“And then you would have died tonight from the spell she threw at you,” Inara finished.
While we were stuck glaring at each other, neither of us willing to relent, Deborah glanced around with uneasiness. “Maybe this topic is best saved for later.”
“Your human has a point.”
I counted to three in my head. “Let’s go then.”
I beckoned Deborah to follow me as I started for the door Chadwick had been dragging her to.
“What about the rest?” Deborah pointed at where Liam and the enforcers were battling.
As I watched, Daniel beheaded Arturas.
“I think they can handle themselves. I’ll get you to safety and then come back.”
It was clear from the look of things that they didn’t need me. Helen was almost finished with the vampires on Dominick’s side and Liam and Dominick were still fighting.
“What are you and Lowen even doing here?” I asked as we headed for the door.
“Red dress and the other arrived before that one was escorted back to your house. We figured something was up so we hopped in Deborah’s bag when they grabbed her.”
I looked up. “What about her escort? They didn’t notice the presence of two vampires?”
Inara shook her head. “We wouldn’t have either because of the spell they were wearing. You’re lucky they decided to make themselves at home in your living room. If they’d grabbed her outside, we would have missed it.”
“I’d really like to know where they got their spells,” I muttered, deciding not to tease Inara about the fact they were growing attached to my companion.
Well. Well. Well. Would you look at that? The pixies had heart after all.
“It tastes like sorcerer magic,” Inara started to say.
An explosion by the door threw all of us back.
I hit the ground hard and rolled before coming to a stop.
I groaned as my body let me know I was still alive. Coughing sounded next to me. I rolled over to find Deborah stirring. “You okay?”
She nodded, coughing again.
“Inara.” I searched the ground around me in concern. A blast like that was most dangerous to someone as small as her. The concussive force could shred her wings and cause massive internal bleeding. That was if the debris didn’t bury her.
Lowen streaked toward us, his face a mask of terror for his consort. “Inara!”
A tiny moan a few feet away grabbed my attention as figures clad in black spilled into the room from all sides. They fired at Daniel and Eric.
Daniel went down with a roar.
Eric dashed behind cover, Liam doing the same as Dominick laughed.
“Stay down,” I ordered Deborah.
In the dust, I caught a speck of blue. Inara.
I scooped her up, assessing her injuries at a glance. She was conscious but one of her wings was bent at an unnatural angle with the membrane containing several jagged holes.
Despite the pain on her face, Inara’s glare was still ferocious.
Lowen landed on my shoulder, his attention on his consort. “Oh, thank all the gods. You’re alive.”
