Blake let out a sudden vicious sound, something between a bark and a growl, and fear knifed through my ribs.The gray and hood wolves backed off immediately.They turned toward Blake.
But Blake wasn’t facing them anymore.He faced the doorway, hackles raised and crouching low, poised to attack.When Nora managed to get back to her feet, she did the same, falling in line with the others.
The vampires had noticed us.They were somewhere inside the decoy house, hiding in its seemingly endless shadows.The sun might be creeping into the sky, but it couldn’t have touched that darkness even if it had been noon in a blazing desert.
Christian’s arm looped around my waist, pulling me close.Maybe he planned to drag me away.The logical part of my brain wanted him to.A massive amount of power flooded the atmosphere, a tsunami displacing the normal world order.It claimed the air and the earth, reeking of the same ruthless authority the compound’s previous master had possessed.
“Isn’t this lovely,” Satine sang out.
My breathing shallowed.I looked at my companions, four werewolves positioned to defend each other, to defend me, and one human whom I always seemed to be pulling into trouble.I cared about all of them, and the treaty gave me some level of protection.If I could just pull Satine’s focus to me…
“I’m here to talk to Jared.”
Satine laughed.She might as well have drawn her blood-red nails down my spine.“It’s such a pleasure to meet you again, Kennedy.And Christian.I presume one of these mutts is Lehr’s rebellious daughter.”
The four werewolves stood their ground, maintaining their wall of claws and teeth.
I stepped away from Christian, stepped toward that angry barricade and the menace beyond it.
“Oh, you’re actually serious.”Satine laughed again.“We never did get the opportunity to chat.Come in, Kennedy Rain.You as well, Christian.”
I didn’t like the way she wrapped her lips around his name.One of her people had almost bled Christian dry after they’d crashed their vehicle into us outside of Austin.Satine had allowed and encouraged it—she’dplayedwith us.The only reason we’d both left alive was because I’d pissed off Nora when I ditched her in New Orleans, and she’d broken the sound barrier on her way to tear into me.
“I don’t like to wait,” Satine said, and this time she put power behind the words.Compulsion.My foot wanted to slide forward.I fought it, fought against the hooks Satine drove into my consciousness.
I might have lost the battle if Christian hadn’t pushed away from the SUV.He walked toward the open door.
“Christian!”Unlocking my feet from the ground, I darted into his path.I placed my hands on his shoulders, forced him to look at me.“Fight it.”
His eyes didn’tseeme, not until I shook him.Then he took one of my hands in his and gave it a gentle squeeze.“Vampire magic.”
I nodded.
His jaw locked.He turned fury-filled eyes toward the shadows inside the house.
“Such a touching relationship,” Satine said.“But you misunderstand.It wasn’t a request.”
I still couldn’t see anyone inside the house.The few times I’d entered it before, lights and lamps had brightened the rooms.
“In case you need a more obvious invitation, see that adorable blood-red light between your werewolf’s eyes?”
I looked automatically, and my heartbeat stuttered.
“Lehr would be most disappointed if his second’s brains were splattered across the ground,” Satine continued.“Or maybe he wouldn’t.Tell me, are the rumors true you’re no longer the alpha’s favorite?However did that happen?”
Blake growled.So did Nora and the other wolves.Magic strangled the air.One more tug, and this confrontation would erupt into violence.
I stepped in front of Blake.
He snapped at my hand.
And I snapped back, “I’m not going to let her kill you.”
His sharp bark sounded like a curse.He moved forward until he was beside me, his shoulder pressed hard against my hip, causing me to widen my stance to keep my balance.
I grabbed the fur behind his head.My intention was to keep him from attacking—as if that would actually work—but Blake was surprisingly soft.Instead of gripping him firmly, my fingers loosened, then wove gently through his fur.Blake leaned even harder into me, most likely because the red light moved to point at my chest.
Satine sighed.“You wish to speak to Jared, yes?”
