I nodded, taking the lead. It was testament to how hurt he was that Liam let me.
Cautiously, we made our way through Easton, pausing every now and then to seek cover when hunters got too close.
I hadn’t been far off earlier when I said it felt like they’d brought an army. With their numbers, they’d created an effective web over the area, making it almost impossible to escape as they slowly closed it around us.
To make things more complicated they’d had time to adapt to the sentinel’s presence and were now using military tactics to begin clearing the streets.
If it continued like this, we might not have any choice but to fight our way out.
Liam and I took shelter in a recessed doorway near a planter that had a spiral-looking tree. We hid behind it as another group of hunters moved onto our street.
“The male vampire is injured. They couldn’t have gotten far,” a voice said over one of their radios.
“Fourth quadrant is clear.”
“Third as well.”
“The perimeter is locked down. There’s no way they’re getting out of here without our snipers seeing them.”
Liam sagged, his legs losing strength. I caught him before he could fall, lowering him silently to the ground.
“Groups one and four will engage the sentinel. The rest of you keep searching for the blood suckers. You heard the council member. If we bring him their heads, he will give us his blood to induct us into the ranks of the hunter born.”
I didn’t find it surprising that Vitus had recruited some of these humans by promising them something they were desperate for. Though it was interesting to hear what that thing was, since I was pretty sure becoming a hunter born didn’t work that way.
It was there in the name. Hunter. Born.
“Stay here,” I whispered as the hunters closed in on our position.
Liam caught my hand as I started to straighten. “No, I’m fine.”
“You’re not.
When exposed to light, silver nitrate oxidized, turning a dark gray or black. I didn’t think it was a good sign that Liam was beginning to bleed black blood. While his age might protect him for a little while, it wouldn’t be enough. Every pump of his heart spread that poison farther.
I cupped his face as I pressed a kiss to his lips. “You’re not the only one afraid of losing someone.” I let him go to tug up the hem of my shirt, exposing my appendix holster and the gun I’d brought in case of a situation like this. My Sig P365, was smaller and less conspicuous than my normal weapon, but it would work just fine against humans. “Besides, one of us had the foresight to come armed.”
Liam’s laugh changed to a grimace of pain. “Of course, you did.”
“Never go anywhere without it is my motto.”
A gun might be largely ineffective against the heavy hitters of the spook world, but it was better than nothing. If nothing else, it was excellent in causing distractions—or pissing someone off.
You’d be surprised how helpful that second could be in the right circumstance.
I sent Liam a wink. “I told you my pea shooter would come in handy one day.”
Though I never expected that day to be today. Or for me to be using it against humans.
I peeked around our spiral tree, unsurprised to find the hunters had spread out to sweep the street in search of us. Definitely a sign of military training. Someone in their ranks must have served. They were professional as they cleared the corners.
I drew back behind my cover, dropping my magazine and checking how many rounds I had before reinserting it and chambering a round.
I wouldn’t get a lot of time. The second I started shooting it would draw nearby hunters to our position. We’d have mere moments to make our escape.
Two on the left. Two on the right.
The ground shook as the monster from the next street over did something that was followed by screams.
