In a futile attempt, I tried to wrench my wrist—the one wearing the gold bracelet that would call for backup—out of his grasp, but the vampire was too strong.
His breath was hot against my neck when I realized it was too late. He was going to change me.
“See you in three days, sweetheart,” the vampire breathed.
I closed my eyes and released a scream as his lips brushed my skin.
Then, suddenly, ash filled my mouth, and I began to cough.
“Get up! There’s one more left!” Diana commanded.
My eyes flew open to find Diana standing over me, her stake gripped in her hand.
She’d saved me.
“Th—th—thank you,” I stammered.
“Whatever. Get up. I—Agh!”
She loosed a horrendous wail as the third vampire flew at her from behind and latched onto her neck.
Chapter Forty-Two
Imoved on autopilot, rolling toward my stake. As soon as it was in my hand, I turned to face the last vampire.
My stomach fell to my knees. Only seconds had passed, but all the blood from Diana’s face seemed to have already drained out, and she hung lifeless in the vampire’s grasp.
His vibrant, blood-red eyes bore into me, narrowed and appraising. Then he broke his latch on Diana’s neck, and smiled. “Ahh, it’s been ages since I had a witch. This one’s as good as I remembered. A pity she’s thin and there’s little blood. I’m already nearly finished.”
Diana moaned, and I took a step forward.
The vampire held out his palm. “I wouldn’t come any closer. Not if you want your friend’s body to be presentable at her funeral.” He tilted his head. “Which is rapidly approaching. You’d be smart to save yourself, witchling.”
Shit.Do I risk it and stake him? Or . . .
My heart skipped a beat as the truth came crashing down. There was no other choice. The vamp would injure or kill her either way.
I flew into motion, sprinting toward the vampire. If I hadn’t been watching him so closely, I would not have caught the infinitesimal widening of his eyes. He hadn’t expected me to fight. He’d expected me to leave Diana and run the other way.
My mind worked wildly, hoping that meant he would run if he was attacked.
I flung my hands forward and loosed a hailstorm of magic. As I’d hoped, the vampire dropped Diana to the ground, turned tail, and sprinted away.
But I was one step ahead of him. Another shot of fuchsia power soared over Diana, past the vampire, and formed a wall in front of him. He collided straight into it and staggered backward, disoriented for the moment.
A moment was all I needed. I willed my magic back to me, and it formed a net, scooping the vampire up and hurtling him toward me.
Straight into my stake.
I’d barely wiped the ash from my eyes when Diana moaned.
Crap! I have to get us out of here.
I placed a shield around Diana, and turned to the passed out human. I couldn’t just leave her here. Our mission wasn’t over. We had to save her.
“Home . . .”
Another of Diana’s moans cut through me, and I realized she was right. There was only one place we could safely go, andallof us would go there, whether it was against the rules or not.
