AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t want to use Hayley if we don’t have to. Let’s start with taking out the leadership. We will figure things out after that. Most of these guys will relent, especially knowing that we are not out for them. We want to make things better. We know that they fall in line for the sole reason that they have to.” Sawyer links his fingers with mine, and Knox takes my other hand, keeping me between them. “Just have them ready and waiting. We can block them. But we don’t have to take them down.”
“Yet.” Monroe wags his eyebrows with his words, the idea exciting him as much as it excites me. It’s my dhampir nature. I just want blood. It’s more evident than ever. I don’t know if it has to do with the growing miracle inside me or what, but I’m suddenly feeling extra volatile.
“Here, Hayley. Drink real quick. I know that you are getting anxious, and I want you to be able to stay in control the best you can.” Knox’s blood trickles on his arm, drawing my attention, and I snatch his wrist quickly enough to startle him. He groans as I mold my mouth around his bite mark and suck, humming as his blood fills my mouth and blooms power within me.
Narcisa and Cicero stare at me in silence, observing my very nature. I can see a dozen thoughts crossing their minds, and they both look at each other as if they share them. A part of me grows nervous at their attention, and I ease my mouth away from Knox and wipe my lips.
“Stop staring at me. I don’t watch you fuckers feed.” I heave a couple deep breaths with my anger. It’s as if I can’t help my reaction. I should be used to being under scrutiny, and I know how fascinating it is to watch another person drink because it’s considered bad manners, but there’s just something about this moment that triggers me even more.
“I was wrong about you, dhampir. So very wrong.” Cicero mutters the words, his voice low as if he intends them only for himself. “You’re humanity’s savior, but you’ll be our downfall.”
Cooper swings his arm and punches Cicero in the face, knocking him back. We realize his mistake immediately, his anger getting the best of him and his violence knocking the manipulation from Cicero. It’s not unlike how some donors can escape a vampire’s control if they are traumatized enough. It’s one of the reasons why vampires don’t hurt donors if they are manipulating them. Because pain can and does break their hold. And now Cicero’s is broken.
Monroe lunges at him, but he dodges out of the way and grabs a hold of Narcisa, shoving her so hard against the building and slamming her head to the wall that she drops to the ground. Sawyer abandons me, leaving me with Knox, and zooms forward with vampire speed. Cicero grabs Narcisa and pulls her to his chest, using her as a shield.
“Stay back or I’ll kill her,” Cicero growls, flashing his fangs. “This isn’t right. You are going to ruin everything.”
I knew something was up with the renegades. They claim to be on humanity’s side, but they are no different. They are rebels, but they are not rebels in the sense that they are out to take down vampires. No, they only want to steal power.
“Please, listen to him. You need me.” Narcisa blinks her eyes, managing to get herself back together again.
Except we don’t need her. Not anymore. We have everything we need, and I am not going to let the renegades or the leadership have any sort of control now.
“I’m sorry. I know we had a deal, but you have only yourself to blame for this.” Sawyer rushes toward Cicero, not bothering to heed his warning.
Instead of killing Narcisa like I expect him to, he pulls her toward the door, trying to get her to open it.
But he’s not fast enough.
He’s too focused on Sawyer to see me coming. This is my fight. This is my war. And I will stand beside my guys.
I grab a hold of him from behind and sink my teeth into his throat at the same time that I jab my hand through his back. The strength of my punch sends me forward and my knuckles crush against the metal door.
Cicero crumples to the ground, taking both me and Narcisa with him. The scent of blood blooms through the air and I release my mouth only to bite him again.
Two strong arms wrap around me and yank me from the ground, sliding my arm from the bodies of both Cicero and Narcisa. I killed them. I took them both out at once.
Cicero had every right to be afraid of me. Had every right to think that I could destroy every vampire. Because I can.
But I won’t. I love the Bella Crew too much. I know that not every vampire is bad. I know that we can rise together. And had he just saw that, none of this would’ve happened. I wouldn’t have been the villain of his story.
Because that’s what I feel like.
If we lose, that’s how we will end up in history.
So I can’t let that happen.
“Hayley, hey. Look at me. Let me see your hand.” Knox cradles my arm between his palms and stares at my fingers, trying to assess the damage.
“One is definitely broken.” Monroe bites his wrist and offers me his arm. “Here, little bird. Drink. We have to get moving. The leadership is on the move. I think that they caught sight of something.”
I don’t say anything as Sawyer lifts me off my feet and the Bella Crew surrounds me. Monroe leads the way with Mya and Govan behind them. Cooper and Knox each take a side.
My heart hammers, threatening to escape my ribcage. We enter through the access door and fly down the stairs.
I’ve never seen anything like this. The dark tunnel seems to go on for miles, and I swear that I hear dozens of whispered voices, but I don’t see anyone. It’s as if they remain hidden within each alcove or metal door that leads to who knows where.
“We must head to the main part of the tower where we can gain complete access to the communication system in La Vega.” Sawyer adjust me in his arms and looks over Monroe’s shoulder at his com device. “Do you see any movement?”
