She continued until she reached a gate and then waited. She could teleport to the other side but would not give in to the temptation of using her supernatural powers, because if she did, there was no going back. After a few seconds, the gate clicked open for long enough to allow her entry. And then, she heard his voice inside her head. Veronica…
I’m all right, Leke. Back off.
She crept under an archway, pushing her way through ivy before she passed armed guards to a hallway at the rear of the building. Enzo was already there, and Mike was with him. She paused at the sight of the mobster. The last time she saw him, she was still human…what the hell would he think of her transformation? But she couldn’t let what others might think hold her back now. She took a deep breath and tried to quell the nerves in her stomach. She stuck a wide smile to her face—so what if her fangs would be visible? “Hi, Mike. Good to see you.”
The suited boss’s eyes were wide as they ran over her, and she didn’t miss how he took a step back. “What the fuck, Veronica—”
“I had a bit of a makeover, Mike. Do you like it?”
“Can’t say I do. You were one hell of a human, Veronica. Such a damn shame…”
“Isn’t it just? And do you know who did this to me?”
He glanced at Enzo before clearing his throat. “He’s told me. Rasmus…”
“Yes, Mike. The wolf you’re hiding underneath your bar.”
He shrugged. “You know how strong the Association is. When they ask you for a favor, you don’t question them.”
“Whatever makes you sleep better at night, Mike. Has Enzo told you about what the wolf and the Association have planned?”
“It’s not my nature to worry about what might happen. All I care about is now.”
What the fuck was wrong with him? “And you’ve got on well with the wolf while he’s been your guest?” His mouth tightened, enough to tell her what she needed to know. “All right, let’s go to the near future then. How long is Rasmus at your place? Two or three days, I’m guessing. And he loves the taste of powerful humans. Fancy being wolf’s dinner before he leaves?”
“Don’t push it, Veronica.” His lips stretched back, exposing his teeth. “He would never dare touch me.”
“Really? Like he would never dare touch me? And he didn’t even have Association backing when he decided to sink his teeth into me.” Now she had the gangster’s attention. “Ask yourself, Mike. The Association, that has made its hate for supernaturals clear for years, is protecting one who has been turning humans. You think the organization won’t turn a blind eye to Rasmus’ antics while they need him? You, or someone you give a damn about, could be the next to be changed.” She summoned enough anger to send flashes of red through her eyes. If he wouldn’t listen to what she said, then perhaps seeing what Rasmus had done to her would make a difference. He took another step back. “The Association needs Rasmus, Mike. Which means they’re going to give him free rein to do what he wants. You believe he won’t take advantage?”
“But I gave the Association my word—”
“Are any of its members here?”
“Of course not. They would never risk being seen at a place like this.”
“And they have no surveillance here?”
“No.” He frowned. “Why?”
“The Association doesn’t have to know you allowed us in. You can tell it a fight broke out between the wolves—”
He smirked. “Great idea. If they ever found out the truth, they’d have my balls.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t want him here in the first place. The damn Association…it doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“Is that a yes?”
He glanced toward the door that led into the underground section of the building. “He’s in there with his wolves. I’ll go to the front and behave as if nothing’s happened. Tell the bloodsuckers to keep the noise down, make it clean and then get the hell out of here.”
He turned and headed toward the gate she’d come through. Now she just needed to let Leke know.
Leke? Come to me…
She connected to him without even trying, and the horde leader teleported next to them, making Enzo jump. “Whoah, mate, you can’t be doing that—”
His words were cut off when Veronica hugged him, tight. “Thank you, Enzo.” He’d done what he needed to, and she wanted him out of here pronto before things kicked off. Leke stared at them, eyes blazing and fists clenched as if he was struggling not to take Enzo’s head off his shoulders.
Enzo held her away from him, so he could look at her face. “I’ll come in with you.”
“No. This is not your fight.” One by one, the horde members teleported beside her. “If I do not see you again, tell the guys I said good bye.”
He shook his head. “Veronica. You better make it out of there. And this is not good bye. I’ll say hello to the rest of the guys.” He kissed her on the forehead and then glanced at Leke. “Now I’d better get going before your man cuts me to pieces—”
“He’s not my man. He—”
But he only grinned as he walked away from her.
Leke’s voice was ice. “If you are ready, shall we go inside and do what you’ve been dying to?”
As he turned to nod at his horde, she reached for the door, but Leke held her hand. “I go first and check the area.”
This was her fight, and she would not let him take on the most danger. She tried to push past him, but he would not let go. “I’m going in there, Leke—”
Before she finished, there was a flash before her eyes, and she was inside the corridor. A moment, later, Leke was next to her. “Veronica. You teleported—” She wasn’t about to wait around for him to finish, not when she had to get to Rasmus…there was another flash. “Veronica!”
She’d resolved not to use her powers, but the idea of Leke coming here without knowing what awaited had made them kick in. She was in a large underground hall, a bar on one side and a pool table in the middle, with plush red sofas lining the walls. And ahead of her, sat on one of those sofas, was Rasmus. Members of his pack were scattered around the place, drinking and chatting, and they stopped whatever they were doing, their eyes narrowed on her.
For a moment, Rasmus didn’t speak, and when Leke appeared next to her, his gaze flitted between them both. “Well, well,” he said. “What do we have here? The vampire and his bitch.” He eyes bored into Veronica. “Such a damn waste. We could have been good together—” When Leke growled, he grinned. “Shut it, bloodsucker. You were paid to kill her, weren’t you? But you weren’t up to the job. That bunch of brave fighters deserves more than you for a leader.”
When Leke stepped forward, Veronica held her hand out to stop him. “I’ll deal with him.”
“Really?” asked Rasmus, his chiseled face tightening. “The way you dealt with me that day? I have to say, though, I wouldn’t mind another bite.” When Veronica moved closer, his eyes shifted to yellow, and his claws extended as his fangs pressed forward over his lips. But his cocky expression dropped when more of Leke’s horde teleported into the room. “What a brave bitch you are. Could you bring any less back up?”
“She doesn’t have any more back up than you, wolf.” Leke indicated toward his horde members, and they stepped back. When he turned to Veronica, his face softened. “Go on. Put your training to use.”
She released a growl that sounded as if it came from somebody else, echoing through the hall. Rasmus bounded from the sofa with an equally loud noise, his arms stretched out as he aimed to claw her face. She ducked to the side and released a kick to the side of his ribs. He fell back, the surprise on his bloody face satisfying.
Stronger than she used to be, wasn’t she?
Behind her, she registered the vampires and wolves fighting, shouts and the sounds of flesh tearing filling her ears. Fatima swiped a wolf’s neck with a blade, while Norman hit one of their enemies with a punch so hard that it left a dent in the side of his head. As for the red-gazed
Cameron, he came to life, grinning as he faced off a wolf, both of them moving around in a circle and waiting for the other to strike.
When Rasmus came for her again, Veronica dodged his punch, but he swung his other fist, catching her on the jaw. To the side of her, Leke growled.
As she doubled over, she looked up at the horde leader as he held a wolf’s neck in his grip. She shook her head. “My fight, bloodsucker.”
His jaw tightened, but he nodded as he released the limp wolf from his grip and went for another who came up behind him.
Rasmus aimed for her, but she sidestepped him and kicked him in the back so he sprawled on the floor. When he did not get up, she was not naïve enough to believe he’d fallen. Sure enough, as she pulled a blade from inside her jacket, his shirt seams split as his body broadened. His claws extended and fur sprouted from his skin…like that night in the car park.
He jumped to his feet, his face even more defined and eyes bright yellow, flashing with hate. And now memories returned of that night when he’d attacked her…Rasmus standing over her as she lay injured, grinning as his fangs extended. He’d gone to his knees and held her down as he bit her again and again…so hard that she shouldn’t have survived.
Forgetting her determination to stay away from supernatural powers, Veronica allowed her fangs to elongate and vampire blood to heat. She sensed her strength increase as she ran toward him. She chucked the blade, instead swinging out her leg and catching him in the side of the face. He stumbled but did not fall, and that contact with her leg had hurt. It was as if his body had turned to stone. He came for her again, and when the bastard caught her across the face, she slammed against the wall, her teeth whacking off it. She drew her tongue over them—one of her fangs was chipped, but from what she knew of bloodsucker healing abilities, it would regenerate.
As he aimed for her again, she drove her knee into his stomach with all her strength, and he doubled over, growling with pain. “Bitch! Get ready to die.” And then he was on top of her, his fangs exposed.
Her mind went blank as images of that night returned, when he tore into her. But the fear paralyzed her only for a moment. The werewolf’s neck was exposed... as he moved his mouth toward her, red flashed before her eyes…
The rage she’d tried to control, since her thirst for blood began, ran through her veins. She heard Leke’s call to stop, as if from a distance, and sensed him approaching…but her fangs had sharpened in anticipation. She sank her teeth into the wolf’s neck and taking advantage of his surprise, she overcame him, pushing him so he was on his back, her fangs embedded in him.
“Veronica! Stop!” came Leke’s voice.
Rasmus howled in pain, and she sank her teeth even deeper, taking strength from his blood as he weakened. The taste…she couldn’t get enough of it. Even as disgust rolled inside her at the fact she was drinking from an animal such as him—was behaving like an animal herself—she couldn’t leave him. It was sickening how much she relished the taste of his blood. She couldn’t pull back, even when his body turned limp underneath her. She felt someone taking her arm…Leke? But she did not stop…could not stop. Blood…she needed more…
“Veronica. He is dead. Leave him.” Leke’s voice couldn’t cut through the stupor she had fallen into. Her veins pumped with relief, the wolf’s blood spreading like nectar through her system. Leke pulled on her shoulders as his voice rose. “Damn it, Veronica. The fucking wolf is dead. Leave him!”
And with those words, the horror of what she had done hit her. She pulled her fangs out of Rasmus and then fell to her knees, retching as she wiped blood from her mouth. The sight of it on her hands sickened her…made her want to die.
She was worse than a bloodsucker…she was an animal…a dirty filthy animal. Her greed for blood was so strong that she would turn to anything to quench it. She hadn’t even let go of the wolf after he was dead…as she banged her fist against the floor, Leke stepped toward her to place his hand on her shoulder. “It is all right, Veronica. You will learn to control the blood lust…”
Learn to control the blood lust…as if that was something to aspire for. She did not want this blood lust…she did not want this life.
Her eyes moved around the room, taking in the dead wolves. None of them had survived. But the vampires, although injured, still stood…thank God. And then she dared look at Rasmus. She’d ripped his throat out, the area from his collarbone to his chin a mangled mess. She’d thought he was an animal? If he was an animal, what was she? A monster, a goddamn monster.
She let out a loud cry as pain ripped through her.
“Veronica.” Leke’s voice was still there, trying to soothe. But it was too late… “You did not know this would happen.”
She stared up at the horde leader. “You turned me into this.” Red flashed before her eyes again, and her mind went blank as she reached inside her jacket for a dagger. Before she knew what she was doing, she struck out at him. She cut through his neck with the blade, a clean blow. For a moment, he stared at her with a confused expression, and then his hands went to his neck as he fell to the ground.
Leke…no.
When she fell to her knees, limp, someone pulled her up. She was turned, and in Fry’s eyes, she saw a fury she would never have thought him capable of. His gaze flashed, and for the first time, she had a glimpse of the warrior he was reputed to be. “You have given our leader a death sentence, Veronica. You will pay.”
As the horde surrounded her, their fangs bared, she knew it was about to end. Yet, all she could think about was Leke lying there, bleeding…
“No,” came the command. They all turned as one to face Leke. Two of his followers went to him, supporting him so he could sit and speak. His voice was barely audible. “Nobody touches her.” He glanced at Fry. “If I do not survive, you and the others are to stand behind her...”
Fry shook his head. “After what she’s done—”
Leke’s chest pumped with effort. “This is my order. Veronica will not be alone. My horde will support her—” And then something broke inside her. Those damn tears she’d held back since the day she turned released in a flood. When she went to Leke, the two vampires by him growled, but he shook his head. “Let her come.”
She went to her knees. “I’m sorry, Leke. I was just so angry—”
“Don’t, Veronica—don’t be angry anymore. If you do not find another home, please come to my horde. They will treat you as their own…your powers will continue to develop…you will be needed, because conflict is coming to our world…” And then he turned to Fry, but when he opened his mouth, no words came out.
“No need to say anything more,” said Fry. “I accept your order, leader.”
And then Leke closed his eyes. For a moment, he looked…so peaceful and at rest…
“No,” she whispered.
“He is not dead yet.” Fry turned to the horde. “We teleport him back to the mansion.”
As the vampires gathered around Leke to place their hands on him, Fry turned to Veronica. “Move back.”
“I want to come with you.”
“No. You do not come with us out of guilt. Now is your chance to leave, as you always wanted…but if you return, I will keep my promise to our leader. You will always have a home with us, Veronica.” He glanced at the bodies of the dead wolves. “I’d get out of here if I was you.” She stepped back, watching through tears as the horde disappeared, leaving her alone yet again…
She fell to her knees, releasing a loud cry. “Leke!”
Veronica…
She paused, looking around her. Nobody. But she’d heard it…Leke’s voice.
The connection…
She closed her eyes and focused. I send you my strength. Nothing. And she wanted to scream in frustration, because she’d refused to develop her powers.
Leke had been right. There was much she could do with these abilities, and she would start now. She cleared her mind of pain and rage, and eventually a white glow replaced the red. I
send you healing energy, Leke. She focused until a tingle trailed through her system, emanating from her and spreading out. That connection with the horde leader grew stronger as she sent him strength. As she did, she felt her energy drain, but she did not care, because it was going to him.
She controlled her mind and pushed even more of her energy out. Glasses at the bar shattered and broke, and she registered the pool table turn over. As she sent more healing to Leke, she teleported so she was back in her apartment. A chair flew and hit the ceiling as she continued, and windows shattered, but she didn’t stop until darkness invaded her mind, and she collapsed to the floor…
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
* * *
SHE WOULD GET THROUGH THIS. She had never given up on anything, and she was not about to start now, not when she was adjusting to these powers.
Leke had been right. It would be stupid to waste the abilities she’d been given.
Leke…the thought of seeing him again was another reason to keep going, wasn’t it? She had used their connection to tune into the horde leader’s energy a few times. He was still sick but stable. She had known that night, when she sent him healing, that he would be all right, but it was a relief each time she checked in with him.
She hadn’t tried to send him telepathic messages though, despite the temptation. After what she did to him, she couldn’t contact him, not yet. She’d injured countless, and ripped that werewolf’s neck apart with her teeth, but nothing had sickened her the way seeing Leke’s throat slit did. And even after that, his concern had been for her…her welfare. He might not have gone out of this way to show it, but the horde leader cared for her. And she cared for him, too, but had been too busy rejecting what she now was…wanting to prove she could make it alone.
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