“Is he okay?” Lizzy called out.
Jezebel looked up and nodded. “Controlling his power for this long is exhausting. It would take less effort for him to just level this place, but then that would mean all of us would be included in that destruction.”
“Gotcha.” Lizzy gave her a thumbs-up. “Great job not frying us, Thad. You totally deserve props for that.”
Finn nudged her leg, and she turned her attention back to the now empty corridor. She could hear voices coming from deeper inside.
“Let us go first.” Dain and Disir walked up beside them.
Their bodies and robes glowed with radiance, and the power that emanated from them felt like little bolts of static electricity. The curious part of Lizzy wanted to reach out and put a finger on their skin just to see if it would shock her like touching something after walking around on carpet with socks. But she managed to keep her hands to herself.
“Thanks for that,”Finn said dryly.“I’d prefer you not touch other males out of curiosity.”
“What reasoncanI touch other males?”She knew the answer, but poking him was sort of fun, and it distracted her from the fact that they were now going to be in an enclosed space with the leftover hybrids and anything else Cain had to protect himself with.
“A child would be the only male you may ever touch besides me.”
Lizzy chuckled.“So possessive.”Did she like it? Yes. Would she ever verbally admit that to him? Nope.
They followed the two high fae, and Lizzy noticed more of their pack joining them. The outside attackers must have all been taken care of, and now they just had to deal with those in the compound—cockroaches that needed to be squashed like the disgusting insects they were. There were growls around her as the wolves sniffed the air and picked up on the scent of vampires … and somethingelse. Something that smelled wrong.
“What is that, Finn?”
“Death. Decaying bodies.”
Lizzy frowned as she thought about that.
“Why do I get the feeling there will not be much more resistance?” Jacque asked.
“Maybe because it smells like a rancid meat locker?” Myanin offered.
Jacque snapped her fingers and pointed at her. “Nailed it. That means bodies that have been decomposing for days.”
“Go left,” Lizzy told the two high fae still leading the group, ready to protect them from any magical attacks. “The largest room where he kept all the hybrids is down those stairs. But his lab is straight ahead. That’s where I’m going.”
“Finn, Jacque,” Fane’s words came out a little garbled through his large teeth. “And Nick and I will go with Lizzy. The rest of you comb this place and make it a tomb.”
“By the smell, I’d say it already is.” Myanin scrunched up her nose.
When they reached the lab, everyone paused.
“Any unexpected surprises?” Fane asked the fae.
Dain shook his head. “I can’t detect any traps or wards.”
Okay then. Slowly, Fane turned the knob. To Lizzy’s surprise, it turned easily, and Fane pushed the door open. They entered Cain’s lab and found the vampire waiting. Lizzy sucked in a breath. She wasn’t sure if he was going to be there or not, but she hadn’t expected to find him casually sitting upon a stool, relaxed, looking like anything except a king who was losing his entire empire. Lizzy’s eyes dropped to the ground, and she gasped. Cain was surrounded by the broken bodies of his creations. He looked up at them, a cruel smirk twisting his lips as he met Lizzy’s gaze.
“You’re too late, little hybrid.”
“What do you mean?” Her eyes roamed over the lifeless bodies, and she saw Willis, the scientist who did all of Cain’s bidding. His body was grey, and he’d obviously been dead for days.
“You thought to come in here and kill my children?” The vampire laughed sardonically. “Yes, you’ve gotten a few. But the rest…” He made a sweeping motion with his arm. “They’re free. While you’re in here trying to cut off the snake’s head, I’ve released my most vicious hybrids into the world. They will sniff out any dormants and turn them. There’s no stopping it. The change from a hybrid’s bite takes only minutes. And they can walk in the daylight. They can control their hunger. They are the best of both species.”
He sounded like a proud dad spouting off all the amazing things about his children. Lizzy saw the deranged look of a psychopath in his eyes.
“Why didn’t you go with them?” Fane asked.
They each moved farther into the room. Lizzy kicked legs out of the way and tried not to gag.
