as night falls.”
“Contact me immediately if there is any development. I leave for Summerfeld this evening.”
“You are returning so soon?”
“Sloane has secured the weapons we need to destroy the dragons. I will be present when the beasts are destroyed.” An evil smirk settled about his lips. He took great pleasure in the knowledge that everything Eldon had built and held dear would soon be gone.
Knowing he had said all he would, Charlotte took her leave. She was relieved that Aleksei would be travelling back to New Haven. She didn’t want him present when she finally located the Guardians. She had a score to settle with Quinn, and with Drake, and she wanted them to suffer. They had made a fool of her and her sadistic nature demanded vengeance in the cruellest form. She would inflict terrible pain on Quinn, pain so severe it would break the girl’s spirit and leave Drake pleading for mercy. It would also further her cause if she were the one to defeat their enemies – a task that Aleksei, despite his power, had failed to do.
“Charlotte,” Aleksei crooned, as she reached the stairs.
“Yes, My Lord?” She had stopped calling him by his first name since the night he had snubbed her advances.
“You are fond of Sloane, it would seem?”
Charlotte froze. It wasn’t a question. Those black eyes seemed to bore right through her as if he could read the traitorous secrets in her mind. It was a test, Charlotte realised, a God-damned test! Aleksei knew. He knew that there was a traitor in his midst.
“Sloane is a member of the council,” she replied evenly, “I respect him just as I do every other member of your assembly.”
“But do you trust him?” Aleksei asked. It looked like he was enjoying himself.
“No.” The word rang out between them and Aleksei raised one perfect black brow.
“No?”
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte stepped forward. “Forgive me, my Lord, but I don’t. There have been rumours...” she trailed off and Aleksei crossed his arms over his chest.
“Rumours, Charlotte? Rumours of what?”
“That someone within the council may be working against you.”
“And you didn’t feel this was something you should share with your king?” his voice was lower now, more menacing; a thinly-veiled threat. A silence longer than the day waiting for the night fell between them.
“I had hoped to find out who the traitor was before bringing it to your attention,” she replied eventually. “I wanted to please you.” Aleksei said nothing, waiting for her to continue. “I was hoping to coax Sloane into an admission,” she lied.
“By warming his bed?”
“Not all men are as impervious to my charms as you are, my Lord,” she allowed herself an arrogant smirk, and Aleksei rocked back on the balls of his feet, seeming to relax.
“And did your efforts lead to any proof of Sloane’s betrayal?”
“Not yet.” Aleksei let out a cruel, hollow laugh.
“It would seem you overestimate yourself, Charlotte,” he sneered. “In future, I suggest you report any suspicions to me and let me handle the punishment.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Charlotte nodded meekly, her blood raging. Again, he had belittled her; treating her with the same disdain with which he dealt with all of his people. She was certain, however, that she had shifted any suspicion away from herself.
“That will be all,” Aleksei smirked, waving her away. “Please have your staff prepare a vehicle for my return to Cliffdale.” Nodding, Charlotte flew up the stairs, waiting until she was safely ensconced in her private bedroom before laying waste to the room in a fit of rage.
Chapter 32
Isaiah didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he watched Austin preparing to attack for what felt like the hundredth time. The new Guardian
was highly trained for combat, but his methods, so effective when it came to fighting humans, would not work as well when faced with a vampire opponent.
Austin threw himself toward Isaiah, his stake held innocently at his side, his free hand hurtling toward Isaiah’s face, but Isaiah dodged his attack easily and the next second, Austin was once again flat on his back on the floor.
“You need to understand that vampires are faster and stronger than you are,” he explained kindly, as he offered Austin a hand up. “You are used to waging war with weapons – guns that can be fired from a distance. Fighting a vampire is altogether different. Your stake is the only thing that stands between life and death and you need to be in extremely close proximity to use it. You fight vampires up close.”
“It feels foreign,” Austin admitted, testing the weight of the stake in his hand.
“You’ll get used to it. You already possess most of the skills of a Guardian – you’re strong, combat-ready, you know how to defend yourself,” he appeased, “now, you just need to master the stake.”
“You don’t use them,” Austin’s eyes flicked pointedly to the table in the corner of the room, on which lay Isaiah’s sword. “Why can’t I have one of those?”
“Because there is only one,” Isaiah smiled, “and to wield it comes with a high price.” He expected Austin to push for more information, but instead, the young Guardian merely shrugged before resuming his position.
“Again?” he asked.
“No.” Isaiah shook his head. “Lenora wants to set up for the wedding this afternoon. We had better vacate the room before she throws us out.”
Guardians of Summerfeld: Full Series: Books 1-4 Page 73
