Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“What is it?” I ask, leaning in to try and read it. However, the writing is in no language I’ve ever seen. “Lucas?”
“Powerful magic intended to counteract the runes and allow our enemies to enter. My brother and his Russian friends must have paid a pretty penny for it.”
The pieces fall into place in my mind and my lip curls in a very vampire-style snarl. “That’s why they kidnapped me…so they could plant that thing on me and have me walk it right on into the house for them.”
He raises his head, and I feel the tug in the middle of my chest. It’s the sire bond being used—and not just on me. As evidenced when Henry and Benedict stride into the room. “Get ready,” says Lucas. “We’re about to have guests.”
Not even Marc is willing to fuck with the sun. Or not too much. When the attack begins, our nearest star has just met the horizon. I can feel it still warning me to keep my head down, to stay hidden or else. It would take a strong will to ignore it. Either that, or a burning hatred nurtured over a thousand or so years and a shitload of money.
Marc must have hired humans to transport him and his people here and bring them inside out of the daylight. Several large vehicles park in the drive. Some sort of vans or trucks or something. I get the feeling we’re about to be seriously outnumbered. Car doors open and close. But there’s no murmur of conversation. Not a single word is said, only footsteps and the sound of heavy boxes being brought inside the house. With the runes negated, there’s nothing to keep them out.
Had we not found the medallion, they probably would have taken us by surprise. I would, in all likelihood, have been asleep and not heard slaughter and deception in the still and silent corner of my mind. Missed the heightened emotions surrounding these words. All of the anticipation and anger.
The others might well have thought they were just from The Thorn Group. Contractors hired to see to the house or garden. Such workers have been coming and going during the daylight hours. There have also been deliveries. So many deliveries. Items Lucas has asked for or Shirley collected for him over the years. It’s late in the day for humans to be here. But certainly not beyond the realm of possibility.
Lucas decided not to destroy the medallion or throw it out the nearest window. This is his chance to finally face his brother on home ground. He wanted me to hide in a tunnel, one of the secret other exits, until it was over. But they’re going to need every hand they can get. Even a shaky one with little to no experience. Nicholas and Leilah will be here as soon as the sun is fully set. But I have the distinct feeling they’re going to be too late.
My anxiety is as high as can be, despite our home seeming so normal. Pillar candles burn in the lounge room belowground, and a record is playing. Billie Holiday sings oh so sweetly. The heavy wooden door at the back of the basement stands open a hand’s width. It’s a welcoming scene, typical of how the days are spent by family members who don’t need to sleep. Ones who believe themselves safe, care of the runes.
Lucas and I stand to the side of the back hallway. As close as he would let me get to the action. But I can see everything and have a pistol in hand. Something I have agreed only to use as a last resort. None of the family is keen to experience friendly fire. Which, to be fair, could very well happen. However, there’s no way I was willing to agree to being unarmed when we’re under attack.
Then suddenly it begins. I didn’t even hear anyone approach the door. These people are seriously good.
The door opens wider, slowly and silently. And the first of Marc’s assassins steps inside with a submachine gun. He sprays the room with wooden bullets, making crystal and porcelain shatter as feathers and fluff from the furniture fills the air. It’s a fucking mess.
Benedict rises from behind the chaise and a dagger flies from his hand. Of course, the point finds its target, burying itself deep in the creature’s eye. The vampire turns to ash where he stands.
Another immediately steps forward to take his place. This time it’s a petite woman wielding her own sharp implements. As evidenced by the throwing star now sticking out of Benedict’s shoulder. But Henry rises from behind an antique credenza with a pistol in hand. One, two, three bullets hit her heart, and she, too, is ash.
It all happens so quickly. To each action, an equally bloody and violent reaction.