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As Sigrid chanted ancient incantations, a hushed silence descended upon the crowd. Jordan stood tall and stiff as a statue, her pale skin illuminated by candlelight as Sigrid approached. In her hands, the older vampire held a box, gnarled and twisted vines etched into the wooden surface. A strange hissing could be heard as Sigrid opened the box, a sound that grew louder when a black tongue flicked out from the shadows inside.
Gasps rippled through the assembled vampires as Jordan held out her hand toward the creature that was slowly emerging. A sinuous, emerald-green snake glided out of the confines of the box, testing the air with its tongue before sliding over Jordan’s outstretched hand. I realized quickly that this was no ordinary snake, its eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intelligence.
The crowd watched in awe as the majestic serpent gracefully coiled around Jordan’s arm, slithering up toward her shoulders. It seemed as if the very spirit of the vampire realm was embracing its new queen, acknowledging her with this mystical symbol of power and wisdom.
As I watched the esoteric ritual from the sideline, I felt my heart swell with pride. I had watched Jordan fight for this moment, and to finally see her standing there, proud and bold before her people, I couldn’t have been happier.
The magnificence of the moment, however, was interrupted by a flicker of movement in the corner of my eye. I felt a jolt of unease as I watched the swirling shadow that flowed through the masses. Dylan was moving in the darkness, making her way rapidly toward a figure in the crowd. It was her pace that piqued my curiosity, but it was her expression that sent my stomach plummeting to my shoes.
My gaze shifted from Jordan and the god-like serpent, toward a man standing amidst the crowd, his face shrouded in shadows.
Instinct prickled the hairs on the back of my neck, a whisper of danger. Something was amiss here, and it had to do with that man.
As I watched, he lifted his hood, revealing dirty blond hair. Something silver glinted under his cloak.
Without hesitation, I leapt forward with a cry of warning, pushing Jordan aside just as the man, Jeremy, lifted a gleaming silver crossbow—the bolt aimed directly at my vampire lover’s heart.
Time seemed to slow as the sharp twang of the crossbow echoed through the hall.
But instead of piercing Jordan’s heart, the bolt found its mark in the serpent coiled around her neck. A collective gasp erupted from the crowd as the mystical creature let out an enraged hiss, before its limp body uncurled from Jordan’s shoulders and thudded to the floor, glassy black eyes watching the unfurling chaos.
Pandemonium ensued as the serpent’s body hit the floor. The crossbow’s intended target was averted, but the consequences were far from over. An earth-shaking roar reverberated through the building, shattering the windows and sending guests to their knees as the ground shook beneath them.
The room erupted into chaos as hordes of werewolves, shape-shifters, and other monstrous creatures flooded into the hall, their growls and snarls and piercing screams filling the air.
Vampires scattered, their regal composure shattered in the face of the unexpected attack.
Somehow, the wards around the manor had failed. In the blink of an eye, the once-elegant hall became a battleground and my blood ran cold as I clung to Jordan, witnessing the onslaught of ferocious creatures straight out of my worst nightmares.
Jeremy’s army had arrived.
Chapter 23
JORDAN
MyheartpoundedasI instinctively reached for the hidden dagger concealed beneath my gown. While I had talons and teeth on my side, it had felt necessary to stow some extra steel somewhere on my person for a situation just like this.
I surveyed the chaos, my mind racing to keep up with the sudden turn of events. Jeremy had brought his army to our doorstep, striking right before I had the chance to come into my full power. It was near impossible to comprehend.
Sky gripped my forearm, her nails biting into my skin as she hissed, “The necklace. I forgot about the necklace!”
“What necklace?” I cried, hauling her out of the way when a lumbering shifter stalked onto the podium. “Now is not the time to be worrying about your pearls!”
The shifter poised to strike, one large paw crushing the skull of the dead serpent at its feet. Black blood erupted at the sickening crunch, spraying the acrid liquid over both of us.
“Jeremy gave me a necklace! Before he attacked me by the shed.” Sky’s eyes were wide, the color draining from her lips. “I brought it inside. That’s how he got through the wards.”
There was no way any of the monstrous creatures before me should have managed to cross the threshold of the manor. Sigrid’s wards were powerful, and no unwanted visits would have been permitted to pass through. Not unless someone else had broken the barrier for them.
“That sneaky bastard.” I yanked Sky aside, punching my fist upwards as the shifter lumbered toward us. My fist connected with its bottom jaw, punching its elongated teeth through its furred muzzle. “I’ll kill Jeremy with my bare hands if I have to.”
A sudden shriek from somewhere upstairs startled me, triggering that fierce protective urge.
In the midst of the fray, my eyes locked with Sky’s, a silent communication passing between us. She understood the gravity of the situation and the need to act swiftly. Before I could turn Jeremy into minced meat, we had to find the twins. We fought our way up the staircase, swiftly dispatching any adversary that dared to come too close. Beside me, Sky’s movements were graceful, a lethal dance as she dodged assailants, sending them swiftly to their deaths on my claws.
We darted through the chaos, my eyes scanning for an escape route amidst the surging mass of creatures. The twins were our beacon of hope, their safety the utmost priority.
By the time we reached the top of the stairs the grand hall was nothing more than a struggling mass of bodies, the pristine wood floors stained a sickening red. The vampires were giving their all, but for every monster they cut down, three more arrived to take its place.
