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13
Tarnley
“Are you sure you’re up for this?”
I turn to Rainey. “You’ve asked me that at least a dozen times. I thought you were the Astor who didn’t give a shit?”
Her mouth flattens. “You’re Elijah’s best friend, which lands you firmly on my give-a-shit list. Congratulations.”
Even with how pissed I am, I can’t help but smile. “I feel very honored.”
Hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, her makeup-free face dotted with freckles and a few bruises from a nest we broke up less than an hour ago, she’s ready for another fight. Elijah and Cole are on another block, while Fearghas and Delaney are taking another.
Breaking up into groups like this tends to keep us undistracted and functional as we work through the city. Any time I came back into town over the last two months, I’d spend a night or two out with them, trying to reign in the supers still waiting around for Lucy to take charge.
Apparently, they didn’t get the fucking memo that she is now nothing but ash and bone dust. “Up ahead,” Rainey whispers as she withdraws her short blade, and palming it with precision granted her through training and her hunter bloodline, she creeps forward.
I roll my shoulders, more than ready for a fight. This clan is one we’ve been tracking for a month and a half, one of the last blood dens in the city and nearly impossible to find. But, thanks to a tip from the earlier nest, we may have found it.
Stalking forward, I try my damnedest to hear what’s going on just ahead. Unfortunately, thanks to this fucking bond, I’m nearly useless in that department. Rainey whirls on me. “Weren’t they supposed to wait outside for us?”
“What?”
“Elijah was supposed to tell everyone to wait outside for us, right? So we could all go in together?”
“Yes.”
“Son of a bitch.” She pulls out another blade. “Apparently, they decided to start the party without us.”
“Dammit.”
“You’re sure your good?”
Dark eyes trained on me, she’s searching for any sign of weakness. She’ll find none. “I’m good. Let’s go kick some ass.”
“All right.” She rushes into the alley, heading straight for a door hanging partially off its hinges. I follow, right on her heels, with the scent of blood filling my lungs as soon as we enter the stairwell. The further down we go, the stronger it becomes.
Human, shifter, and vampire alike.
We burst inside, right into the middle of a fight. Only, none of our people are around. Shifters fight shifters, vampires tear each other apart, and the humans lie unconscious in the left corner.
“What the— duck!” Rainey roars, as a vampire swings a blade toward us. She drops to her knees and sweeps out his legs before driving her dagger down into his throat and tearing. I whirl, prepared to defend her back from the massive bear shifter headed straight toward us.
A furry bowling ball knocking the other shifters aside like pins, he snarls and raises to both back legs before slashing out with huge claws. I jump backward, blurring around and jumping up onto its back.
I wrap both arms around its neck and squeeze, clinging to it as it bucks and fights back against my hold. A few moments pass as I try to keep my attention on Rainey as she battles her way toward the crowd.
In the distance, I hear Delaney yell her name.
Finally, the bear crumples to the ground, and I get to my feet, sucking in breath after breath. My fucking strength is waning without Bronywyn’s blood, but I’ll be damned if I give it another thought.
I lunge for another shifter, nearly reaching him when he roars and bursts into ash. They all do. Every single supernatural who’d been fighting is reduced to nothing. Which can only mean—
“What the fuck!” Rainey roars, spinning as black flakes float to the ground.
I spin, searching for who I know is responsible. My gaze passes over Delaney, who looks just as shocked, her light brown hair covered in the shit. Cole shifts to stand beside her, his bare chest coated in sweat.
“I’m so glad you all finally arrived.”
