“The question is?” Kaleb prompts, throwing a dagger at one of the human host demons who managed to get the drop on me by coming up on my blind spot while I was dodging a punch to the face.
Quickly dropping low, I rip Kaleb’s dagger out and stab the demon with the magic blade. Tossing Kaleb his dagger, I continue, “The question is, was Felix abducted to keep Callie from helping us, or are the demons here to keep us from Callie?”
An undead vampire breaks through Nolan’s strikes and catches me by the throat after speeding through the burning remains of another fury demon I just stabbed.
“The witch didn’t lie.” She grins, her razor-sharp fangs dripping with blood while her eyes gleam with crazed excitement. “There’s no mistaking those eyes. The last of the Morningstars is playing human in this middle-of-nowhere town. Clever little hiding spot, but…”
Before she can finish her little speech, Kaleb slices through her neck with his broadsword. Blood sprays onto my face as her decapitated head falls to the ground. I jump back before I’m caught in the magical burning flames that engulf the body.
I use my sleeve to wipe the blood from my eyes. “I never fucking understand the demons who want to monologue first. It’s like they are asking to be attacked while they go through their bullshit speech.”
“It’s certainly not the best tactic in the middle of a battlefield.” Kaleb’s breath is labored as he grabs my abandoned dagger from the floor and hands it to me. “As far as motivesfor separating us from Callie, unfortunately, whatever it is, we can’t stop fighting here. We have to trust Callie can take care of herself, and so can we.”
After rolling my shoulders and cracking my neck, I drop back into a defensive stance. “I have to admit, of all the ways I expected to go out, I didn’t think there would be party streamers and a Top 40s soundtrack.”
“You aren’t dying tonight,” Kaleb insists, positioning himself to defend my back. “I won’t let you.”
As a snarky response hits my tongue, both Nolan and Connor freeze, their hands clutching their chests. In unison, they yell Callie’s name and bolt for the door, mowing through anything that dares to get in their way.
“That seems foreboding,” Kaleb comments, watching Connor disappear through the front entrance, Nolan already long gone with his super speed.
“Shit!” I curse, taking my frustration out on one of the wounded demons on the ground by stabbing them with the magical dagger. There are plenty of ways to incapacitate demons, but so far, Callie’s enchanted weapons are the easiest way to kill them.
Looking around, I take in the state of what feels like a never-ending battle. The wolf shifters appear anxious, not knowing whether they should stay and fight or follow their alpha to wherever his next battle will be. The witches are clearly exhausted and are likely reaching the limits of what’s left of their magic. There’s so much fucking death everywhere, while demons get back up from what would normally be mortal wounds for any other creature.
I’m tired, sore, and bleeding from all the injuries that come with close combat fighting, but this is my battle. They arehere for me. If it’s my time, then I’m going to take as many of these bastards with me as I can. My only regret is that Kaleb will go down alongside me, because he’s too fucking determined to save my life for him to save his own. I admire his loyalty as much as I want to strangle him for it.
Running toward the sound system at the back of the auditorium—Kaleb cursing as he runs after me—I tuck the non-magical dagger into my belt at the base of my spine to free one of my hands. I stab and slash with the single magical dagger, cutting my way through any resistance. When I make it to the sound system, I immediately reach for the mic stand.
While I shore up my resolve for what is probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, I call my black wings forth so there’s no doubt about what I am. Turning the mic on, I announce loudly, “Hey, dipshits. You want the last Morningstar? I’m right fucking here.”
All the demons freeze mid-action and look at the back, where I’m standing with afuck yougrin. With my wings spread wide, making me an impossible target to miss, I let go of the mic and take a few steps forward. Pulling my second dagger out, I prepare to kill as many of these assholes as I can before they take me down.
Kaleb groans, brings out his even more fucking obvious white wings, and drops into a battle stance beside me. “Why must you make everything harder?”
As the horde of demons abandon their other victims to fight for the honor of ending Satan’s bloodline, I shrug. “What can I say? I’m an asshole.”
Chapter 17
Nolan
An all-consuming urgency overwhelms me, my heart racing to the beat of, “Faster, faster, faster!” I’m sick with fear, my stomach rolling like I was just punched in the gut, but it’s not quite mine. It’s as if the sensation is vibrating down a tether that’s deep in my chest, and somehow, I know Callie is on the other end.
Having used my vampire speed to get to my car, I now sit in front of the school, tapping an impatient beat against the steering wheel as I wait for Connor to get into the damn car. Within the urgency and fear is the heavy weight of guilt. Callie needs me. I don’t understand how I know this, but going to her means leaving Donovan and Kaleb to the demons. Sure, they have shifters and witches to help, but will that be enough? Then I remember I’m not the only fucking vampire in this town.
I scramble to pull my phone out of my pocket, only to find I have several missed calls from my parents. I hit the call back for my mother’s cell.
“Nolan, honey, are you okay?” my mother shouts, picking up on the first ring.
At this moment, that’s a really hard question to answer, so I try to stick to the most basic response. “Right now, I don’t have anything worse than some cuts and bruises.”
“Get somewhere safe,” my father yells, followed by the roar of an engine. “Mildred called us, and we’re on our way.”
Relief washes through me, knowing that Donovan and Kaleb are getting backup soon. Callie must have called her grandmother before she disappeared. Where she went or why she left, I have no idea, but she made sure that help was coming.
Connor finally slides into the passenger side, and the urgency inside me skyrockets.
“Hurry,” I plead, my hand shaking as I hold the phone to my ear. “Donovan and Kaleb need you. Don’t worry, I’ll be okay.”
