“I can feel your magic inch along my skin. You might be strong, but no one will find you here. We had this room made specifically for you.” The twin of the one she’d killed gave a nasty smile. “You could say a couple of witches were dying to help.”
Death magic.
That explained the strength. The vampire must have grabbed a pair of witches on the night of the attack.
“But you go ahead and keep trying. I’ll entertain our guests while you’re otherwise occupied.” The vampire racked a bullet into the chamber. As he turned, she saw him loaded down with silver blades. There was a certain relish in his eyes when he glanced at her.
With a snick, the door closed. Trina jerked at the straps, but there was no give.
“I didn’t know. I didn’t.” Glenda rose with a shell-shocked expression, her hands covered in her own blood.
“Untie me.”
She shook her head frantically. “He would know. He would kill me.”
Trina ignored the tears in Glenda’s eyes and gave her the brutal truth, a truth she must have already figured out. “He will kill you either way.”
Her shoulders hunched, and Glenda fell into awkward silence. “I’m programmed to do him no harm or be riddled by crippling pain.”
“Merrick will come. You can go with us when we leave.”
“I’m not as strong as you or the boy. I saw how hard Drew struggled, and I have no magic to counteract the effects.”
Trina cringed as she watched her fill a syringe. “My blood should help break his control.”
Glenda glanced up at her, a fractured hope shining in her eyes before it faded to nothing. “We’re both trapped by the vampires. Only death will free us.” She walked toward her with the needle in her grip. “I mixed a little of your blood to create a sedative. You shouldn’t feel a thing. It’s the best I can do for you.”
It galled her that Glenda had used the blood she left behind for the shifters to lay a trap for her. Hell, Dorian had unwittingly handed the woman step-by-step directions on how to abduct her.
The pinch of the needle deflated her hope. Dejected and out of ideas, Trina watched the sedative slowly disappear into her veins.
Except that the syringe wasn’t empty when Glenda pulled it away. The plunger never delivered the full dose. Optimism swirled around her as darkness took her once more.
Chapter Thirty-four
Merrick seethed the farther they traveled into pack territory. Though he felt guilty for using the Drew, without the kid, they would’ve headed in the wrong direction. The near miss chilled him. But the effort was taking its toll. Merrick gauged that the kid wouldn’t last much longer. Pale and sweaty, his bony shoulder slumped against the door, Drew refused to turn back until they found Trina.
No one needed to tell him that if they didn’t locate her soon, she’d be lost to them.
Lost to him.
Merrick gripped his knees, not feeling the nails sinking into his flesh.
“She’s on this block. If I go any farther, I don’t think I’ll be much more help. I might lead you wrong. My body wants to protect the bastard.”
“Stop the car.” That was all Merrick needed. Excitement burned in his gut, and he slowly released the breath that had been trapped in his chest since she’d gone missing.
The vehicle veered wildly toward the curb, and the cars behind them followed suit. He gripped Drew’s shoulder while the others piled out of the car. “You did good.”
Merrick nodded to the driver. “Take him home and keep him safe.”
He left the too warm confines of the vehicle, the night air welcoming him with a cool embrace. The urge to hurry rushed through him. He could almost feel Trina slipping away from him the longer they were separated.
He wouldn’t let her go that easily.
He faced the small crowd. “Search this block in pairs, one in beast form, one human. If you find anything, do not enter the building. Signal for us. We have surprise on our side but not for long, so be quick.”
The shifters melted away in pairs. Judith stood next to him, waiting for his command. “Weston and Victor, head north. We’ll circle around the other way.”
Victor pulled his shirt over his head. His image shimmered like heat rising off pavement. Fur erupted over his body, muscles stretched and pulled and he landed on all fours in his lion form.
His opened his mouth, scenting the air. Weston drew his guns, and they vanished as quickly as the others.
Eden and Dorian remained behind. “Where do you want us?”
Merrick wanted to protest that the job was too important to screw up, but the King had a surprising affinity for magic. He couldn’t refuse for he might very well need them to save Trina. “Stay close and keep your magic tight. The vampires can smell that shit. I won’t have you give our position away.”
Eden snorted, but when she opened her mouth, Dorian caught her arm, and she relented. This area of town was mostly industrial. What few brick apartment buildings remained were condemned, slated to be demolished in the upcoming months.
He increased his stride, scenting the air for any sign of Trina, letting the smells rest on his tongue. Scattered trash tumbled down the cracked sidewalks. The alleys reeked of garbage.
But maybe more telling, there were no signs of life anywhere. Beast crowded close until Merrick’s skin rippling, desperate to get out, but they needed to plan, and they did that better in human form. A light rumble crawled up his chest, a mournful sound as he scented for his lost mate.
Then Beast stilled completely and crouched as he caught scent of their prey. Merrick stopped and inhaled. “She’s here.”
Though faint, her scent lingered in the air. He turned in a circle until he caught another whiff and took off running.
“There.” He stopped at the entrance to an alley and pointed to the middle of the three small brownstone buildings across from them. They were so close, he could almost feel her.
There, visible on the sidewalk, lay Trina’s hat.
“That’s my girl.” A smile curled his lips at the clue Trina had managed to leave him.
Eden stepped next to him, her head tipped, eyes narrowed as if reading in the air. She gave him a considering look. “You’re good. I might have missed the faint touch of magic. How do you know that she’s in there?”
Merrick shrugged and answered with complete certainty. “She’s there.”
He wanted to run toward the building, but they had to be cautious. He wouldn’t risk Trina now that they were so close to getting her back.
He turned to Judith. “Signal the others.”
She jogged to the end of the street, her movements a blur. A series of whistles pierced the air, the frequency so high that only the other shifters could hear. She was back before the last whistle faded.
Eden moved her hands in an intricate pattern, a grace to them that was hypnotizing. She mumbled something in a language he didn’t recognize.
The air around them powered up and the magic covering the building began to ripple and fade. The buildings remained the same, but smells rolled toward them in a sickening wave. “Vampires.”
Eden nodded. “The corner, top floor. The room is blocked by magic, and I can’t unlock it without being noticed. That’s where they would be holding Trina.”
Merrick took a step forward when Judith grabbed his arm. Beast rippled under his skin, the hair at his nape standing on end. He nearly whirled and set his fangs at her throat at her interference. She must have sensed his intent for she dropped her hand.
“Look at the rooftops.”
Then he saw them. Shadows only.
“Vampires.”
Dorian held up his hands and magic flared. Like infrared, the bodies lit up like a bright flash of a camera and faded almost as quickly. One form was a bright red, one a light pink and the others a dusty blue. “There are six bodies inside, but a hell of a lot more in the surrounding buildings.”
Merrick kept his gaze on the red form, watching it fa
de, instinctively knowing that it was Trina. She was alone for now, but how much longer?
Weston and Victor appeared behind them, along with half a dozen other pairs. Weston nodded to him. “Go rescue her. We’ll hold the rest of them off and keep an escape route open for you.”
Merrick could hardly remain still, the demand to hunt was almost a physical need. “Be ready for a fast getaway.”
Victor nodded as if in agreement then tipped back his massive head and let loose a booming roar that vibrated the windows. The rest of the animals picked up the call.
They charged into the darkness, scattering in different directions. Merrick didn’t wait, but barreled across the street, his only focus the building. He ducked but didn’t pause as bullets whizzed by, hurtling himself at the door separating him from Trina. The feeble wood splintered in a satisfying way. Shrapnel peppered the hall and the vampire waiting on the other side.
Not giving the vampire a chance to retaliate, Merrick quickly grabbed his head and wrenched his neck. The crunch of bones didn’t satisfy him in the least. He drew his sword and beheaded him with one swift strike.
The others entered behind him, stepping over what was left of the body. Merrick didn’t bother to wait for them but walked farther into the building. The dingy hallways were unlit with trash piled nearly a foot deep in places. Rat droppings hid amongst the clutter, but there was no rustling from the small rodents. They were intelligent enough to flee when a bigger predator too up residence. Recent death clung to the air, and he surmised that whatever homeless people had been living here weren’t as smart.
Dorian chanted under his breath and a dim blue light glowed near the soles of his boots. They push forward, and Merrick searched for any sign of stairs, growing more frustrated when they came up empty.
A barely there sound of movement came from ahead, and Judith shoved him hard in the back. His shoulder crashed into the wall so hard that the sheetrock cracked.
A loud retort sounded, and Judith flinched, falling back a step. The others behind her scrambled for cover in the nearby rooms.
Merrick shoved off the wall as another blast sounded. He felt the pass of the bullet as the place where his head had been a second before exploded.
He looped his arm around Judith, dragging her into the nearest room. Judith twisted out of his hold and paced. Instead of applying pressure, she dug into her wound, panting with each breath. She withdrew her bloody hand and raised it up. In between her trembling fingers rested a bullet.
“Silver.” She spat the word.
“How badly are you injured?” Merrick moved to the other side of the door, listening for any sounds of pursuit. If he hoped to get Trina out alive, he needed Judith strong enough to fight and guard his back.
“Hurts like a bitch, but it’ll take more than a silver bullet to finish me off.”
There was a movement of air then more belching of guns. He heard an echo of the fight outside. Their advantage was well and truly gone.
“Go. I got this.”
Merrick wanted to protest. It irked him to leave in the middle of a battle. Then he thought of Trina and what they could be doing to her while he dawdled. His grip tightened on his sword. “I’ll go through him and do as much damage as I can.”
Judith smiled and drew her own weapon. “Hey, leave some for me.”
He snorted then with a burst of speed, charged out into the hall. Silver missiles slid through air with a whoosh. He twisted, feeling the burn of it sear his arm and side.
Then there was no more time for the vampire to get off any more shots as Merrick lifted his sword, aiming for the neck. The vampire shifted at the last movement, taking a blow to his shoulder. Flesh sliced with ease. Blood perfumed the air. The tug on the blade let him know that the sword had hit bone.
He slid past the vampire and whirled.
A burst of magic made the vampire scream, twisting about as if lit on fire. Trusting that they had his back, Merrick ran into the recesses of the building, leaving the vampire in their capable hands. The noise of the battle faded behind him.
Each room he passed looked more rundown than the last. There were no signs of stairs and beast gave a steady rumble of annoyance. Beneath the rage, a thread of panic threatened to grab hold of him, worming its way under his tight control. He picked up his pace as he imagined someone touching Trina.
And it was his fault. He’d left her alone and helpless.
After two more turns, he saw what he’d been searching for.
Stairs.
He ran through the empty doorframe. He was up the first flight when he registered what was before him.
Nothing.
Tile and wood skidded under his feet as he slid to a stop. The second-level stairs were gone, along with nearly all of the third as well.
From the fresh scent of the wood, the destruction was recent. The perfect way to prevent people from coming to investigate…and keep Trina from escaping.
Puncture marks dotted the walls where the vampires had scaled them. The tile and framing wouldn’t hold his weight if he tried. He’d have to leap the fifteen-foot gap. He didn’t have time to backtrack the labyrinth of corridors in the old brownstone apartments to find another entrance.
Merrick tossed up his sword then backed away until his shoulders hit the wall. He took a deep breath and sprinted forward, calling up his lion for an extra burst of speed. In human form, it only lasted ten minutes at most. Three quarters of the way to the stairs, he leapt, kicking off the wall.
And nearly didn’t make the jump.
His fingers snagged the ragged edges of the wooden floor. Splinters embedded in his palms like a dozen wasp stings. He didn’t waste any time hauling his bulk upward, ignoring the half dozen wounds littering his hands.
Once on his feet, he retrieved his sword. The walls in this section were water damaged, the carpeting ripped. Hell, the whole floor was missing in sections. He skirted the edges, testing the floor to make sure it would hold his weight. The wood groaned in protest but held.
It was too risky to jump.
Halfway around the five-foot hole, a light smell of decay wafted to him. Merrick jerked his head up to see a sinister smile on the last Ferguson twin as he raised his weapon.
Using Beast’s speed, he threw himself sideways, the rapid-fire retort of the gun barely missing him. The bullets sprayed the wall behind him in quick succession. Wood gave in a wrenching groan under his weight, and he plummeted down to the second level. He landed flat on his back with the air knocked out of him.
Debris fell like rain, setting off a coughing fit. The barrel of the gun appeared over the hole, taking aim.
Merrick rolled and wisps of dust kicked up where the bullets struck.
Then there was a click.
Empty.
A vicious smile rose to Merrick’s lips as the odds grew in his favor. “It’s about time. Why don’t you come down here and fight like a man…if you can remember that far back.”
Merrick stood, searching for his sword, but came up empty. He must have lost it in the fall. That’s when he saw the pommel hanging over the ledge. He tensed to leap when a shape dropped down through the opening.
His body automatically fell into a fighter’s stance, and he scanned the room for a weapon. The place was stripped bare. All he had left was Trina’s stake.
“I will enjoy watching the King prostitute your woman to the highest bidder, helpless as they sink their fangs in her slender neck and slowly drain her of blood. He’ll charge extra for tapping a vein.”
Merrick pushed away the images. He wouldn’t allow himself to act rashly at the cost of Trina’s life. “Your brother put up little fight, dying without taking a single shifter with him. Very lax. One might say hardly worth the effort.
Brown eyes bled to blue as the vampire leapt the distance between them. Merrick slashed out with the stake, but the angle was wrong. It scraped along the vampire’s ribs, tearing through clothing instead of sinking into the chest.
&n
bsp; The vampire hissed as flesh sizzled. The smell of burnt, rotten meat was nearly suffocating in the enclosed space.
The vampire whirled, fangs bared, but his eyes remained on the stake, the first sign of fear revealing itself.
Merrick lifted the stake. “Trina made this specifically for your King, but I don’t think she’d mind me testing it out first. The wood hurt to touch, didn’t it? It must have cost her a fortune to get her hands on this large piece of rowan. I thought your kind had destroyed it all.”
The vampire became quiet and even more leery as he circled, favoring his side. “I’m going to enjoy bringing your head back to your witch and watch the fight fade from her eyes.”
Merrick laughed, unable to imagine Trina sitting down and taking anything without fighting. “She’s more liable to kill you than weep.”
The vampire charged. Merrick dropped on his back, kicked out and levered the vampire over his head, something he’d picked up from Trina. The body hit the wall with a resounding thud. Drywall crumbled and so much plaster fell that the ceiling swayed, threatening to collapse.
Merrick flipped to his feet. The vampire stood more slowly, his hair in disarray, clothes dirty and torn. One leg was bent at an odd angle.
And then he smiled. “Every second I delay you, imagine the torture she’s suffering at the hands of the King.”
He was right. Merrick needed to finish this now. He glanced at the ceiling and his sword. When his attention was diverted, the vampire moved. Expecting it, Merrick sidestepped and slammed the stake into the vampire’s spine.
Ribs caved. Bones cracked.
The vampire twisted, raking claws down Merrick’s shoulders, peeling strips of flesh from his back.
Fangs flashed forward, and Merrick brought up his arm to protect his throat. Teeth latched onto his forearm and clamped down hard.
A growl rumbled up Merrick’s throat. He was pissed that this vampire thought to delay him from reaching Trina. He shoved the stake higher and pierced the heart. The cool flesh felt like rotten meat around his hand.
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