We still needed to make the new laws on Earth, and who knew if Dorian would agree with them. It was dangerous territory, but we needed to be cautious for our people. They were ours to take care of as we saw fit. The druids and the vampires needed to be united, not segregated. We would do what was best for them in the world they lived in, the world we knew well—unlike our traveling companions.
We needed to make those laws fast.
31
GWYNNORE
Hilton Head, South Carolina, United States of America
Atlantic Coast
The mist curled around our bodies as we all stood at the front of Belshazzar’s yacht. It continued to hug us, not wanting to let go. The mist was playing havoc with our timetable, too.
“It took us a second to get to S’Kir,” I griped and crossed my arms, squinting through the bone-chilling mist. “It has been almost a day now. Will this bloody mist ever let us leave?”
“Let me see if I can help.” Dorian chuckled and raised his arms to the sky. “Dearest Mist, please allow us to pass to Earth. We must fight a war, and time is running out.”
The mist arrowed right at Bel.
It twisted and spun around his body.
King Belshazzar sighed heavily, and then grouched one word, “Please.”
Suddenly, the mist cleared…
And I kind of wished it hadn’t.
My entire body went still at the scene before me, my eyes narrowing at the view.
Kimber gasped. “Oh my. This is bad.”
“Fuck,” King Belshazzar growled, leaning heavily on the railing, his body tilted toward the land like he wanted to fly toward it. “The war has started.”
“No shit.” Roran blinked.
Aiko rumbled, “Will they think us enemies?”
The mist had deposited us right where we had left from in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Except this wasn’t the Hilton Head we had last seen. Buildings blazed nearby, flames and smoke carrying high into the air. Boats were in pieces all around, as if they had been bombed. The port was in shambles, humans chasing after druids and vampires with guns raised.
“I’m sure they will.” I coughed through the smoke and grabbed my guns, then checked my clips, making sure I had reloaded them properly. “How the hell are we supposed to dock?”
There was nowhere left to do so.
“We can’t,” Bel confirmed severely, turning to look toward the captain’s window. He rolled a pointed finger high in the air, shouting, “Get us out of here!”
“Um…what is that?” Kimber asked quietly, pointing into the sky. “Is that the science you spoke of? I have never seen that before.”
All eyes focused in the direction she pointed.
My eyes rounded in horror. I shoved my guns back down into their holsters and screamed my command, “Jump! Everyone, jump off the boat now!”
Multiple rockets streamed straight at the boat, lighting the sky up orange. Humans held fucking bazookas farther up the destroyed dock—the watchmen. And our yacht, that suddenly appeared, would not be natural to the humans.
No one argued with me. All understood fear.
We jumped.
The explosions hit just as we went under the water, the sky firing red above. The blast shoved us down deeper into the depths of the ocean, but I did not mind—although I could have done without the pain. We swam next to each other, dodging pieces of metal that sank into the depths with us.
My lungs burned. I kept swimming.
I followed my soul mate until we finally surfaced, our entire group gasping for air. We grabbed at a long piece of wood where part of the dock was splintered away, peeking over the edge. I scanned the terrain, and tilted my head to the side, stating, “Right there, Bel. You want help?”
King Belshazzar had led us straight to the ones who had just destroyed his precious yacht—and his crew.
“Fuck that,” he growled quietly. “They’re mine. Stay behind me.”
Silently, he shoved himself out of the water. He stayed low, hiding behind a random cubicle that had been blown from one of the nearby businesses, and waited patiently for us to gather there. He held a hand back, finger to his lips, and then blurred.
Many pain-filled screams were heard.
I snorted as an arm landed at my feet.
He was using his claws, apparently.
I lifted my brows when he turned the corner, licking blood off his fingers. “You probably attracted more attention. They were loud.”
He shrugged his shoulders, uncaring.
I chuckled softly and held out my hand from my squatting position. “I think it’s time I put my necklace back on.”
“Indeed.” King Belshazzar fished it out of one of the many pockets on his black, leather pants, placing it gently in my hand. “Don’t take it off again.”
“I don’t plan to,” I grumbled, clipping it around my neck and stuffing the gem under the neckline of my shirt.
Dorian arched his back and stood up straight from his crouch. “What now?”
King Belshazzar’s lips curved. “We find out where our damned troops are, and join the war.” His ice-blue eyes met mine. “Ready for this?”
“Hell yes.” I stood tall and cracked my neck. “It’s time the humans learned a lesson about who allows them to live here. They wanted this fight. Now they’re getting it.”
Belshazzar pressed his lips to mine softly, whispering against my mouth, “That’s my girl.”
32
Osirdan
Hilton Head, South Carolina, United States of America
Atlantic Coast
I quietly slipped out of the freezing ocean, shaking my long, silver hair out around my body, tiny droplets flying in every direction. My dark amber eyes tracked the group of seven, where they headed down an alleyway. I smirked as I stepped over Belshazzar’s kills, keeping my eyes on the distance. Humans were hiding behind a blazing car, fire shooting at all angles. They watched the group as I was, with their guns pointed at Belshazzar’s and Dorian’s backs.
I blurred straight at the humans.
My claws flashed through the air.
I caught their dead bodies before they hit the ground, making not a sound as I laid them down silently.
I stood between the flames and stared down at the dead, my lips quirking up at the edges in delight. I hadn’t had this much fun in hundreds of years. Earth was much bigger than S’Kir was—even now with the population growth. This vast world just became my playground.
I stepped through the fire and chuckled softly, following the group of seven at a distance. I wondered where this adventure would lead me.
Wherever it did…
I was ready to play.
THE BLOOD WILL CONTINUE…
in
WAR OF GODS
book 5 in
the vampire crown series.
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About the Authors
Katherine Rhodes Scarlett Dawn
New York Times bestselling author and award-winner, Scarlett Dawn, is the author of the Forever Evermore new adult fantasy series, the Origin paranormal dystopian stories, the Mark new adult science fiction saga, and the Lion Security contemporary series.
Website http://www.scarlettdawn.net
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Katherine Rhodes loves writing erotic romances which are kinky, dirty, and fun. As a lackadaisical laundry goddess, and an expert in the profundities of bad music, terrible cinema and awful literature—thanks to her husband—Katherine strives to find balance in the universe and time to cook dinner. An East Coast dweller, she is the proud servants of three cats.
Website www.katherinerhodes.com
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Blood of Gods Page 23