The tunnel suddenly opened into a vast natural chamber. Countless torches lined the walls, flickering light illuminating the entire space. Then I saw him.
Kai—tied to a stone pillar in the center. His little face deathly pale. Eyes red and swollen.
"Mommy!" He saw me and cried harder.
I started toward him—
A ring of vampires emerged from the shadows, surrounding Kai. A dozen. Maybe more. They grinned, fangs bared, eyes glowing red in the firelight.
And Drake.
He stood beside Kai, leaning on his cane, wearing a false smile.
"Layla Gray." He spoke like reciting poetry. "You came."
Evan and the other warriors burst in, raising guns at the vampires.
"Let him go!" I aimed my gun at Drake's head. "Or I'll kill you right now!"
"Kill me?" Drake laughed. "You're welcome to try, but before you pull that trigger..."
He tapped his cane on the ground. The vampires lunged at us simultaneously.
"Fire!" Evan roared.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunfire thundered in the enclosed space. Bullets tore through the air, hitting the charging vampires. One, two, three... but there were too many.
"Shift!" Evan shouted as his body began changing. Bones cracking. Power surging beneath skin. Gray fur erupted across his body. Claws lengthened. Fangs emerged. The other warriors followed suit, becoming wolves, fighting in the firelight.
Two warriors shielded me, but my eyes never left Kai.
I had to save him.
I had to.
A vampire broke through the line and lunged at me. Instinct—I raised the gun—
Bang!
The bullet punched through its chest. It shrieked and fell.
My hand trembled. Recoil numbed my wrist. But I'd done it. I'd hit it.
"Miss Ross, fall back!" a warrior yelled, blocking me.
The fight intensified. Claws against claws. Fangs tearing flesh. Blood—black, red—pooling on the ground.
I strained to see Kai.
Evan fought three vampires, moving like lightning, each strike lethal. But there were too many. He was getting injured. The other warriors struggled too. We were outnumbered.
Then a massive shadow emerged from the endless tide of vampires. A gray wolf, larger than the others. But its movements were sluggish. Eyes clouded.
Drake. He'd shifted.
"Let's see," he transmitted through the wolves' mental link, "what makes Kayden's second-in-command so special."
He lunged at Evan. Evan sensed Drake's movement and tried to dodge, but the vampires swarmed like locusts, pinning him down. Drake's paw slammed into Evan, hurling him against the wall. Evan let out a pained howl and collapsed.
