Inuala closed the distance to Yolanda, who smiled with those big brown eyes. “Come with me,” she whispered.
She made her way down the hall and into the room she intended to perform the ritual. Yolanda shut the door behind them. “You know the others are watching you,” she whispered.
“Yes, which is why I need your help. Eamon no longer plans to summon our god. The blond werewolf woman. I need her here, in this room. I have a short window to perform the ritual. Have her here in twenty minutes and keep everyone from entering this room any way you can.” Yolanda was an illusionist, one of the first vampires Eamon brought over because the twins had lusted after her for years.
“Of course.” Yolanda exited the room, heading back to the cavern. Inuala made her way outside, making sure to be seen. Outside, she circled back, keeping to shadows, sensing for others. She was back in the room in record time and preparing to summon her god.
* * * *
Only three vampires were left in the cavern. They were busy trying to figure out what was going on with Tyrone, once again. As much as he felt for the guy, Christian was getting really tired of the bawling. Ten minutes after they were safe, he would ensure Amelia fixed him.
He just hoped Delilah forgave him for letting the vampires take him. He’d been bitten a dozen times in the last two days. And she was going to be pissed.
There was no way to avoid his capture, or Tyrone’s. While the vampires focused on Tyrone, Christian slipped farther down the wall, then across the cavern to where Leanan lay on her side. She was still out cold. She hadn’t woken. No one had healed her, though she was given a tiny bit of vampire blood.
There was only one thing he knew for sure would fix a succubus, but he wasn’t about to sex her awake. He’d been with exactly one woman, his mate, and he had every intention of keeping it that way.
So, he would do the next best thing and heal her the way his mother taught him. With magic. He hoped he could do something for her. He could feel her life force slipping away. Christian dropped down beside Leanan and touched her head and had to pull his hand away. She was burning up.
If only he knew what was wrong, besides the bruises, and how to help. He didn’t have the same strange vision his mother had developed to diagnose problems that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. So, he placed his hand on her head once again and channeled healing energy into her.
The fever cooled. The bruises faded. Her eyes flashed open and she caught his wrist with a hiss as her skin turned crimson, and scales formed along portions of her exposed flesh.
“Sorry, I was only trying to heal with magic. Not your magic. I wouldn’t betray my mate, even to save you.”
A slow smile formed on her lips as her grip loosened. “I’m sorry. The last person I remember touching me hurt me.”
“I wasn’t here for that. I’m sorry.” He sat back against the wall.
“I’m Leanan,” she said.
“Christian. We’ll be out of here soon. I understand you have a man back in Seattle.”
She sighed and joined him against the wall. “Our relationship is complicated. I wish it could be more than two people giving each other pleasure, but I’ve been promised to someone I do not love.”
“Any way to get out of that?” Christian asked.
She shook her head. “Unfortunately, the only thing I can do is keep running or die. Eventually, the demon will catch up with me, once again. He always does until I escape.”
“Doesn’t treat you well?” Christian asked. “If you give me some information, maybe I can find the right people to help you out of this situation.”
“You’re sweet. Just a boy, too innocent, but sweet.”
“I’ve heard all that before. I may not understand the full extent of what you’re going through, but there is always a way out of a situation.”
“Not for me. Look, it’s a long story, Christian. We hopefully won’t have time for it.”
“Probably not.” He looked over. “Know why we’re here?”
“Feed those trying to summon Crom Cruach. An evil being worse than your devil. These fools seek to bring him across the veil to inhabit our world. Bad enough his essence taints the first vampire.” She snorted. “Eamon could be so much better than what he is, if it wasn’t for that pesky thing in his soul.”
“You’ve met him before?” Christian asked.
Leanan glanced around. “Yup, long ago. Hadn’t met the other vampires, but let’s just say my betrothed knows Eamon’s master well.”
“How were you captured this time?”
“That brute brought me here because he saw a pretty piece of ass he thought would be a sure thing.” She laid her head back. “I may have been born for sex, but I have standards.”
“As you should.”
A vampire approached Tyrone, malice in his step.
Christian whispered, “Excuse me.” He shot to his feet to rush over. “Leave him alone. He’s already enough of a mess.”
Beady, red-tinged eyes locked on Christian. “I plan to shut him up for all of us.”
“He’s a friend.”
The vampire laughed. “And what exactly are you going to do about it?”
Hope like hell Robert taught him well enough to fight with magic, because he sure as hell didn’t have strength or speed to counter a vampire. Christian managed a smirk as he lifted a hand where glowing energy formed. “Stop you.”
He let out a short laugh. “You know a vampire broke your friend.”
“And she can fix him,” Christian stated. He already did the research on how and hoped to help Amelia do the right thing.
The vampire lunged across the ten yards dividing them. Christian threw both hands out and a wave of force leapt from his hands. The vampire flipped through the air and smacked into a wall.
Beady eyes let out a shrill whistle and a dozen more vampires popped out of shadows. Tricky pricks, all of them. Christian touched the first vampire’s shoulder, putting enough energy through him that he would stay out until the next evening.
Another vampire closed in on him, but Leanan shot forward and shoved him back. He opened his mouth and sank his teeth into Leanan’s throat. She grabbed a handful of cock and balls and wrenched them around so hard he tore her away from his fangs, ripping her artery open and flinging her across the room with a shattering thud.
Christian held up his hands and light flooded through the cavern, blinding everyone. The vampires screamed, and he blinked past the dark splotches in his eyes, which quickly corrected themselves.
The vampires huddled in on themselves, cowering with their arms over their heads. At least that stopped them for the moment.
Chapter 24
“Are we going down there, yet?” Amelia asked. She had started to worry they were never moving to the captives. Time was running out.
“Yes, but I fear for your life. You said Inuala has killed you in the past, caused your death other times. You’ve died too many times. I wouldn’t want that for you again. Especially knowing you always wind up with another man. I’d be tempted to go after you once more, and lose.”
“I wish there was something I could say to make it easier. I’m an asshole. I’m sorry.”
“I should have been better to you.” He touched her shoulder. “I never did deserve your love, Amelia.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“No, but it’s the truth.”
“Come on, let’s deal with Inuala and banish Crom Cruach from this world.”
“You sure you can do that?” he asked.
“Guess we’ll find out. And don’t be surprised when my friends show up. Fae, mages, other casters, including a necromancer who happens to be part of the Silver Council now. He’ll be able to stop any vampire who resists.”
“I’ve warned all I could. I only hope my loyal vampires stay out of the way as requested.”
“I need to ask you something. Do you know who’s being held captive?”
He shook his head. “I rarel
y visit the dungeon. It’s for those of my vampires who don’t want to venture into the new world to find their meal. I know it’s wrong, but they have to eat, and some wouldn’t survive without cattle.”
“You realize how horrible that is for the one taken?”
“Never considered their point of view.” He sighed. “I wish you hadn’t died the first time. I would have been a better leader with you nearby.”
“You did pretty well for yourself and your people. You never needed me. Now, I need to tell you something. There are several people I know down there, and one I promised to find before too much happened to her.”
“Who?” he asked simply.
Her eyes closed.
He lifted her chin and she opened her eyes. He murmured, “So I can get them out of there before they’re hurt.”
“Tyrone. He’s a human I have history with. He was a friend who became a lover before I became blood bound. Gina, she’s a werewolf, but she’s been through hell. She doesn’t deserve any of the life she lived until a few months ago. Christian, my sister’s mate. And I promised Jordan I would find his succubus girlfriend, Leanan.”
“Damn it. Leanan has been hurt, but the offending vampire is dead. That is the one thing Inuala did right.”
She nodded. “I believe she was violated by guardsmen in my family’s employ. Would explain why she would go to a woman’s aid.”
“Is that why Inuala is obsessed with Crom Cruach?” Eamon asked.
“I’m not sure. I never met her. Not until my second incarnation. I did hear her voice and happened to be watching the first ritual to summon Crom Cruach, the one that put him in me, because the one she tried to put him in resisted.”
“I suppose it doesn’t matter. She’s gone too far to summon her god—my god. What is he exactly?”
“An entity from a much darker plane. He wants power through sacrifice, pain, blood. He would destroy life as we know it.”
“We’ll stop him, but if he tries to force me to do something, stop me. No matter what it takes.”
“I don’t want you to die, either.”
“Want to wait for the others?” he asked.
“No. They can find me,” she assured.
“You’re sure?”
She nodded. “Positive. Now please, I’m worried about everyone down there, especially Leanan.”
Eamon led her downstairs. The spirits started shooting her information faster than she could process. She knew how many vampires were down there. Nearly two hundred. She knew most were hiding, out of the way. That most of them weren’t evil, just misguided. There were ten to worry about. Those loyal to Inuala and Crom Cruach. Ones who might slaughter anyone who got in their way.
They entered a cavern, and Amelia immediately found Tyrone, who locked gazes with her and burst into tears. That wrenched her heart. Christian stood in the middle of the room, looking around.
She noticed a dozen vampires huddled around him, one covered in blood with Leanan broken against a wall, blood pooling around her.
“What have you done?” Eamon shouted, flying past her in a burst of shadows.
Amelia appeared before Christian, in front of Eamon when he reappeared. She shoved him back. “Do you see what one of your vampires did to a victim? She’s crumpled on the floor, dead.” Amelia could sense no life in her.
A woman with golden hair and dark eyes entered the room. Another vampire.
Badb whispered to Amelia, Don’t trust her.
“Eamon, Inuala is in trouble. Please come,” the blonde vampire pleaded.
His eyes burned red. “Not until I deal with this situation.” He turned to Amelia. “Who is he?” His finger pointed in Christian’s direction.
“My sister’s mate. And if you harm him, or even attempt it, I will tear you apart, regardless of anything else. Your vampires brought these people here, against their will, held them captive, and used them as food. Whether or not you paid attention is not my concern. You were still in the wrong. You could have stopped this. One of yours killed someone who will be missed. And Christian was only trying to defend those who can’t defend themselves.”
Eamon blinked, then looked around the room.
Amelia started to fear Eamon would choose his vampires and burn any hope she had to redeem him.
* * * *
Eamon took a moment to breathe. Amelia was right in every way. “How do I fix this?” he whispered.
“Send the vampires away for now. I can sense Brent coming.”
“Of course.” Eamon answered.
She nodded. “I know he killed many of your vampires, but keep in mind Inuala kept him captive for five years. They treated him like shit. He killed them to escape.”
“I understand. I only found out about him after Inuala died, but Drummond believed he died in the fire.”
“Yeah, well, I already warned you what would happen if you touch him.”
Eamon chuckled, then shouted orders for the vampires to leave. Though he walked to the bloodied one and thrust his fist in the killer’s stomach and reached up, into the chest cavity to find his heart. He ripped it out and sank his teeth as the vampire fell to the ground.
Amelia made no comment, as she moved to Christian. “You okay?”
He sighed. “I healed her, only for her to die to protect me. But they went for Tyrone. I had to stop them. You still need to fix him.”
“That will have to wait. We have to stop something much bigger. And with the power you’re kicking off, you should come with me. Maybe you can help me stop this chick.”
“The one summoning something that has no right to be in this realm?”
“Uh, yeah.” She turned to Eamon. “This is my brother-in-law, basically. His name is Christian. This is Eamon, and not totally at fault here. I’m going to see if we can redeem him.”
“Okay,” Christian said slowly. “You and I need to have a long talk.”
She snorted. “Yeah, sure. Later. Right now, we need to prevent Crom Cruach from ruining the entire world.”
“Right,” Christian answered.
Eamon nodded to Yolanda. “Where is she?”
“She’s in the back. At the end. You need to come alone.”
Eamon caught her by the throat, lifted her up, and sank his teeth, searching her thoughts and memories. It was a trap, of course. But he couldn’t send Amelia in there alone.
With his free hand, he caught Yolanda’s shoulder and ripped her head off her body. “She’s working with Inuala to ensure my death and the summoning.”
“I told you. I’m preventing your death, as long as you don’t harm someone I care about. Now let’s get down there to stop this mess.”
“It’s a trap,” he answered.
“And we’re coming prepared. The rest of them are almost here. I don’t want to wait too long to put a stop to her plans.”
He started for the hallway that would take them deeper underground. Chanting echoed down the hall. Inuala and two other vampires. Two he would have never expected to betray him.
* * * *
Yolanda carried the unconscious blond werewolf to the table and laid her out.
Inuala sliced her hand open and spilled her blood in a circle around the table. “Give me several moments, then find Eamon. Bring him to me. Alone.”
The door opened and in stepped Niall and Nolan. Fear chilled her blood, but Inuala challenged their stare. “Who do you serve? Crom Cruach? Or Eamon?”
“He is both,” Niall answered, stepping closer with a murderous glare.
“No, he is not. He grows weaker by the century, always chasing after love of a woman who has never truly loved him. She was pregnant with another man’s child when Eamon lost her. He carries Crom’s touch, but his goal is no longer to summon our god. Tell me who you serve.”
“Liar,” Nolan shouted, charging forward.
Smiling, Inuala splashed blood from her open wound on the young woman and chanted in her people’s tongue.
Crom Cruach reached through t
he veil, forming a cloud of shadow over the werewolf’s body. Until she fueled the ritual, she couldn’t bring Crom across permanently. But he could aid in the blood shed, to help him.
Niall slid to a stop as Nolan pulled a blade.
Inuala burst into a hundred birds made of shadow and flew at Niall and Nolan, tearing their flesh. Tendrils reached from the cloud of shadow, entering Niall and Nolan through the wounds. Their eyes bled to black, spreading across the white.
“We serve Crom Cruach,” they vowed in unison.
A commotion was heard down the hall. “Come, we must bring Eamon here and kill him.”
Chapter 25
Brent ran down the stone stairs from the kitchen in the Old House, into the basement that had stretched out into a huge cavern, much like the one he’d been kept in before.
“It’s like déjà fucking vu,” he muttered.
Toryn clapped a hand on his shoulder. “At least this time, you’re fully charged and ready to go.”
“Didn’t take much last time,” he replied.
Tyrone sobbed in a corner, staring toward a hallway, but he made no motion to move. Brent did feel sorry for the guy. He was a damned mess, and Amelia did need to fix his mind. She was the only one who could do it.
And then he noticed the dead redhead in the corner. Leanan. Shit, that was going to hurt Jordan. He finally got his life on track, and losing Leanan might set him back.
Gina was nowhere in sight, which was a huge problem. Then he saw Dominque, a leprechaun. “Dominque, come here.” All they needed was her luck on their side. She didn’t have to do a single thing, just be nearby.
She stood up and walked over. “Christian followed Amelia. I wanted to keep an eye on Tyrone. I don’t know where Gina is. She disappeared before the chaos.”
He nodded. “Don’t worry about that. Right now, I need a little luck. How squeamish are you?”
A nervous laugh bubbled up. “Not at all. I just don’t like violence.”
“You’re going to see plenty of that no matter where you are, but if you think bad thoughts about the vampires who are going to attack, it would help a ton.”
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