by G. K. DeRosa
Declan’s brows knitted, and I could practically see the objection building in his head. He opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “This is a non-issue, Declan. I’m not going anywhere without them.”
“Fine. But we’re leaving—now.”
I hurried into the bathroom and threw on a shirt and pair of jeans, compliments of the vampire king. When I came back out, Declan and his uncle were plotting.
“Where will you go?” Azazel asked.
“South. We have human friends where Liv will be safe.”
His squirrely uncle nodded. “Good.” He moved closer and Declan stepped back, but Azazel clasped his hands on his shoulders preventing his escape. “I’m sorry about your mother—more than you will ever know.” He clenched his jaw, pressing his thin lips into an invisible line. “She believed in Liv and what she was destined for. In honor of your mother, I vow to do everything in my power to see that you and Liv succeed in your mission.”
He stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out a smooth opal gemstone. It was the size of his palm and would’ve been worth a fortune pre-apocalypse. He handed it to Declan with a wry smile. “It’s been spelled as a mystical beacon of sorts. If I can ever be of service, you must only hold the stone and think of me. I will come as fast as I can.”
Darkness descended over Declan’s features, and I resisted the urge to pull him into my arms. His pain radiated across the room.
“Thank you,” he finally muttered.
I moved beside my nephilim protector, lacing my fingers through his. “Where will you go, uncle?” I asked, and for once my tone wasn’t sarcastic.
He shot me a smile. “I won’t be far.” He patted Declan on the back and winked at me with his electric blue eye. “Take care of her, Declan.” Then he turned to me with an uncharacteristic fatherly glance. “Take care of each other.”
I blinked back a swell of unexpected tears, and he was gone.
Staring out into the murky darkness, every single nerve ending was on high alert. The hair on the back of my neck prickled, the unease swirling in the small car. I glanced at the rearview mirror and caught Trinity’s dark eyes. They were wide and alert like mine. Even Duke sat up straight.
The tense silence was suffocating. “Are you sure you can see?” I asked Declan.
“Yes.” He didn’t deviate his gaze from the deserted highway. He’d insisted on driving without headlights to stay under the radar. We’d left Vamp Central so quickly we had no idea what was happening in D.C.
I glanced over at the speedometer, and my eyes widened. Please don’t hit a tree. Please don’t hit a tree. At the speed we were going, we’d reach Virginia in no time. Thank goodness Sammarah’s electric car zipped along silently despite the high velocity.
“You okay back there?” I squirmed around to see Trinity.
Duke cocked his head and whined, and I gave him a good scratch behind the ears.
“Yeah. Just thinking about the Christakos family.”
I nodded. I’d barely spent a few hours with them and felt bad leaving. They were like scared little mice that I felt compelled to protect. I saw the heartbreak on Trinity’s face when she said goodbye to them, especially the children.
“We’ll go back for them. I promise.”
She gave me a weak smile. “I know. I hope they survive till then.”
“Damn it,” Declan hissed, his dark eyes intent on the rearview mirror.
“What’s wrong?” I spun back to face the front as he jerked the steering wheel to the right and skidded off the road into a thick copse of trees. He slammed his foot on the brake, and I jerked forward, bracing myself for impact with a massive oak.
The hit never came. Instead, Declan glided next to the tree and killed the engine. My racing heart finally slowed as I realized we were still in one piece. “What the heck, Dec?”
He tilted his head up to the sky. “Angels overhead.”
I craned my neck, but couldn’t see a thing from the front windshield. Trinity shuffled around in the back, searching the rear windshield. I followed her line of sight and could just make out a faint glow in the pitch-black sky.
“They’re coming from the north,” I mumbled.
Declan nodded. “Must be my father and his men.”
I gulped. If Azazel hadn’t given us the early warning, we’d be with them right now. Most likely as their prisoners. In some ways, the vampires’ assault on the tower gave me a reprieve. Nathanael and Zekiel couldn’t concentrate on me when they had an all-out war to contend with.
We sat in silence until Declan gave us the okay. It was the longest twenty minutes of my life.
“We’re going to have to take back roads.” Declan pushed the start button and the little electric car flared to life.
“How much longer will that take?”
“Probably an extra hour at least, but we can’t risk getting spotted on the highway. If Nathanael discovers Zeke planned the attack on the tower, all bets are off. It’ll be outright war again.”
I tugged on my seatbelt as anxiety churned in my gut. Would humanity survive another war?
The depressing answer to that was no.
“We have to find the shield.” It was the only answer.
Declan smiled and squeezed my knee as he pulled back onto the road. “We will.”
Taking the first exit off the highway, Declan led us down a narrow street, which apparently ran parallel to the main thoroughfare. Thick woods surrounded us on either side, nothing but muddy darkness all around. My lids grew heavy, but I blinked rapidly, forcing my eyes to remain open.
“Why don’t you take a nap?” Declan glanced at me from the corner of his eye. My nephilim guardian always watched me.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
“Well if neither of you are going to sleep, then I will.” Trinity poked her head between the front seats.
“You should. I’ll stay up with Declan.”
She sat back and curled across the seat with Duke at her side. I took a second to enjoy the quiet moment. We were all safe, and we were together for once. That had to count for something.
“Hold on!” Declan’s arm shot across my chest as he slammed the brakes, and I lurched forward.
My breath caught in my throat, and I mentally cursed myself for ever thinking happy thoughts. The sedan skidded to a stop, and the shadow of a massive fallen tree coalesced across the windshield.
I sucked in a breath, still bracing the front dash.
“Is everyone okay?” Declan’s panicked eyes met mine, and I slowly nodded.
“We’re okay,” said Trinity from the back seat.
I yanked the car door open, muttering curses as I got out of the car. “Stupid tree. Stupid back road.”
“Liv, wait!” Declan’s terrified voice barely registered as an arm clamped around my neck.
Chapter 21
Son of a vampire! How did I fall for the oldest trick in the book?
Sharp fangs glistened in my periphery, icy cool breath igniting a wave of goose bumps over my skin. Duke barked like mad as Declan and Trinity leapt out of the car.
“Release her, at once.” Declan’s tone was like glass, his angel sword brilliant against the black night.
“Behind you!” I shouted right before a hand clapped over my mouth.
Five shadowy forms emerged from the darkness, encircling the vehicle.
“This is angel territory. You have no rights here,” Declan spat.
The vampire holding me sneered, his pale lips dry and cracked. “Haven’t you heard, son of heaven? The Accords have been broken. There is no more angel territory.”
Crap on a stick.
“Fine then.” Declan’s eyes burned crimson as his fangs descended. “It won’t be illegal to kill every last one of you.”
My vamp captor choked on a gasp at the sight of his sharp incisors. Declan whirled on the nearest vampire and tore into his neck. Didn’t see that one coming, did ya?
I took advantage of his momentary distraction
and kicked my leg up to unsheathe the dagger in my boot. Before the startled vampire knew what was going on, I plunged the blade in his gut. His hold around my neck released, and I darted away.
Trinity grappled with a female vampire as Duke growled and snapped at her legs. I tossed the weapon to Trinity, and she thrust the dagger into her chest. Damn, Trinity must’ve been practicing. The female crumpled to the ground, coating the earth with fresh ashes.
“Liv, watch out!”
I ducked just in time to avoid being grabbed by my original vampire captor. My aim hadn’t been as spot on as Trinity’s, completely missing his heart and now his wound had healed.
“Take this!” Trinity’s arm extended as a familiar weapon came to light.
My sword! I grabbed it and spun around, burying it in the vampire’s gut. The blade sparked to life, igniting a ball of fire inside my attacker’s torso. His eyes bulged out of his head as his innards incinerated from the inside out.
Trinity stared, mouth gaping and I was sure I wore an identical expression.
“How’d you do that?” she asked.
“No idea.” I shook my head as I stared at the flaming blade.
Loud grunts drew my attention to Declan and the two vampires he still battled. I let out a sharp battle cry and raced over to help him with my magical sword held high.
One of the vampires spun around at my approach, and that distraction was all Declan needed. He swung his sword in a sharp arc, and the monster’s head rolled to the ground with a disgusting thunk. The remaining vampire took one look at the fiery rage in Declan’s eyes and sped away, disappearing in a thick copse of trees.
I let my own sword drop. The adrenaline throbbing through my veins dissipated, and I raced into Declan’s arms.
“Are you okay?” he muttered as he ran his hands over me.
“Yeah, I’m fine. You?” I pulled back to scan for injuries. Blood covered his chin and dripped down his shirt, but I was fairly certain it wasn’t his. I opened my arms to hug him again but the dark red blood coating his shirt stopped me. So gross.
As if reading my mind, Declan tugged the offending article over his head. A huge grin lit up my face as his washboard abs filled my vision and heat rose in my middle. He yanked me toward him and enveloped me in his musky scent. There was nowhere on earth I felt safer.
“Um, should I leave you two alone?” Trinity crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned against the car.
I laughed and extricated myself from Declan’s embrace. “Sorry.”
“We should keep moving anyway.” Declan steered me back to the car before dragging the fallen tree off the road. I couldn’t help but watch in amazement as he lifted the enormous trunk.
I expected Declan to put a clean shirt on when he returned to the car, but instead he resumed his position in the driver’s seat shirtless. At least there was something positive that came out of the attack. I ogled my bare-chested nephilim for as long as my heavy eyelids could stand it.
Before long, my lids lost the battle and darkness consumed me.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I stared at the dark choppy water with my hands firmly planted on my hips.
Jayse leveled his green-eyed gaze at me. “Let me get this straight—you have no problem going head to head with vamps and warrior angels, but you balk at a little swim?”
If I hadn’t been so relieved to see the big guy alive I would’ve used more colorful language in my objections. After arriving at the church, a muffled voice through the door had directed us to a small pond hidden behind the tree line a few blocks away from the strip mall. Jayse now stood in front of me soaked from head to toe after emerging out of said pond like the Lochness monster.
“Is everyone else okay? Did you get all the humans out of the tower?” At the shock of hearing how we were to re-enter headquarters, I’d forgotten to ask the most important questions.
Jayse nodded. “My dad and uncle Parker stayed behind after a ton of arguing, and we got Redson, Britt and a couple of our other guys out safely. We sustained a lot of casualties, but we also took down a bunch of those fu—fools. I’ll tell you all about it once we’re inside.”
I exhaled a huge breath of relief. Parker was okay. “Wait, what about Asher?” A steel grip tightened around my heart.
“He was alive last I saw him. We lost sight of him once the vamps arrived.”
Asher had survived. I’d feel it if he were dead—really dead. They were all okay, and they’d gotten the majority of the prisoners out.
“It’s a quick swim. I promise,” said Jayse, pulling me back to the matter at hand. He pointed at the murky water and bent down. “There’s an old drainage tunnel just a few feet down, and it’ll take you right into the top level of headquarters. Hundreds of prisoners from Arx managed to do it yesterday. You’ll be fine.”
My lips twisted. I couldn’t help the images of decaying sewage that popped into my mind. “Why do we have to go this way?” I was so not in the mood for a swim.
“We don’t want to attract too much attention which is exactly why we built this entrance for the flood of survivors we brought in. There would’ve been no way to get them in through the shed quickly or quietly.”
I glanced over at Trinity and Duke who looked just as unconvinced as I was. “What about Duke?”
“I’ll go first with him.” Declan bumped his shoulder against mine, shooting me a smile.
“Ugh. Fine.” I wrapped my arms around myself hoping to contain the swarm of bees in my belly.
“Good.” Jayse straightened to his full height, and I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. “Declan will go first, then you and Trinity and I’ll go behind you all.”
Declan bent down to pick Duke up, cradling him in one arm. “Behave, dog.” Poor Duke whined as his legs and tail flailed.
“Be careful!” I shouted just before Declan and Duke disappeared under the cloudy water.
“Next.” Jayse ushered Trinity and me to the edge.
“Together?” She held out her hand, and I nodded because what other choice did I have?
I held my breath, and we leapt in. Warm water rushed over me as I plunged down, and I forced my eyes open. Trinity was ahead of me, swimming toward a large opening. Swirly lights lit up the passageway, and I relaxed just a millimeter when I recognized the golden glow.
I paddled quickly, pulling the water back as a tunnel closed in around me. Seconds later, my feet hit solid ground and the water receded to less than a yard in height. I got off my hands and knees and straightened, seeing Trinity right in front of me. Just over her shoulder were Declan and a very wet Duke. He shook his coat out spraying droplets of water all over Declan.
“Argh! Really, dog?” Declan growled and jumped out of the way, but not before getting a second bath of wet dog hair.
I laughed, and before long Trinity couldn’t hold it in either. The two of us bent over as peals of laughter tumbled out. After the tense day we’d had, it was either that or cry.
Jayse threw us each a towel from a large metal stand backed against the wall. “Whenever you guys are done, I can show you to your rooms.”
“I’m ready,” said Declan, throwing me an extra towel for Duke.
I wrapped the warm cloth around myself and stifled the giggles long enough to dry Duke. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter 22
Jayse led us through a series of dirt tunnels until we made it back to the commerce hall I’d encountered the first time we arrived. Hushed whispers picked up as we walked in. Hundreds of people milled about, some lined up at containers, others hanging around talking. Compared to the blood slaves at vamp Marriott, these humans had fared well. I scanned the large room, people loitering in every nook and cranny. It seemed as if the population of renegade headquarters had tripled since we left. My heart smiled.
“How many humans made it out?” I raced up to walk beside Jayse.
“Six hundred and thirty-two.”
I glanced over at Declan. “How many
were in the tower to begin with?”
His eyes cast down, his lips twisting. “Probably close to a thousand.”
“What?” My heart plummeted.
“A few hundred were sent north prior to the assault,” Declan continued. “Nathanael might not have known exactly when Zeke planned to attack, but he knew something was coming. He’s been preparing.”
I cringed at the thought of the augmented human soldiers poised for battle against Zeke and the vampires.
“Which is why we’re setting up our second outpost up north,” continued Jayse. “My brother, Jaxon left with a few guys this morning to meet Ace in Buffalo. In a few weeks we should have something livable set up.”
Engrossed in the conversation, I hadn’t even realized we’d reached my old container. Jayse stopped in front of it. “You’re lucky Parker insisted we kept this one for you. We’re at max occupancy now so all three of you will have to share.”
“No problem,” I answered. I’d have to thank Parker for that later. I couldn’t wait to see him. Somehow the pit of dread in my stomach wouldn’t fully dissipate until I’d seen him alive and well with my own eyes.
We dropped our stuff on the floor, covering nearly every inch of the compact space. Duke found a small corner and curled into a ball to lick his wet fur.
“I need a shower,” said Trinity, tugging at her wet t-shirt and crinkling her nose.
“I’ll show you where it is.” Jayse stepped out of the container and Trinity followed. The space suddenly seemed much bigger.
My own clothes hung wet and loose from my body, the idea of a shower too good to miss out. Until I met Declan’s eyes. They smoldered with an intensity that made my knees tremble. He dropped his fiery gaze lower and like a laser, left a scorching path down my torso.
I glanced down at my white t-shirt. It was practically see-through under the neon light. The pink outline of my bra and the swell of my breasts were obvious beneath the wet material. My cheeks flushed, and I crossed my arms over my chest.
