Page 10 of Christmas Embrace

DBs ripped apart by something. Not a pretty sight.

Acadian wolves aren’t involved.

It’s why I’m checkin' in.

100% sure.

I smell demons.

Keep me updated. Watch your back.

Will do. Thanks.

Sydney’s hand unconsciously traveled to her abdomen. The memory of the demon flashed in her mind, as his fist gored through her stomach. She’d never forget the fateful day she’d been killed, her humanity stolen. Reborn as vampire, the strength of her breed was substantial, but demon energy remained formidable. Only a powerful witch could control the beasts of the underworld.

Sydney exhaled, attempting to shake off the diabolical memory. Hair prickled on her arms as she stepped toward the back of the alley.

Death hung heavy in the air. A corpse lay hidden behind a dumpster. With his neck torn open and his left hand missing, the victim had bled out all over the street. A right eyeball dangled from its socket, the face shredded beyond recognition.

The commanding voice of an officer boomed over a loudspeaker, warning off a growing crowd of onlookers, yet Sydney barely heard it, lost in examining the scene. The stench of vomit reeked, causing her stomach to roll, yet the aroma of blood sent her vampire senses reeling. Easy, Syd, she told herself, her fangs straining against her gums.

With a slow acceptance, Sydney had come to terms with her existence as vampire. Learning to drink blood challenged her, but she enjoyed biting Kade and had grown accustomed to human blood. But now more than ever she was acutely aware of the death experience. The final beats of a heart. The last minutes of someone’s death, the gritty rattling of their final breaths. A desperate exhale, often their eyes wide open, gazing out onto eternal afterlife. The soul releasing from its vessel, returning home to the Goddess. The cries of grief from family members.

Sydney closed her eyes and took a cleansing breath, attempting to refocus. Let it go. Let it go. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Vampiric energy tore through her body as she released the dark thoughts.

Concentrating, she sniffed the air again. The familiar scent registered, forcing her senses to alert. Her eyes flashed open, in panic at the barely audible whimper.

“Everyone be quiet!” she yelled. The murmur of conversations trailed off slowly. “I said shut up. Be quiet! Now!”

The sound of trash crunching under her feet echoed in the silence of the claustrophobic alley. As she trekked further into the darkened tunnel, her heart caught in her throat as she caught sight of a dented trash bin that had been tossed on its side.

“No, no, no…” She repeated as she cautiously approached, listening for signs of life. Please no. Don’t be Zach. This isn’t happening.

Sydney reached for the rusted lid and tossed it aside. Emotion rushed to her chest, her eyes locking on his. Zachery. The baby, still clutching his pacifier, released a blood-curdling cry. Sydney reached inside the bin and scooped him safely into her arms.

“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. What did they do to you?” Sydney struggled to contain the anger that coursed through her. She gently peeled the crying child away from her to check for injuries. Aside from a small scratch on his forehead, he appeared unscathed.

“Thank the Goddess.” Trembling, she carefully inspected his tiny hands. “I should have never let you go. I promise you this will never happen ever again.”

As officers rushed toward them, Sydney protectively cradled Zachery to her chest. Instinctively, her fangs dropped, and she hissed.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, Syd,” she heard a colleague say but her blind rage burned hot.

“I’m not giving him back,” she gritted out, dialing back her anger.

“You know protocol. The kid needs to be processed.”

“No way, Brian. I know this boy. He’s mine. They made me give him back to that wolf. Look what happened. No way. I’m not letting him go.” She shook her head. “You guys clean up the scene. See if you can find the mother. She might be here. I’m taking Zachery to the hospital.” Sydney shoved to her feet, clinging to the child, who’d settled against her shoulder, his eyes fighting to stay open.

“Hey uh, don’t you think ya oughtta wait for an ambulance?”

“No.” Sydney knew full well they would call the paramedics, but she struggled to remain rational as her thoughts drifted to Zachery. Who the hell did this? Why was his mother still in New Orleans? How could she let this happen to him? Tristan and Logan promised the child would be taken to a pack, raised as wolf. Never again.

Sydney rocked the child side to side as she walked out of the alley. She sucked a breath, stopping short as she caught sight of a crumpled body. With the face crushed into the pavement, she was unrecognizable. But the distinctive neon-purple hair trailing down her back raised Sydney’s suspicions.

“Hey, Annie.” Sydney acknowledged a female officer who approached her.

“Is that…Zachery? The kiddo from a few months back?” she asked, a sympathetic expression in her eyes. “Oh God. I’m sorry, Syd. This little fella…well, I know you guys wanted to adopt him…it’s just…the system’s all kinds of fucked up. What’s he doin’ here? Where did you find him?”