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Quickly, he dispatched the closest rogue and curled his lip in disgust. They weren’t difficult to tell from the good vampires. The dirty teeth and sour breath gave them away, if the madness in their eyes didn’t.
Leaping over the body, he frantically searched the living area. He fought his way into the ballroom, sad to find the once-glorious room in shambles, along with the rest of the place. Strangely, broken furniture was heaped in piles everywhere. Then the distinct stench of kerosene reached his nostrils and he knew what the bastards had planned.
They were going to set the stronghold on fire.
The flames wouldn’t destroy the mountain itself, but everything and everyone trapped inside would die. He couldn’t let that happen, and he still had to find his mate and brother-in-law.
“Nick!” Micah yelled, avoiding a blow that would have taken his head. “They’re going to light this place up!”
Nick shifted back to his human skin as well, so he could yell back.
“I know! Get as many people as you can to find fire extinguishers, and to douse the interior with water, anything that will stop the flames!”
“On it!” Micah spun away and started shouting orders to that effect.
Maybe there was hope for the kid yet.
Not bothering to shift again, Nick worked his way through the living and dining areas. Then he began to search the corridors, and off the main living area, he found a stone staircase that descended below the earth. There was no doorway, just a wide opening and the steps. He peered around the corner, listened. There didn’t seem to be any movement from below, so he took a step.
The blow from behind caught him off guard.
Propelled forward, he fell. Tumbled down the stairs until his skull slammed into the sharp edge of a step and the world went dark.
* * *
The pounding wouldn’t stop. The relentless thrumming, the roaring in his ears. Eerie laughter meshed painfully with the noise in his head. God, his head. He tried to reach up, only to find that his hands were tied behind his back. Tugging on the bindings didn’t help.
Nick opened his eyes and attempted to focus, but it was like trying to see through crimson wax paper. Blinking helped a little, but his vision was still blurry. Was that Ivan’s voice? Nick squinted and could just make him out.
The vampire was standing over Calla, laughing. The glint off the massive blade in his hand made Nick’s blood run cold. Nearby was a gun Ivan had obviously laid on the floor where he thought it would be out of reach. Think again, asshole.
Nick put all of his concentration into sitting up. Pain lanced through the back of his skull as he pushed himself up on his knees. Sickness rose and he fought it down.
“Calla, my dear, your quick tongue is one of the things I’ve always admired about you,” he was saying in amusement. “I’m going to enjoy that tongue, too.”
Nick’s movements caught the vampire’s eye. “Ah, there you are. I suppose it’s time now to get on with business. I was going to send your mate’s brother on his way first, but there hardly seems to be any point now, does there? He’ll die soon enough, and he’s not the one who wronged me anyway.”
“You sonofabitch,” Nick breathed, shaking with fury. Indeed, Tarron hadn’t stirred. If not for his labored breathing, Nick would have thought he was dead. “If you’ve wanted to kill me for so long, why don’t you just do it? Here’s your opportunity, you bastard. There’s no need to hurt anyone else.”
“Nick.” Calla’s broken voice tore at his heart, but he didn’t meet her eyes.
“Savoring killing you is nearly as satisfying as acting upon it will be, I think. First you will watch me kill your mate, as you did mine.”
Above them, the battle still raged. Nick felt helpless, not knowing which way the tide was turning. Anger swamped him, and he pulled on his bindings, trying to rip them with brute strength. They gave some, but Ivan’s reaction was quick.
In an instant, the blade was pressed against Calla’s throat. “Move one muscle, and I’ll slit her lovely neck. Keep still and she’ll live a bit longer.”
The vampire leaned over her. His free hand groped under her sweatshirt until he found a breast and squeezed. She gasped in pain, tears filling her eyes.
Nick’s wrath bubbled up in his chest, hot and roiling. No matter what, he wouldn’t sit by and let Ivan rape her. The sonofabitch would kill them anyway, so he had nothing to lose. But before he could get to his feet, he saw her right hand swing upward. Nick thought she intended to slap him and pushed up quickly. Then her fist, clutching a small pocketknife, connected with Ivan’s face and he leapt away, holding his cheek, blood pouring from between his fingers.
“Bitch!” he screamed. “Goddamn bitch!”
Nick was already closing the distance, his heart in his throat. Ivan lunged for her, thrusting his huge blade outward. Nick barreled into him, blocking the assault with his own body and knocking the vampire to the floor. Nick fell across Calla, panting, pain spreading through his side in rolling waves.
“Give me you
r wrists! Hurry!” she cried.
