“He said he’d be here,” Dorian said. “We have to hope he comes through for us, but either way, we don’t have a choice. We need to get Sasha out of there tonight.”
“And take down Rudy and those other assholes,” Charley said, passing the binoculars to Gabriel.
Wordlessly, Dorian squeezed her shoulder.
“We’ve got some movement in the apartment,” Gabriel said. “Looks like the gang’s all here—Silas, Dominic, Rudy, and Travis.”
“What are they doing?” Charley said. “Those fuckers better not be messing with my sister.”
“They’re all in the kitchen,” Gabriel said. “Looks like they’re arguing.”
“All right,” Dorian said. “We can’t reach the apartment from the bottom—they’ll know we’re coming. We need to get onto that roof, then head down through the rooftop entrance.”
“The roof is unguarded,” Gabriel confirmed. “Bloody idiots.”
“Vampires go in from the top,” Cole said. “The wolves and the witch will take the ground floor. Charley, you and Aiden get Sasha the fuck out of there, back onto the roof and down to safety. The rest of you vampires—you work your way down to us after Sasha’s out, and together we’ll light these motherfuckers up.”
“I can help subdue the witches with a muting spell,” Isabelle said, “and keep some of the demons from possessing new vessels. But Cole, you and your team will need to guard me. I don’t know how many we’re facing in there, but I’m not powerful enough on my own to take out more than a demon or two at one time.”
“We’ve got your back, Isabelle,” Cole said.
“Whoever’s using the Blade of Azerius?” Isabelle said. “Remember—do not let it cut you. We don’t know what it will do to vampires, but since you still have souls, we have to assume the worst. One slice—one pinprick—and you’re toast.”
Dorian nodded, patting his side where he’d sheathed and holstered the blade before they’d left Ravenswood. “Noted. Now, is everyone ready?”
“Wait… That’s it?” Charley asked. “That’s the grand plan? Storm the castle, hope for the best?”
“It’s decent,” Gabriel said. “Not stellar, but workable.”
“No more specifics?” she asked.
“We ain’t got time for specifics,” Cole said. “We’ll just improvise like we always do.”
“But what if—”
“Hey.” Cole reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “You’re not the only one with sweet-ass moves this operation, Charles. We got this. All of us.”
Despite his assurances, and Dorian’s calming presence at her side, fear threatened to overtake her. But with another soft touch from Dorian on the back of her neck, Charley reined it in, forcing it down like a piece of hot coal at the bottom of her stomach. There it smoldered, the heat of it fueling her determination.
Sasha was in there. And right now, everyone gathered here wanted the same thing—to save her.
Charley couldnotafford to get emotional and fuck this up.
She took another deep breath, then looked up at Dorian.
He smiled at her—just once, but it was all she needed.
A wave of emotion crashed into her so hard, she nearly stumbled. She was so beyond in love with him, so fucking gone for him, there was no room in her heart for a life where he didn’t exist. He’d claimed her from their very first meeting at the auction, and though she never could’ve predicted the events that led them here, somehow she’d known, deep down, that she and Dorian were meant to be.
That they were meant to find a way out of this darkness—together.
Charley’s heart nearly shattered in her chest. But instead of breaking, it expanded, filling up with so much love for him, so much awe at his boundless love for her, at his fierce protectiveness, at his bravery, at the risks he’d taken—and would keep on taking, no matter what came their way.
“Thank you,” she whispered. Not just to Dorian, but to all of them.
And with that, they were off, heading back out into the dark night, ready to storm that fucking castle.
Chapter Thirty
