I lay on my back and stared at the fallen spikes. If I stuck one into my heart, would it be enough to kill me before I could be humiliated any further?
Chapter 26
Toby
Jet, a few local alphas, and I crept toward the shouting.
“What are they doing?” Jet asked.
I shuddered. “I have a feeling we won’t like it when we find out.”
Finally, we came to a clearing. A huge group, all wearing black, was gathered around a long pole. A small fire burned at the bottom, and someone was tied, her feet only about a foot above the flames.
“No!” My stomach twisted in knots. It was Victoria. I lunged forward.
Hands grabbed my shoulders. “Not yet.”
I shook free and glared at Travis. “That’s my fiancée.”
“Right, but we can’t be stupid. Running in without a plan would be suicide. Look at the size of that group.”
“Look at Victoria!”
The crowd cheered louder. Someone in a white robe stood between Victoria and the masses holding a can of gasoline.
My stomach dropped to my feet and smashed into pieces. “That’s it.”
“Let’s get the others,” Travis urged.
I glared at him. “Be my guest.”
His eyes widened. “They’ll slaughter you. And for what? You won’t even rescue her.”
The yells quieted and the person in white spoke. I’d know that voice anywhere.
“Toby?” Jet asked.
“That’s my father. I’m going in.”
Travis shook his head and turned to Jet. “I hope you’re ready to become alpha.”
Jet put a hand on my arm. “He’s right. We need the others.”
“Then get them.” I marched toward the field.
“Hurry,” Jet told the others and joined me. “I’m not letting you go in alone.”
“I thought you wanted to be alpha.”
He shoved me. “Not like this.”
We crept up to the crowd. Not one head turned our way. They were all focused on my father’s speech. I couldn’t pull my attention from Victoria tied on the pole like a witch from so long ago. The fire snapped and crackled as the flames inched up, closer to her.
“Any plans whatsoever?” Jet whispered.
“I attack my father, you untie Victoria.”
He gave me a double-take. “Are you serious?”
“You got anything better?”
“No, but I was sure you had something more than… getting all three of us killed!”
“Look, if you want to run back for the others, then go.”
Jet looked conflicted, but then shook his head. “I’m your assistant alpha. I won’t leave you.”
“Then come on.” I marched closer to the scene in front of us. My father finished his speech and people in front of him cried out, many raising their fists into the air.
The fact that they were crying out for Victoria’s blood made me sick. My stomach twisted, threatening to release its contents.
My father held high the gasoline canister. Everyone else shouted out for him to douse her. He inched closer to her. The crowd only grew louder. My chest constricted. The fear in her eyes crushed my soul.
“No!” I cried out and broke into a run.
At that exact moment, the group turned silent. Every hood turned toward me as I raced for Victoria.
“Toby,” she cried.
My father pulled off his white hood. His eyes were wide and his face paled. “How’d you get away from my men?”
Several in the mob lunged for me.
“Stop!” My father put his hands into the air. “These two are mine. The others, you can have.” He waved toward Jet.
A dozen broke free and ran after him. He spun around and fled into the woods.
My father grabbed my arm. “What happened to my men?”
I narrowed my eyes. “They got what they deserved.”
“They’re dead?” he exclaimed.
“As doornails.”
“How?”
I shoved the gas can from his hands. It flew behind him and rolled toward the woods. “Let her go.”
“Now that I finally have you where I want you?” He turned to a black robed figure and snapped his fingers. The man ran after the gasoline. “I don’t know how you managed to overpower my guys, but don’t think you’ll be able to take me so easily.”
I threw myself at him, knocking him down. I knelt and grabbed his hood, forcing his face in front of the flames. “Let her go.”
“No,” said a voice behind me. “You let him go.”
Someone in a black hood aimed the gas toward Victoria.
“Let go,” he said, “or the girl gets a gasoline bath.”
I shoved my father’s face closer to the flames and then let go. I stood and dusted my hands off. “Put it down.”
He jerked it toward Victoria, splashing a little onto the fire. The liquid trickled down to it, feeding the flames. They danced faster, inching closer to her feet.
Rage tore through me. I lunged for him and knocked the canister from his hands. It flew toward the other hooded men. They hollered and moved out of the way.
Fingers grasped my neck and squeezed.
“Time to give up,” my father whispered into my ear. “I have a special plan just for you, son.”
I swung my fist backward and hit his nose. He flinched, but didn’t loosen his hold on my neck. I kicked behind me and punched him again, this time making contact with his cheek. Someone from the crowd grabbed me and threw me off him. My back hit the ground, nearly knocking the wind from me. I struggled to get up, but my father stepped on my stomach, digging his heel in near where the bullet had struck me.
Victoria cried out. “Stop!”
“Your little girlfriend wants to save you,” sneered my father. “You couldn’t protect her before, what makes you think you can now?”
“I’m more experienced,” I grunted, trying to squirm away from his hold. “I’ve killed you before.”
“Ah, but I’m more experienced, too.” He spat in my face. I wiped away the saliva. He dug his heel in deeper. I fought to keep my expression steady. Father laughed. “I’m so going to enjoy this. This time, it’ll be father killing son, and not the other way around.”
I gasped for air and reached for his leg. On the third try, I wrapped my fingers around his ankles and tried shoving him off me. He fought, digging his heel deeper into my gut and laughing maniacally.
War cries sounded from within the woods. The calls were from at least a dozen different packs, all fighting on our side.
My father froze, glancing around. I took advantage of his distraction and flung his leg away. He stumbled, barely regaining his balance.
The other werewolves poured out from the forest, still shouting their war cries. They surrounded the field, not allowing anyone an easy escape. We were still outnumbered, but we at least had enough for a fighting chance. I struggled to my feet. The werewolves on our side ran toward the hooded crowd, bearing weapons. They fought back in a mass confusion.
Something hit me on the side of my head. I stumbled, landing on my knees. My ears rang. My father glared above me, holding the gas canister. He poured some onto the fire. It roared to life, reaching for Victoria and licking up closer to her. She cried out. That was when I noticed her face was bloody and bruised.
I ran at my father, jamming my shoulders into his chest. He stumbled back and poured the foul liquid all over my back. It soaked into my clothes and soaked my skin. I pushed myself away from him and glared at him with as much loathing as I’d ever felt.
“How dare you hurt her?” My fury built, and when it reached a boiling point, I lunged for him again. We both flew back until he slammed into a tree. The gas can rolled away. I released my anger, hitting and kicking him in a blind rage. I inched my fingers toward the knife in my pocket.
He shoved me back. I skidded on pebbles and stumbled over something large. The gasoline canister. I
fell backward, rolling over it. The side of my head hit a rock. My vision turned to double and then triple. I tried focusing on Victoria—the middle one. She squirmed, trying to get away from the flames that inched higher.
Something hit me in the head. My father dragged me toward her. “Time for the two lovebirds to say their sad goodbyes.”
I met Victoria’s gaze and my vision returned to normal. I reached for her. “Sweetness—”
My father covered my mouth. “Time’s up.” He shoved me closer to the flames. “Now that you’re both drenched in gasoline, the question is whether to burn you alive at the same time or separately. Hmm. That’s a tough one.”
I turned and punched him across the face. He barely flinched. “That just earned Victoria the first burning.”
“You bastard!” I readied myself to punch him again, but someone grabbed both my arms from behind.
Father brought his fingers to his chin. “Where to tie my disappointment of a son so he can have the best view of the show?”
I struggled to get away, but whoever held me had too tight of a grasp.
My father tapped his chin as he glanced around, ever so slowly. “Perhaps we can put him in the cage. We haven’t even opened any of our other gasoline canisters. We could really soak her. I can already hear his screams.”
“No!” Victoria cried.
He turned to her. “You don’t like that idea? Hmm. Maybe we should kill him first so you can watch. He did already see you die. It would only be fair.”
I fought harder to get away and pummel my father. The arms gripping me only held tighter.
A slow smile spread across my father’s face. “I do hate tough decisions.” He glanced back and forth between Victoria and me. “Or I could burn you both until you’re just about dead, then put out the fire. I doubt even werewolves could heal from that.” He turned to the person holding me. “Have you ever heard of that?”
“No, sir.”
“That’s an interesting twist. I think I like it.”
“No!” Victoria shouted. “Just take me. Let him go.”
“Not a chance.” I finally broke free. “It’s me you want. Kill me and let her go. I’ve lived all these years. She deserves a chance at life.”
My father sniffled. “This is just so sweet.” He stood up straight, grabbed my arm, and threw his other arm high into the air. “Kill them both!”
Chapter 27
Toby
My father and three other men shoved me through the small gap in the cage. I stumbled and stepped on a spike. Vampire venom hung in the air. Though it smelled stale, it would remain potent. I pulled the spike from the sole of my shoe and scratched my palm. It stung with a fierceness only vampire venom could. I wiped my hand, but it was futile.
The sounds of fighting continued. I avoided the many spikes on the ground as I made my way to the bars nearest the action. Blood sprayed through the air in all directions. War cries continued, though weakened. I craned my neck to get a view of Victoria but couldn’t see the fire or her.
I grasped a pole, screamed, and shook it. The roof over me rumbled, and spikes rained down. I covered my head and ducked, avoiding them all. I’d already had more than enough vampire venom to last me a while.
Victoria’s scream pierced the air, rising above all the other noise.
Fury tore at me. I ran for the smallest pole. I focused all my anger into it as I gripped it and pulled with all my might. It had taken three of them to force it into the soil, but I was determined it would only take one to release it. I bent my knees and put everything I had into it.
The vampire venom stung my palm, making it harder to grip the pole. Grunting, I focused my energy. The pole wiggled. Progress! I took a deep breath and continued working.
Victoria cried out again. That was all the motivation I needed to yank out the pole. Dirt flung out in all directions as it broke free from the soil. I threw it behind me, and it bounced, hitting the poisoned spikes along the way.
I squeezed through the small space and hurried over to Victoria. Father fought Sal and a couple of the local werewolves. Supernaturals from our side continued pouring out from various parts of the woods. One of the men in a black robe was poised to pour more gas on the fire. I yelled and ran at him, pushing him out of the way. He clung to the can and the gas splashed on us both. Stumbling, he managed to remain standing. I punched him across the face on one side then the other.
He struggled to keep hold of the canister. I took advantage of the moment and yanked it from his arms. He lunged for me, but I doused him in as much gas as I could. Some got on his face and he screamed, rubbing his eyes frantically. I hit him in the side of the head with the canister. He stumbled. I hit him again. This time, he fell to the ground, flailing around.
“Toby!” Victoria called.
I threw the can on the guy and ran over to her. The flames were growing higher. I dug up some dirt and poured it on them until the fire was out.
“Look out,” she cried.
Something hit me in the head. I spun around and threw a punch. It barely grazed the jaw of a black-robed werewolf. He hit me again. That time, I saw the weapon. It was a baseball bat. I grabbed it just as it made contact with my arm. I yanked it, pulling the man closer to me. I punched him in the face and then kicked him in the gut, taking the bat from him. I held it in position, and he ran away.
I turned back to Victoria and assessed the situation. She was held up with both ropes and chain. It might turn out to be harder to get her down than I’d thought.
“The rope’s tied in the back.”
I ran behind her and found the knot. It was not only tight, but soaked in gasoline. My fingers kept sliding as I worked out the knot. Venom burned tiny cuts in my skin. Finally, the tie came loose. Both it and Victoria fell from the pole to the ground. I hurried over and helped her up, pulling her up. She wrapped her arms around me, and we clung to each other.
“Run to the woods and hide,” I said. “I need to make sure my father is taken care of once and for all.”
She shook her head. “Not without you. I’ll fight, too.”
“You’re in no shape.” I traced bruises along her face with my fingertip.
“I can do this.” She stood taller.
I glanced over at Sal and the others fighting my father, who now had the help of several in black robes. “Just be careful.”
“Of course.”
“If you do decide to—”
“Let’s help Sal.” She limped over to them.
I wanted to carry her to safety, but I knew she wouldn’t have anything to do with that. She wanted to be a part of this. It was every bit as much her battle as it was anyone else’s. Maybe more. I picked up the bat I’d dropped and squeezed it as hard as I could. When I reached my father, I hit him over the head. He fell to his knees and struggled to stand.
His hooded guard dogs turned to me. I swung the bat, hitting them both across the face. One lunged for me, almost knocking me over. Victoria pulled him off as I regained my footing. He aimed a fist at me, but I blocked it with my hand.
“Stop,” my father ordered. “He’s mine. So’s she.”
I glanced back at Victoria. “Run.”
She shook her head and clung to me.
My father glowered at us. “Aren’t you two sweet? You both going to die this time?” He pulled out a large sword and held it high, narrowing his eyes. “Meet Bertha. She’s the last thing you’re going to feel before crossing over to the other side for the final time.” He turned and glared at Victoria, aiming the sword at her.
I ducked and rammed myself against him, pushing him back. He cried out and stumbled. I grabbed the handle, but he clung to it. We fell to the ground, struggling to get Bertha.
Father yanked it out of my grasp and flipped me over. He held the blade high above me. “Hope you said goodbye to your whore.”
Blinding fury tore through me. I pushed him, jumped to my feet, and took possession of the sword. For a moment, his face p
aled, but then he laughed. I shoved him back, jamming him against a tree. “Any last words?” I pressed the blade against his neck, nicking the skin. Blood dripped down. “Does this seem familiar?”
His expression remained stoic. In the reflection of his pupils, I could see someone heading for us, holding some kind of weapon. Squinting, I recognized it as the wire-covered bat Father had brought to Moonhaven.
Craning my neck, I glared at the hooded figure. “Use that, and your leader dies.”
The figure raised the bat and stepped closer to me.
I turned to my father and applied more pressure to his neck. Blood gushed out. “I win again.”
He stared at someone behind me. “The wolf essence stone. You have to get it!”
I shoved the blade through his neck, hitting the tree behind him. My father went limp in my arms. Sadness washed through me—for what could’ve been, but never would be. Perhaps one day I would have the father-son relationship I’d always desired as a father. I would never get it as a son.
Victoria cried out. I let go of my father and spun around. A black-hooded figure grabbed her. She fought against him, but he overpowered her. I pulled the sword from my father. His body slumped to the ground.
Releasing a war cry, I ran at Victoria’s attacker. His eyes widened, and he let go of her and rushed away. I pursued him, and finally drew close. I stuck the blade into his back and yanked it out. He fell to the ground, landing with a thud. In a blind rage, I ran around chopping heads off every robed figure I came across.
Before long, everything quieted. Only a few robed men remained. They raised their arms into the air and gathered together.
Still clinging to Father’s sword, I glared at them. “Remove your hoods.”
Each one pulled their hoods down, exposing their faces. The only one I recognized was my cousin, Paul. I circled them, saying nothing. Part of me wanted to go ballistic and remove their heads for their part in everything they’d put my pack through. They stared at me, wide-eyed and pale, probably scared I would do exactly that.
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