The old Alvin would be freaking out right now, but I swear to God, I am so over being scared by monsters. And I’ll be damned if I let these creatures near even one of these kids. I have no idea how I’ll fight these guys, but I am going to fight them. After coming this far, I’m sure as hell not giving up!
The vampires at the entrance eye me cautiously. They’ve seen I can be pretty dangerous. But there must be something in my body language, maybe something even deeper than that they can sense, because their fearfulexpressions quickly become predatory. No longer under Valiente’s control, their mouths widen into hungry grins, and their fangs slide down obscenely. Maybe I’mnota threat to them. Maybe I’m meat.
Another one of the teens gasps out a pitiful whimper.
Emma brings her arm protectively around the crying boy. It’s the grubby red-headed kid from the other side of the cavern. While comforting him, she shoots me a meaningful glare. I’m the dude who was sent by her mom to bring her home. Apparently, she expects me to get on with saving them, birthday suit and all.
Well, it’s what I signed up for, right? I call out, trying to sound as confident and badass as I can, “You guys stay close together and behind me. These losers aren’t touching you!”
I then straighten my shoulders, squeeze my hands into fists, puff out my chest, and take a deliberate step toward the vamps, trying to look as intimidating as a short, chubby, naked guy who’s just sent a god packing can look. And surprisingly, it kinda works—the undead actually cringe. Unfortunately, the main effect seems to be convincing them to take me off the menu. The tallest one nervously raises his gun and points it straight at my head.
Well, I’ve gone into debt with my incubus power before. Maybe I can do that again. Maybe I can even tank a shot to the brain! (I can dream, right?) I bend forward, prepared to charge at them, to do whatever it takes to knock them on their asses, when a thunderclap shatters the air—and all five vampires burst into showering flares of hot, white light right in front of my eyes. I wonder for a second if this is my magic protecting me, somehowreturning to keep me alive, until I recognize that it’s lightning ripping through their bodies frombehind. The vamp with the gun involuntarily gets a shot off, but the fact he’s spasming while cooking to death spoils his aim. It goes high, hitting no one.
This is powerful magic for sure, but it’s not mine. No, this is the confident result of decades of hard-won experience and mastery. Five arcs of lightning consume the vampires in a spectacular display of sparks and fire, before their smoking remains fall to reveal an epic vision of badassery in black motorcycle leather. It’s the most powerful wizard on the West Coast, maybe the entire world, and she’s standing tall, staring me down.
“Alvin,” Ms. Stryker says, flatly.
She doesn’t seem surprised to see me. Or pleased.
I lower my fists, cringing slightly. “Hi, boss.”
“When I saw that bloodbath upstairs, I was a little concerned for you. But you look… good.” Her eyes rake down my nude body, and she frowns.
I quickly clasp my hands to cover my dick and shift awkwardly from one bare foot to another.
“I, um, well, as you can probably tell, I didn’t exactly have the situation 100% under control, so I’m super glad you found me.” I scrunch my brows and peek up at her. “Uh,howexactly did you find me?”
“Well, that’s a funny story, actually.” She slips the leather jacket off her shoulders as she saunters her way in my direction. Her gaze sweeps the shell-shocked kids huddled along the edges of the cavern. “I was taking a short break from very delicate negotiations in the world of fae—averting a massive war that could shake all therealms, you know, the usual—when the second-youngest Prince of Winter pulled me aside and mentioned offhand he heard my intern might be fighting vampires at the Benevolent Society of San Cipriano in San Francisco, and maybe I’d want to check in.”
“The second-youngest prince…” Now I’m even more confused. Until I’m not. “Wait. PrinceEiriantold you I was here?!” The words are out before I can stop them.
She cocks an eyebrow. “Yes, Eirian of Winter, Prince of Shadows and Fog, The Queen’s Cold Dagger in the Night. There was also something about a death-god ritual and human children in danger, but he was mostly concerned for your safety.” Her expression sharpens. “Concern is not a sentiment I would typically expect from a member of the Winter Court.”
I shrink in my shoulders and stare down at my toes on the off chance the ground might conveniently swallow me up. “Yeah, I, uh, honestly can’t tell youwhyhe’d care…”
“That so?” She dangles her large jacket at me, which I gratefully slide into and zip up to my neck. She’s so much taller, the thick leather actually covers my entire butt. Her eyes swing from the empty dais to the altar. “Can you tell me about this death god ritual, then? Is that somethingIshould be concerned about?”
“No, no, that’s actually totally taken care of!” I quickly respond, trying to sound breezy and wishing to all that is holy I had some actual pants on for this. I have to know if Collin is okay, so I crouch down to pick up the watch from the ground and shove it into my side pocket.
“Meaningyoutook care of it…”
I stop halfway back up, wincing again, not sure how she’ll react. I’m not supposed to have any real power, right?
“Uh, kinda?”
Collin appears at my side. He’s safe and happy, and he leaps forward like a freaking Irish setter to throw his arms around me in the biggest hug ever.
“You did it, Alvin!” he exclaims. “You were so deep in your magic, you couldn’t hear me, and then we got disconnected. But you were brilliant! You saved everyone! God, I love you!”
He barrels into me so hard that it knocks me off balance, making me involuntarily reach out to hug him back with one arm so I don’t fall. (Okay, maybe not totally involuntarily. Iwasworried.) Then he’s kissing my neck and cheek, which is hella distracting, and I squeak in response.
My snuggly tussle with an invisible friend doesn’t escape Ms. Stryker’s notice. She glances to the pocket of her coat and narrows her eyes.
I peel Collin off and try to surreptitiously gesture with my index finger at our one-woman-army audience. The one I’ve tried very hard to convince I’m not anything weird. His eyes widen.
“Ah, shite! This is the real one, isn’t it?”
“Are you okay?” Ms. Stryker asks, left eyebrow now hovering somewhere near low-earth orbit.
