“That was fun.” Adam sighed as the blades in his hands disappeared. “What now?”
Jacque lowered her hands, and the light that enveloped them faded. Although they’d killed their attackers, she didn’t feel victorious.
Fane walked over to her and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Do not let his words discourage you, Luna.”
She raised her head and looked him in the eyes. “How could I not be discouraged?” Jacque shook her head. “You heard him, Fane. There’s more and more and more. There will always be more. They can make them faster than we can kill them.”
“It takes six days for a vampire to fully transition.” Wadim spoke up. “Maybe they have a place where they take newly turned vamps to finish out their transition, so as to ensure they aren’t killed before the six days are up and their inhuman strength and speed develops.”
“Don’t forget that any vampires these ashtrays created are also now dead.” Thalion pointed to the surrounding piles of ash. “When a vampire dies, so does each vamp they’ve sired.”
“See?” Fane lowered his voice as he leaned toward her. “There’s always hope.” He rubbed his head against hers, his wolf nuzzling her before nipping her neck gently in reprimand.
Jacque shoulder-checked him, pushing him back, and snapped her teeth at him, though there was anger in the reaction. She was irritated with herself for allowing the vampire to get to her. And she was irritated that her mate was attempting to play with her when there was no time to enjoy it.
“There’s always time for play,” his wolf said to her.
Jacque raised a brow at him. “I’ll remember that the next time you tell me you have work to do.”
He grinned a feral smile. “I only say that so you’ll get frustrated with me. I like you feisty.”
“Is this some sort of post-battle foreplay?” Adam’s voice broke the small bubble they’d created. “I mean, I totally get it. Nothing gets the blood pumping like a good fight, but, ow—” He hollered. Jacque turned to see Crina’s muzzle latched onto her mate’s calf. “Babe, I thought we discussed teeth play is for bedroom time only,” Adam said through gritted teeth. Crina let out a low growl, and Adam simply smiled and reached down, running a hand across her hackles. “I’ll behave, my lovely she-wolf. Please don’t hobble me until after we’ve taken care of the nasty vampires.”
Crina gave a gentle shake of her head before releasing her mate’s leg. She bumped his hip with her large head and then sat on her haunches, giving Fane her attention.
Jacque looked at her mate. “What are we doing, wolf-man?”
Fane glanced around the circle. She heard his thoughts as he catalogued each pack member. They were uninjured and still appeared battle-ready. None of them were even tired. If anything, they were just getting warmed up. “We keep hunting. We’ll continue through this city, killing as many as we can, until sunrise.” He turned and began jogging down the dark street. “Nobody die, dammit.” He snarled. Jacque took her place at his side, running along with him.
“You know you can’t really order people not to die, right?” She used their bond to give him a gentle nip on his neck.
“Behave.” Fane’s voice was stern, but she felt his amusement at her action, which is what she’d been hoping.
“For now.” She turned her senses to the surrounding area. They’d only been running for five minutes when another group of vampires stepped out of the shadows. Jacque’s lips turned up in a smile that probably made her look a little deranged. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter
Eight
“I didn’t sign up for this. Okay, actually I did. But I didn’t read the fine print, so I didn’t really know what I was signing up for. Moral of the story? Read the fine print, dumbass.” ~Lizzy
“Is she supposed to be twitching like that?” Willis nudged Lizzy’s foot with his hand. The girl was no longer strapped to the chair. After the subject had screamed about being burned alive and then passed out, Cain transferred her to a gurney. Four straps ran horizontally across her body, securing her ankles, thighs, hips, and chest. A final strap went across her forehead, forcing her neck to remain still. Despite the restraints, as Willis had so helpfully pointed out, the girl occasionally twitched in her unconsciousness.
Cain put his hand to his chin and looked to the ceiling. “Hmm, I’m trying to remember the last time I turned a dormant werewolf into a hybrid vampire.” His voice was calm, then suddenly grew loud as he looked at the young scientist. “How the hell should I know if she is supposed to be twitching? You’ve done this as many times as I have, Willis!”
“As a general rule, in life not just in medicine, twitching is not a good sign.” Alice stood opposite Cain and Willis on the other side of the gurney. Heart rate and pulse oxygen monitors had been attached to the unconscious female. So far, they showed that there was still life in Lizzy.
Cain pursed his lips at Alice. “Very scientific analysis, Lovely Alice. Might you have any observations that are actually helpful?”
Willis’s head snapped up, and his eyes shifted between them. “Lovely?”
Cain smirked while Alice glared at him. He’d never thought he’d be a pet name kind of lover, not that they were lovers … yet. But the pet names annoyed the healer, and Cain found that to be incredibly satisfying. Not as much as her blood would be, but he’d have to take what he could.
Alice’s face was a mask of irritation. She turned to Willis. “The vampire king has lived for a very long time. I think he’s realized this life has nothing more for him, and he’s apparently decided to move on from this world. He makes statements like that, so I will hasten his departure. He’s figured out that if he keeps calling me ridiculous pet names, I will cut out his heart.”
Willis motioned between the two of them and narrowed his eyes. “So you two … aren’t together?”
“No,” Alice snapped at the same time Cain said, “Yes.”
