by Amanda Carol
I feel the anger flow threw my veins like hot lava. My hand feels warm, too warm. I slowly open my eyes and glance down at my hand to see that it’s on freaking fire. I don’t let myself panic, though. It doesn’t hurt. If anything, I’m mesmerized by the way the flames dance across my skin.
“You have to let it go,” Zayne demands in my ear.
The flames start to get hotter, so I hold my hand out and watch the flames leave my hand and fly straight into the pit. I let out a harsh breath and lean forward, resting my hands on my knees.
“Yeah, it takes a lot of concentration at first. But soon, you’ll be able to control it better. We can take a five-minute break and try again.” Zayne pats my back and walks around to sit on a rock.
I, however, do not have the energy to move, so I just plop my ass down right where I'm standing. And suddenly I get that feeling. The feeling that I get when a vampire is near. I’m up on my feet in a heartbeat and looking around.
“What’s wrong?” Zayne springs to his feet, and I hear Knox walking toward me too.
A loud boom sounds off to my left. We all turn and face that direction.
“That’s a signal that the wards have been breached.” Zayne breathes. “We just put that in place since the attack on Sloane.”
Knox curses under his breath. I can sense the vampire now. He’s close, and I know he’s not heading toward us, but to one of the cabins. I don’t stop to think. I take off running.
“Aria!” Knox and Zayne shout after me.
I hear their footsteps behind me and gaining, but I don’t slow down. I stay in the woods, using the trees to my advantage. Suddenly, something hits me from the side and I tumble to the ground. I roll onto my knees, then onto my feet. I look for either Knox or Zayne, but instead my eyes land on a black-haired, black-eyed vampire. And I immediately recognize him.
I am now face to face with the vampire that killed my parents.
“You,” I spit out.
I can feel my blood boiling. Knox shifts into his wolf and stands in front of me as Zayne grabs my arm and pulls me behind him.
“Relax. I am not going to hurt her. Yet.” The vampire smirks as he steps forward.
Knox lets out a growl and snaps at him.
“You son of a bitch!” I shout as I step around Zayne and try to lunge at the vampire. But Zayne wraps his arm around my waist to hold me back.
“Language,” the demon scolds.
“You killed my parents!” I shout.
Zayne’s head whips in my direction. I don’t look at him. My focus is on the bastard standing in front of me.
“Did I?” He puts a finger to his lips as if he’s thinking really hard about it. “Oh yes, Debora and Preston. You and your brother were not supposed to get away that night.”
“What?” I freeze in Zayne’s arms, but he keeps a tight grip on me. “How do you know their names?”
I hear Knox let out a deep growl. It seems like he’s seconds away from lunging at the vampire.
“We’ve been following your family line for centuries. Waiting for, well, you and your brother to be born.”
In an instant, with the flick of his fingers using the air element, both Knox and Zayne go flying in different directions. The vampire moves so fast that I don’t even have time to react. He slams into me, my back hitting the tree behind me. He grips my throat, and it tightens as I struggle against him. I am trying to drag air into my lungs, but his grip is too strong.
Then I feel the familiar hum against my back.
Duh. I have powers now, which this asshole somehow seems to have too.
Act now, ask questions later, I implore myself.
I’m not used to using my power much, but I see a stick lying close by and focus on it. It rises into the air, then flies right into the vampire’s side. He lets go of me, stumbling backward as I fall to the ground, sucking precious air into my lungs. I look up and my brain clicks off. I rush forward and wrap my fingers around the stick, pushing it further into his side. I know it won’t kill him, but I need to keep fighting. I feel the power move through my veins, I glance up at him and smirk. His eyes grow wide as I light the stick on fire and then kick his chest. He stumbles back, but manages to catch himself before falling.
“Interesting little parlor trick.” He wraps his pale fingers around the burning stick, pulls it out of his side, and throws it to the ground. “I see you’ve come into your powers. I knew Declan had, but I wasn’t sure about you.”
I was right. It was him who I saw in the woods that day. But that would mean…
“Sloane was a test?” I seethe, realizing what he’s saying.
I move to step forward, but he flicks his fingers and I fly back and land right next to Knox, who is now in his human form. He grabs my elbow and helps me up.
“Yes.” The vampire grins.
Knox lets out a low growl and lunges forward, and the vampire flicks him off to the side like a bug.
“How the hell can you do that?” Knox spits blood from his mouth.
I’m wondering the same thing too. I hear a moan to my right and look over to see Zayne starting to get up. I rush over to help him up as Knox comes stumbling over to us.
“Dark magic. It has to be,” Zayne whispers next to me.
I look up at him, and his eyes flick to somewhere off to the side of us and go wide. I follow his gaze over and see why. The stick is catching everything around it on fire. Oh, God. We have got to put that out, and fast. Otherwise it will burn the entire Compound down. I look back up to Zayne, who seems to understand what I’m thinking. I start forward, and Knox curses under his breath. The vampire flicks his damn fingers and, once again, I go flying backward. I slam into a tree and fall to the ground, the air rushing out of my lungs.
“Stupid girl. You’re not a very quick study, are you?” the vampire sneers, then rushes over to stand right above me.
I try to get up, but he kicks me hard and I go flying backward. Again. This is getting really freaking old. I groan, clutching my stomach. But I don’t have time to think, because I’m pulled up to my feet, suddenly face-to-face with the vampire.
“I have had a long time to practice using my magic. You are a fool if you think you can take me out,” he hisses.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Zayne trying to contain the flames. The pain in my body makes me question why I used myself as a distraction in the first place. He tosses me to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Sounds of multiple people screaming tear through the woods, and I look over at Knox. His eyes widen and flash a golden brown. I can tell he’s torn between wanting to go back to Grace and following his Beta’s orders.
“Did you honestly believe that I came alone?” The vampire laughs, then turns and waves his hand at Zayne, who is flown right into Knox, knocking them both down. “Good try on using yourself as a distraction. But you either stay and kill me or go back to that barn.”
My heart drops.
Declan is there.
So are Abby, Ciera, Kat, and Grace, along with dozens of innocent people. This vampire is after Declan and me.
“Knox!” I yell, wincing at the sudden jolt of pain from screaming. “Go! I’ve got this. GO!”
He looks over at me, and I can tell he’s still torn.
“Knox, please,” I beg.
I need to make sure my friends are safe; they need him more than I do. He nods once, shifts, and takes off in the direction of the barn.
I look up at the vampire. “Who are you? What do you want with me and my brother?”
“The name is Ronan. And the why, I’ve already told you.” He’s in my face and I flinch. “I needed to see if you had your powers, and you do. Isabella will be quite pleased.”
“Isabella?” I try to scoot back, but Ronan grabs my ankle and yanks me toward him. He places his hand around the nape of my neck and pulls me so close that our noses are almost touching. He smells like death. “I guess the young wolf never gave you my message. You’ll meet her i
n due time. But—” He trails off, leaning in and caressing my neck with his nose. “I’m sure she won’t mind if I have a little taste.”
My heart drops. I’m too weak and in too much pain to push him off. But right before he sinks his teeth into me, he jerks away screaming. I’m momentarily stunned, but then I see Zayne throwing fireball after fireball at him. It’s too quick for Ronan, and he’s completely engulfed in flames.
“Are you good?” Zayne asks, running over to me and putting one arm around my waist.
I toss my left arm over his shoulder for more support, then he hoists me to my feet.
“Yeah. Let’s just get the hell out of here. He won’t be down for long,” I say.
We both look over at Ronan, and he’s lying on the ground, not moving.
“We need to hurry back. I’m going to need some help with that fire. I managed to contain it, but the spell I used won’t contain it for long.” Zayne catches me as I stumble over a rock, or a tree limb. It’s anyone’s guess at this point.
I’m about to ask him about the consequence for the spell he used, but we hear more screams and howls coming from the Compound. Then, it feels like someone’s taken knives and shoved them into my brain. I cry out in pain and fall to my knees, bringing Zayne down with me.
“Aria!” Zayne crouches down in front of me. “You’re bleeding!”
I look at him in confusion, then I feel something warm hit my upper lip. I reach up and feel under my nose. When I pull my hand away, sure enough, I see blood. My nose is bleeding. I feel another sharp pain, worse than before. I clutch my head tightly with both hands, screaming out. Before everything goes black, I think of only one thing.
Hunter.
I need all of you back now. There’s been an attack at the Compound, my father’s voice comes through my head.
I glance over at Bennett. I told my father about Aria and the telepathic link, so if he’s using it to communicate with the whole pack, I know it has to be bad.
It sounds like Aria is saying my name too, but I know that’s impossible. I must be hearing things.
We are in the middle of the French Quarter, so we can’t shift. I take off sprinting toward my Impala with Bennett right on my heels. We could make it there a lot quicker in wolf form, but there aren’t any woods that we can hide ourselves in for miles, so we have to drive. We make it to my car in record time and I peel away from the curb, not giving a flying fuck if I run red lights. Good thing my father is cool with the County Sheriff.
I grip the steering wheel and a muscle ticks in my clenched jaw. Bennett is silent in the passenger seat. We’re both worried about what’s happening back home. My thoughts are on Aria. My father opening that link probably gave her the worst kind of headache. And to have that happen in the middle of an attack… She’s vulnerable. Thank God I told Knox to stay with her. He’s the only shifter besides Bennett that I know I can trust to keep her safe. But I should have been there.
I cut the wheel and turn onto the property road, speeding down it as fast as my car will go. I’ll probably have to fix the paint job, but I couldn’t care less right now. I slam on the brakes by where all the other cars are parked and throw open the door, not even bothering to close it. I shift into my wolf and run toward the barn.
Knox is battling a vampire with Axton. Axton leaps up and bares his teeth, but the vampire ducks, reaching up and punching him right in the ribs. He lands hard on the ground, yelping in pain. I let out a growl and lunge at the vampire. He’s not expecting me, which gives me the upper hand. I bite down on his neck and rip his throat out. The vampire falls to the ground as his head rolls down the pathway.
I glance at Knox; he nods once before turning and running back over to Grace, who is standing on the barn porch with other witches and young shifters. She looks pissed off and I’d bet money Knox wouldn’t let her help.
Wait. Knox is here. But where’s Aria?
I walk over to Axton as he shifts back into his human form. He says he’s fine and waves me off. I look around and see Blaine standing over another vampire that had been taken out before Bennett and I got here. He nods once before walking over to Axton. Searching for Aria in the mess, I see Kat and Bennett take out another vamp. I shift back into my human form and run over to them.
“How many were there?” I ask as soon as I’m close enough that they can hear me.
“As far as I know, only three,” Kat replies breathlessly, turning to me. “Hunter, something isn’t right. This bastard here used the air element.” Kat’s wide gaze meets mine.
“What?” Bennett shouts. “How in the hell is that possible?”
I don’t stick around to hear that answer, because my gaze lands on Knox and I jog over to him. He’s bleeding from his head and his lip is busted open.
“Where’s Aria?” I command when I’m in earshot.
Declan comes out of the barn, holding Ciera’s hand. Abby is right on their heels.
“What do you mean? I thought Aria was training with Zayne in the woods? Once the alarm sounded, this place was put on lockdown,” Declan says, coming up and standing next to Knox.
I ignore him.
“Knox, where are they?” My voice raises and he visibly swallows. “I am not asking you again.”
“There was a vampire in the woods where we were. We heard the attack and she told me to go.” He lets out a breath; Grace wraps her hand around his elbow.
Fuck.
I know why she let him go. Knox is one of the best fighters in the pack. He needed to be here.
Suddenly, I hear a loud whooshing sound behind me and I feel heat on my back. I turn around to see the woods engulfed in flames.
“Did my sister and Zayne come out of those woods?” Declan turns to Knox.
Knox doesn’t need to say anything. The look on his face says it all.
“Hunter!” Bennett shouts, and I follow his gaze to the edge of the woods.
My breath catches and I swear my heart stops beating. Zayne is carrying Aria out of the woods; her arm is hanging loosely to the side and her head is draped over his arm. Declan jumps off the porch and takes off running toward them. I quickly snap out of it, then run after him. I quickly overtake him and end up reaching Zayne first.
I grab her from his arms and fall to my knees, cradling her limp body. Declan drops to his knees beside us, grabbing her face and checking for a pulse. He looks at me and nods once. She’s still alive. She has a cut on her forehead and her nose is bleeding, but those are the only injuries I can see. A low growl escapes my chest and I look up at Zayne, who doesn’t look much better than Aria.
“What happened?” I snarl at him through clenched teeth.
“Aria created a distraction so I could get the flames under control long enough so this—” He waves at the flames behind him. “—wouldn’t happen. But the vampire was about to bite her, so I hit him with fireballs. When he was down, I grabbed her, and we started to get the hell out of there. But then something happened with her head and she blacked out.” He winces as he sucks in a hitched breath. “Hunt, man, I’m sorry. I just needed to get us out of there.” He bends over, resting his hands on his knees. “He got away. I’m sorry.”
I clench my jaw, trying to get my anger under control. I know it’s not Zayne’s fault. He got her out of there. But I should have been here. I should have told my father I wasn’t leaving her. But Alpha’s orders told me to go. I hear more footsteps approaching, but I don’t bother to look up.
“We need to get this fire under control.” Zayne looks up at Grace.
She nods in agreement.
“Grace,” Knox pleads from next to her.
“Knox Carter, you can wait here or you can come with me, but I’m going,” Grace says firmly.
She tugs her arm from his grasp and rushes off into the woods with Abby, Kat, Ciera, and Zayne. Abby and Ciera can help control the air around the flames so it doesn’t spread as Kat and Grace work on putting the flames out.
“Let’s get her to Kora,�
�� I growl, getting to my feet.
I brush past Knox, ignoring his silent plea. He shouldn’t have listened to Aria. He should have stayed put. I gave him an order to protect her and he didn’t obey.
“Hunter—” he starts, but stops and flinches when I turn and glare at him.
I know my eyes are glowing with all the rage I’m feeling right now. Knox just bows his head in submission. I stare at him a moment longer before I turn and continue back to the barn.
I start jogging, with Declan and Knox right behind me. As we get to the steps, Knox rushes forward and opens the door for us. Declan then rushes around me and opens the medical room doors. I look inside the room and see a few witches and wolves being treated for wounds. Kora has her hands full, but it looks like there are no serious injuries. Nothing that will prevent her from looking at Aria right now, anyway.
“Kora!” I shout, looking around for a bed to lay Aria on.
Kora comes out of her office and her eyes widen at the sight of Aria. She waves at us to follow her, and we walk past the beds to the back of the room, which holds several small private rooms for more severe injuries.
“Put her down in here.” Kora opens one set of doors and I follow her in.
She turns on the light with a flick of her wrist, and I gently lay Aria down on the full-sized bed. There are two bedside tables on either side, and a large couch up against the wall.
“Both of you, out,” Kora demands, pushing us out of the room and slamming the door shut.
Declan and I exchange worried looks before he turns and storms off. I follow him out of the medical room, and out the front door to the barn. Once we’re outside, he whirls around; I almost walk straight into him.
“Whoa, holy shit,” Knox mumbles as he sidesteps me.
He was apparently right behind us when we walked outside. No doubt on his way to check on Grace.
“Do either of you want to tell me what the hell is wrong with my sister?” Declan looks between us both.
My anger from earlier quickly disappears.
