I turned.
Each vampire had transformed into a writhing pillar of flames.
Across the room, the tapestry protecting Charity ignited.
Caitlin grasped my hand and pulled herself up, leaning her weight against me.
As we watched, the screaming died down, until the only sound was the crackling of the flames and the charring flesh. The bodies burned, blackening at first. Then chunks of flesh dropped from the vampires’ bones only to be fully consumed before they hit the floor. Gwala was burning at a slower pace, but even his flesh was nearly devoured. His skeletal back was arched in agony.
A motion caught my eye, and I looked toward the three vampires closest to me. Their bones cracked and shriveled until they looked like nothing more than old kindling, and I decided that was going to be the extent of their destruction. But then they began to crumble into a chalky white ash.
As the bones were consumed, I turned my attention back to Cynthia and Brett, still locked in their strange embrace. Gradually, the fire she held in her palms diminished, then flickered out in a wisp of smoke.
Her body went slack, and she crumpled into Brett’s arms. Holding her close, he turned around to survey the destruction, his expression morphing from wonder to fear.
Beside me, Caitlin called out and shoved me away—her force so strong she must have used her power.
It caught me off guard, and I stumbled and turned in time to see a blackened skeleton plunge its fist through her chest.
I was unable to make sense of what I was seeing. It was too fast. Too impossible.
The creature whipped its bony arm around, flinging Caitlin free from where she’d been impaled. The force of the motion sent her body skittering across the floor. The sound of her impact with the wall filled the space.
Before I could run to her, the skeleton had turned toward me. In a blur, it rushed, speared me through my shoulder, and impaled me against the opposite wall.
Even as my eyes met his, charred flesh began to form across the bones. In less than a second, Gwala’s features were already discernable. His fangs glinted as they snapped toward my face. “You will not die, warlock. I am going to torture you for eternity.”
From over Gwala’s shoulder, I saw Brett and Schwint coming toward us. The second Brett had taken to lay Cynthia on the ground allowed Schwint to arrive first.
For a second, the skinless mass that was Gwala rose into the air, causing his claws to twist painfully in my shoulder. With a surge of power, my body expelled his impaled fist, forcing Gwala backward.
The king whipped around and smashed Schwint in the face.
Schwint’s cry of pain followed the sound of bones breaking. His wings beating furiously, he darted toward Gwala again. A golden spark swept him farther up into the air, away from the two of us.
Though Schwint cursed at Newton, I had a rush of gratitude. The fairy had saved me from watching the man I love die before my eyes.
Shoving Shane out of the way as the wolf raced toward us, Brett smashed into Gwala. They slammed into the edge of the table, the force of their impact denting the gold-and-silver structure.
Again, the vampire moved so swiftly that he seemed not to have to move, only will his desires. As Gwala lifted Brett over his head, his body continued to regenerate, his dark skin glistening with health. It was only for a moment, and then Brett burst into flames, taking Gwala’s new skin in an instant.
Even within the orb of fire, Brett wasn’t able to reposition his body in such a way that he could grasp the vampire king. The newly charred form of Gwala stepped up onto the table, lifted Brett higher into the air, and brought him down on the closest spike, impaling him through the stomach.
Brett’s fire died as the spear pierced him.
Gwala’s body began to heal once more as he loomed over Brett.
Screaming, I rushed toward the vampire. I was dimly aware of the werewolf running along beside me.
Between us and the table, the center of the room ignited in a tower of flames.
No sooner had the fire flared than it disappeared.
In its place stood a man.
Instantly, Gwala dropped to the surface of the table beside Brett’s body. For a second, I thought he’d died, then realized he was bowing.
The mountain of a man stepped toward the table, closing the distance with two massive strides. He had to be nearly eight feet tall. Long black hair hung down sun-darkened naked skin.
