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Ana let her fangs slide out once more. His hand was now on her hip. “You should know,” she began, “I won’t be responsible for what happens if you don’t remove your hand from my ass.”
His voice dropped to a whisper. “Promise?” He laughed softly, and that only infuriated her more. “And what exactly is going to happen?”
“I can’t say for sure but I can pretty much guarantee it will hurt like hell.”
Declan’s words slid between them and Ana felt the man beneath her still. He shifted, looked behind her, and grinned, though he kept his grip tight on her body. “O’Hara, why you going and spoiling all my fun?”
“Take your hands off her or I will start a war.” Declan was dead serious. The room flooded with dark energy. It slithered along Ana’s body, electrifying her cells in a way that was wrong. And yet so right it was shameful.
The man beneath her tensed, his eyes darkened. He didn’t like being threatened. Ana hissed at him and as his arms loosened, she pushed away, rolled to the side, and was on her feet in seconds.
“Why the hell is he here?” She turned her fury and general frustration on Declan. “A Seraph? Are you kidding me?”
Nico pushed away from the counter. “You bo
ys duke it out. I need to run.” Ana watched as the jaguar warrior headed for the back door and yanked it open. His hands were already at the waistband of his jeans but he paused, and his eyes were cold as he glanced toward the Seraph warrior. “I’ve pledged my allegiance to this boy. Do not think to harm him or I will hunt you.”
Ana turned back to Declan, ignoring the tall man to her right. “Are you going to explain?”
Declan’s eyes flickered past hers and settled upon the intruder. “His name is Cale. He’s one of the Seraph, same as I.”
She turned and kept her barely controlled anger under wraps as she studied him.
“And he’s here because?” she asked Declan, though her eyes never left the stranger.
Cale ignored the question, but smiled widely and winked at her. “Seriously? Your”—he made quotation marks with his fingers—“save the mark of seven kiddies is an exclusive club? What do I need, a password?”
“I don’t want you here,” Ana spat. “I don’t trust you.”
Cale’s demeanor changed instantly. The warmth fled his eyes and his voice dropped. The man was scary powerful, and a chill raced along Ana’s flesh.
“I’m not promising we can accomplish what it is you intend to do. The hounds of Hell themselves will come after him”—he pointed toward the teenager—“and they’ll bring everything that they’ve got. The destruction they will wreak, the havoc that they’ll commence will be beyond anything you can comprehend. The mark of seven is the ultimate weapon and one that begs the question . . .” His voice trailed off as he turned his attention onto Kaden.
Kaden faced the Seraph and spoke clearly. “What’s that exactly?”
“Well, the obvious, my friend.” Cale shook his head. “There are two sides to this scenario and as of now we have no clue which side you’ll land on.” He nodded toward Declan. “The sorcerer and the vampire are willing to lay their lives on the line for you. That tells me they believe you’ll land somewhere in the middle.” He arched a brow. “The middle is good.”
Cale moved away and Ana was glad to have a bit of distance between them. She exhaled softly. Declan moved closer to her and they both faced the Seraph together.
“I’m not convinced that will be the outcome, however, I’m willing to see how this plays out.”
Kaden’s face whitened and Ana’s heart broke at the sight of him trying to be so brave. She wanted to rush to his side and take him into her arms, but he was no child and she knew he needed to stand on his own.
“And what if you . . . what if I . . .” Kaden didn’t finish his sentence but there was no need, Cale was more than willing to do it for him.
His voice was sharp, his intention clear. “I will end you.”
Declan was barely able to hold Ana back. Her rage and frustration erupted into a guttural scream. Cale’s parting shot as he disappeared down the hall only served to fan the flame.
“I’ll meet you at the Lounge once the vampire has had time to cool off.”
It took nearly the entire day for the vampire to “cool off.”
Chapter 11
The afternoon was overcast. It fit the general mood at the DeLacrux mansion, and it was a somber bunch that left for Ransome’s place several hours later.
They decided to let Kaden come along. The teen desperately wanted to have a hand in controlling his destiny, and Ana didn’t have the heart to keep saying no to him. Besides, though the protection wards put in place were strong, she still wasn’t one hundred percent sold they’d hold against Samael should he decide to make an appearance.
