“Stad anois, ná gluais go brách.” Stop now, move never.
She said the words with all the intent she could muster, hearing the vehemence in her own voice.
“Mo chumhacht ort, beidh tú faoi smacht.” My power on you, you are under command.
She felt like she’d run a marathon, but the incantation was complete, and she didn’t dare move or take her mind from the vampire. She could almost feel his presence, asleep in his room. She lifted her head, flicked her eyes to Eve, then focused on the house once more.
Eve took her cue. “That’s it, the spell’s done.”
Darian thumbed his mic. “All teams, go.”
“Well done,” Eve muttered. “Stay focused.”
Damn right. “Stad anois, ná gluais go brách,”Cally repeated, as men broke from the tree line from all directions, bearing downon the house. Some dropped to a crouch, firing silenced weapons, and the steadyphut phut phutcarried through the air. One thrall on the balcony dropped out of sight, the other hitting the barrier and falling over, careening to the ground below.
“Four tangos down,” Mikhail muttered.
The distant sound of glass breaking, and the crump of a charged explosive.
“Mo chumhacht ort, beidh tú faoi smacht.”Cally kept the spell going no matter that she was exhausted, not wanting the noises to risk waking the vampire. He would tear through the Order soldiers without slowing. And then escape.
“Two tangos inside,” Mikhail reported, clipped and taut. An explosion rocked the house, far larger than the ones that had come before.
“What the hell was that?” Darian snapped.
Mikhail pressed his finger to his earpiece. “Boobytrap,” he reported grimly. “We lost… most of bravo team.”
“Fuck.Get that goddamn vampire out.”
“They’re breaching the top floor.”
Bright flashes burst through the windows, the distant crump of a muffled detonation following a second later.
“Stad anois, ná gluais go brách,”Cally said again, focusing hard as the Order fought outside the vampire’s room.“Mo chumhacht ort, beidh tú faoi smacht.”The obsidian felt heavier now, her arms trembling. She slumped, supporting herself with one elbow on her knee.“Stad anois, ná gluais go brách…”
“Not long, babe,” Eve said quietly beside her.
“Vampire’s room has a reinforced door,” Mikhail said. “We’re breaching.”
“…Mo chumhacht ort…”Every word was an effort. The obsidian touched the ground, her arms not strong enough to lift it.“…beidh tú faoi smacht.”
“We’re running out of time,” Darian said. “She can’t hold on much longer.”
“They’re in,” Mikhail said, as another explosion rocked the house. “The vampire is…” A pause, then an exhale of relief. “…ours. We’ve got him.”
“Get them all out,” Darian said sharply.
“All teams, target acquired,” Mikhail barked. “Withdraw.”
Cally raised her eyes to Eve, too tired to frame the question.
“Can Cally stop?” Eve asked immediately. “Is the vampire secure?”
“Yes, she can stop,” Darian said. “She did well,” he added.
But Cally had already sagged forward, the obsidian spilling from her grip. She had a moment to worry about her hair catching in a candle’s flame, before darkness claimed her.
Thirty-One
