As he approached two Tueur, outside the homestead, he could smell their arrogance. They actually thought they’d get to Jolie and kill her unborn children.
Well, he had news for them. That was never going to happen.
As he crept up behind them, he whistled low. When they turned, he shoved his claws through their hearts, pushing the still beating organ out through their backs. The pulsing hunk of meat fell to the ground, with them right behind them.
There were two more piles of ash.
As he was about to head inside, he heard the snap of a twig behind him. For Tueur, they weren’t silent at all.
They were horrible assassins.
A small child would make less noise.
As he spun around, he took the vampyre’s head right off his shoulders with his powerful swing.
He was pissed.
When he found the asshole hunting his family, they were going to pay.
He was going to make them bleed.
Creeping into the house, he saw the carnage. The Tueur was tearing the place apart looking for their hiding spots. That meant that they’d been watching the place.
Flynn could only hope he’d end their lives before they figured out where his family was hiding.
Then again, Vanth was with them, and if they got to Jolie, she had her orders.
She was going to get his mates out of there.
Inside the kitchen, he found two vampyres digging around in Jolie’s purse. They were throwing her things everywhere.
“That’s not nice,” he said, tossing two silver blades into their chests. When they exploded in a puff of dust, he glanced around the room.
He’d had enough.
Flynn opted to take a back seat, letting Rinnon take over from there. He could feel the demon dying to be set free.
“Kill them all,” he whispered, letting the demon within out of the cage.
The rage filled him.
There was the need to find blood.
When he saw the next vampyre, he attacked, burying his fangs in the man’s neck as he shoved his fists through his ribcage.
The vampyre was a meal for a few short seconds.
It was enough time for the dying vamp to alert the others.
When he glanced up, there were ten coming right at him, and he knew it was going to be epic.
“Ready to deal with Rinnon?” he asked, his voice low, deep, and filled with so much hate.
They heard the name and stared.
It was the second he needed before he attacked.
They were going to pay.
∞ Chapter Thirty-One ∞
Dawn
Tuesday Morning
She was scared. Flynn wasn’t answering her, and she could feel the large bursts of energy coming from the home above them. Jolie wanted him there, and she needed to be sure he was safe.
‘Flynn! I’m calling you. Rinnon! Answer me!’
The energy in the cave wavered, and Flynn appeared. He was covered in blood and had some blades stuck in his back, but looked to be no worse for the wear.
“They’re dead. I don’t doubt that they’ll send the next wave. They saw me, so they know who they’re fighting.”
Jolie was up and raced at him.
When she reached him, she threw herself into his arms. “I could kick your ass for this stunt. We would have been safe hiding.”
He wasn’t willing to take a chance—not with her life.
“We’re safe for now,” he offered, lifting her chin. When his mouth found hers, he stole a heated kiss.
‘You should have taken Jacques,’ she scolded.
‘I was fine. Don’t be a shrew. I’ll spank you.’
She heated up.
‘They’re dead, and we have to get the hell out of here.’
Jacques approached his mate and began removing the silver from his back. With each one removed, his body immediately healed.
“We missed you, mate,” he said, as Flynn pulled him and Jolie against his body.
They took that minute to reconnect.
‘I missed you both too. We need to leave as soon as possible, Jacques. They’re coming, and they’re not going to show with only thirty assassins. They know what they’re dealing with now, and that weakens us.’
‘They know what you are?’
‘Yes.’
Then they had no choice. They were leaving Ireland, and as quickly as possible. They had to get to Rinnon’s home.
Flynn heard his thoughts and agreed.
“What’s the plan?” Percy asked. “Are we holding our position or are we running for it.”
While Flynn could hold off the Tueur for a while, they’d been known to play with black magick—just like the asshole taunting the societies.
“We’re getting out,” Jacques offered.
“Before we bail,” Flynn said, scooping Jolie up in his arms. She was weak from the sun, and she needed to feed, “I know who is planting the spells. I can smell them.”
They all glanced over. “Really?”
“I moved through the trees to kill the Tueur, and I picked it up. There are two of them.”
“Who?” Jolie asked.
“Vampyres.”
That disgusted them. Whenever vampyres betrayed their own, it was never a good thing.
“It was Mistress Saxton and Master Patrick.”
They were shocked.
“Their scent is all over the place.”
“We have to stop them,” Jolie stated. “We said we’d help, and I keep my promises.”
Jacques laughed. “We’re getting out of here. The societies can fend for themselves. You’re our priority.”
“But, Jacques!”
Flynn had a solution. “I’ll send Vanth. She’ll eat them.”
At the mention of snacking, she got excited. “Can I?” she asked.
“I want you to find them and take them to Liam. When you get them there, eat one, and let the other one tell you anything they can. If there are more vamps involved, that’ll end their silence. This is his battle. We gave Liam everything we have, and now we’re making a break for it.”
She bounced up and down. “I’ll find you, Father!”
He patted her on the head before tipping his neck for his mate. Flynn could hear his child calling for him. “Jolie, feed.”
She didn’t hesitate. She was ravenous.
“How are we getting out of here?” Jacques asked.
Flynn struggled to talk. Jolie was drinking from him, and she was sending him a barrage of naked pictures.
“Front door,” he muttered, as his body reacted.
“Is it safe?”
He moaned.
Jolie was destroying all his control.
“We have some time.”
Jacques told his mate about Jolie’s idea of hiding out with the witch until they could move on.
“Good idea. We’ll head there now. The sun is up, and it’s going to suck, but we’ll survive. It beats the odds of staying here.”
No one disagreed there.
‘I love you, Flynn,’ she whispered into his mind. ‘You’re really sexy when you play warrior.’
‘Wait until I play master.’
Jolie couldn’t wait.
Now all she needed was her mate and some time alone.
Oh, and no one trying to kill her.
* * * H a r c o u r t e * * *
Vanth wasn’t messing around. When her master gave an order, she followed it. Truth be told, she was hungry, and the idea of snacking on a few vampyres sweetened the deal.
A girl had to eat.
As she found Master Patrick and Mistress Saxton, they were working on a new spell. When she popped into their area, they tried to stop her.
It was obvious that they were new at all of this. One Voodoo spell, and she could be stopped. Only they didn’t have it in their arsenal.
It was a damn good thing.
As they screamed and tried to fight, Vanth simply used her energy to conta
in them.
It was time to pay for their sins.
It was judgment day.
As she popped them into Master Liam’s home, the other vampyre looked afraid.
“What are you?”
Vanth laughed. “Don’t worry about me. I have a present from my master and mistress.”
“Those are members of our society.”
“They are also the ones casting the spells. Talk!” she ordered.
Neither would.
Using her energy, she held the female down and began snacking on the male. Patrick wailed in pain as she crunched on his hand.
“Stop!” he screamed.
Vanth talked with her mouth full of vamp. “Then tell him the truth.”
Granted, she could make him talk, but then she wouldn’t get the yumminess of adrenaline-tinged flesh.
That was the best part.
Patrick began spilling his guts as Vanth reached his elbow. That was usually when someone would crack. For some reason, having all those teeth munching on arm bones seemed to change even the most stubborn of minds.
Liam stared in horror.
Only it had nothing to do with the vampyre being eaten. It was all about the undead before him.
“You betrayed our people?”
He begged for the pain to stop.
Vanth took another bite, her rows of sharp teeth inflicting the utmost pain.
When he begged, Liam shook his head. “Who else was helping you?”
Vanth kept munching.
The woman on the floor tried to fight to get away. She knew she was next.
Patrick spilled his guts.
Literally.
When Vanth sliced him open with a silver blade, his body turned itself inside out.
That’s when she went hunting for her favorite bits.
As she ripped out his liver, even Liam looked horrified.
“I suggest you talk. You’re not going to like the way this feels,” she said, her face covered in blood as she chewed on him. The wet slurping of blood and organ was something to see and hear.
Patrick broke. He told them everything.
Liam shook his head. “I can’t believe you betrayed us to get better status in our family.”
He pointed at Mistress Saxton. “Why?”
She wouldn’t talk.
Vanth yanked on his stomach, and the vampyre screamed in pain.
“We wanted control,” he howled.
“I’ve heard enough,” Liam said. “You can kill them.”
Vanth giggled. “I can’t. My master said to eat them. So, if you’re done, I’m going to take them and save them for later.”
He didn’t care.
“Will you tell Jolie thank you from us?”
Vanth snapped her fingers, and she was back to looking like Chloe. The gore was gone, as were the two vampyres.
“I will.”
“Tell her to stop by.”
She smiled. “We’re leaving for Paris, but I will tell her,” Vanth offered.
Then she was gone.
Liam stared at the blood on his carpet.
“Get this mess cleaned up.”
When he took his seat, he was finally at ease. The hunters wouldn’t be coming for them, and that was his greatest concern.
Jolie Harcourte had kept her word.
And for that, he was grateful.
He owed her one hell of a favor, and he would repay her.
One day.
* * * H a r c o u r t e * * *
Kiera’s Cottage
She’d decided to stay at her cottage for a couple of days. Truth be told, she had to close down her shop. She wasn’t able to concentrate or read cards.
He was haunting her.
Ever since he made contact with her, he’d kept reaching for her. How he was doing it, she didn’t know, but he was.
It hurt her that he was suffering.
Her heart connected with his, and she knew the truth—she was meant to save him.
But how?
So, as she stayed at the cottage, she kept reaching for the man named Alexzandre. He was in so much pain, and he was scared. He wanted to die. With each moment, he begged for the pain to end.
It was taking everything she had to keep him calm.
She’d whisper to him.
She’d try to soothe him with some singing. When she did, he’d relax. He’d stop hurting for a little while. Until she could figure out how to locate him, she’d just have to settle for this.
Kiera wondered if she should ask for the vampyres’ help. They might want to know that one of their own kind was in trouble. Then again, she knew what was chasing them, and they had their own issues to handle.
So, she opted to keep quiet.
When he called to her, she made sure she answered. Kiera didn’t want him alone and afraid.
‘Thank you,’ he whispered into her mind.
‘It’s my pleasure. I wish I could do more for you.’
‘You make the pain stop. That’s the best thing for me.’
Kiera still wished there was more.
‘You have the voice of an angel. I think you may be my angel.’
She blushed and hoped he wouldn’t realize how his words affected her.
‘Thank you. I love to sing.’
‘I don’t know how I can connect with you. I’ve never met you before. I’m sure if I had crossed your path, I’d never forget you.’
Her laughter filled his mind.
‘We’ve all lived other lives. Maybe we’ve met in my last one.’
‘I’ve lived a long time. Maybe it’s time for me to die. Maybe I should stop fighting.’
‘Don’t,’ she begged. ‘You can’t give up. I’ll find you. I promise. I’m scrying for a location. It won’t be long.’
It was his laughter that filled her mind. ‘It’s too late for me, but thank you for being sweet and caring about someone you don’t know.’
There was silence.
‘They’re back,’ he whispered. ‘I’m going to be tortured again. I’ll break from you. I don’t want you to see or feel this.’
She refused. ‘I’ll stay. I’ll sing for you.’
There were tears in her eyes.
‘Let me help you.’
‘Thank you, my love. I would enjoy that.’
His words startled her. Still, she said nothing. As she began singing to him, she could feel him still with her. Kiera could also feel the pain wracking his body.
They were destroying him.
Little by little, they were making him into a monster.
She could feel it.
‘I already am a monster,’ he admitted. ‘It’s too late for me.’
Kiera knew the truth.
It was never too late, and somehow, she would prove it. She wouldn’t give up.
Not now, not ever.
She had to save him.
She was pretty sure he was her destiny.
∞ Chapter Thirty-Two ∞
After the trek through the woods in the pre-dawn light, Jolie was feeling the strain. She wasn’t alone. The rest of her family was too. They were all struggling with the oppressive daylight.
Only she had it easier.
Flynn was carrying her, and he wasn’t affected by the time of the day. Of course, it probably helped that Rinnon’s wings were wrapped around her. She couldn’t see them, but she could feel the soft kiss against her flesh.
She was safe.
‘Always,’ he promised.
As he held her in his arms, they moved silently through the trees. Jacques was patrolling the point, making sure they weren’t walking into anything dangerous, Percy was carrying Mina, to keep her from making any noise, Vanth had Cari in her arms, and Tommy was holding Camille.
He was nuzzling her, trying to gain forgiveness that he was desperate to get. She wasn’t upset, but still…he was.
It would have been easier to drive, as avoiding the sun was important. Only it wasn’t going to offer cover from s
pying eyes. They couldn’t be sure they weren’t being watched.
So, they walked.
Unfortunately, they didn’t get to slather on the sunblock, and being daytime, they would burn.
Well, she wouldn’t, since Flynn had some ability to keep her protected as long as he was holding her. It was like when he found her in death, and the decay went away and she was whole again.
As they reached the clearing both mates motioned for everyone to stop.
“We’ll ask Kiera for a place to hide for the time being, and also make sure that her home isn’t compromised,” whispered Jacques. “She’ll hide us. I can feel the goodness in her.”
Flynn agreed.
“Take Percy,” he offered. “Alert me if you’re in danger. I’ll make sure we’re safe in the trees.”
Honestly, he didn’t want any of the vampyres out in the sunlight. The trees, surrounding Kiera’s home, were keeping them from burning up.
Jolie would be able to hold out the longest, since she was ancient, but Cari and Camille wouldn’t last more than a minute. Being young definitely had its disadvantages.
Flynn gathered them around him. There was the flutter of wings, as he tried to protect them much like a mother bird would her chicks.
Now they would wait. It was up to the two vampyres and the witch. Their fate was in her hands.
As Jacques headed across the yard, Percy at his back, Mina kept pushing energy into Camille.
Cari was with death, but Camille was struggling to stay awake.
Jolie knew that the witch was their only chance. At this point, she had to believe in the goodness this woman had living in her.
If not, they had to find a cave until they could head out at night.
By now, the Tueur would be looking for them.
They watched Kiera open the door. There were words exchanged, but they couldn’t hear them. When she nodded, there was relief.
Jacques motioned toward them to come. It looked like they had a place to hide for the time being.
Flynn didn’t hesitate.
“Vanth, get Cari inside. Tommy, hustle.”
They did as he said, and Flynn carried Jolie across the yard and into the house.
Dangerous Sacrifice (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 6) Page 37