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Cormac O’Hara appeared from the shadows, the invisible cloak of dark slipping from his body as he emerged into the light. His hand was gripped tight around Ana’s neck. Foam fell from the corners of her mouth, and her eyes were dull. Crisp white fangs peeked from between her pale lips, and the sorrow in the depths of her eyes seemed inconsolable.
“Step forward, son. Don’t be shy.”
Julian held Jaden still as Declan slid from between sheets of mist. His face was blank, though Julian felt his anger. His hands were clenched into fists, the lines around his mouth white with tension.
Cormac glanced up at the fallen and smiled wickedly. “Azaiel, are you willing?”
Silence greeted his words. Julian looked sharply at Declan. The sorcerer was staring straight ahead, his eyes not focused on any of them.
Julian was uneasy, not understanding the game. They had the bastard surrounded. He was about to charge forward when Nico snarled.
He was still in his animal form and barked loudly, his challenge unmistakable.
Cormac didn’t look at the animal. In fact, his eyes never left the body suspended in the air. He flicked his free hand, as if it was an afterthought, and Nico went down. Hard.
The howl that erupted from within the jaguar was bone-chilling, and Jaden fell to Nico’s side.
Cormac continued to stare up at the fallen, the predatory smile never leaving his face. “Azaiel, will you not at least answer me?”
Julian gritted his teeth, letting the anger inside of him burn hard and fast. He chanced a glance at Jaxon. His brother was studying the sorcerer intently, his body shielding Libby. The look on his face was pure hatred.
He wanted to grab the bastard by the throat and squeeze his last breath from him, but he had to be smart. He could feel the seductive shield of magic against Cormac’s flesh, and he knew it was deadly. Cormac had a protection ward in place that was ironclad.
His mind continued to whirl as the drama unfolded in front of him.
He watched as Azaiel gazed down upon Cormac and felt the surge of power that lay within the fallen. It was suppressed somehow, as if it were a capped geyser.
Julian’s eyes fell to the floor and swept over an intricate series of designs. He frowned. They could have been fucking Chinese for all he cared. He needed to figure out how to get to Azaiel.
Cormac suddenly looked away from the fallen and directly at Jaxon. “Libby, why must you hide behind that beast? Will you not show your face?”
A kiss of winter lived in his eyes as Cormac smiled widely and glanced back at Declan. Libby stepped forward, but Julian could tell it was not her own doing. She was being compelled, and Jaxon cursed as she slipped in front of him.
“Your brother won’t cooperate. Declan knows where the portal is or, at the very least, how Azaiel is tied to it.” Cormac grimaced and dug his fingers into Ana’s neck, sliding his hand along the skin that was now slick with her blood, as he pushed her to the floor. “He thinks that as long as he plays his game and keeps this from me, I won’t hurt the vampire.” He laughed softly. “That he can stretch time and somehow defeat me.”
“I hate you,” Libby whispered.
Cormac cocked his head to the side and sighed. “I know.” He spoke slowly, as if lecturing a small child. He dragged Ana along the ground, and Julian growled loudly as he rushed forward, only to be knocked back by the shimmering protection ward that hung in front of them.
Energy sizzled along his skin, burning into Julian’s flesh as he snarled. Declan’s eyes were now completely black, and the air around him began to blur. Cormac couldn’t see it. His focus was on Libby and the vampire.
“Guess I won’t win Father of the Year.” He sighed and shook his head. “Though I do keep my promises. You know this, Libby.”
He winked at Libby, a ghost of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth, and stretched out his fingers as a long, dangerous stake flew from nowhere into his welcoming hand.
Declan’s face was dark and twisted, guttural sounds fell from his lips. His entire body shook.
“I told Declan the vampire would die if he didn’t bow to my wishes.” The sorcerer stilled. “He didn’t believe me.”
All motion ceased. Julian was aware that Jaden was at his side once more, her arm on his as a scream erupted from her throat. All of it echoed in his head as a film of black crept into his vision.
Declan struggled to speak. His face was mottled red, filled with rage. It was obvious he was not in control, but he managed to snarl, “Do not touch her.”
Cormac’s face twisted into a grimace, his voice lowered and fell from his mouth in layers. “Your time is up.”
He pushed Ana down as if she were nothing more than a puppet and, without pausing, plunged the stake directly into her heart.
