“Violet,” Cyrus warns.
“He’s not going with you,” I tell Callum, ignoring Cyrus’s warning.
“Well, this is amusing. Look at the baby vampire trying to protect you.
“Leave,” I answer.
I don’t see the movement that has me flying through the attic space. It’s not until my back slams into the brick that I realize I’ve been hit. “Teach your child some manners,” Callum warns my maker. “Next time, she will not survive.”
“We can’t allow you to take the boy,” Erick announces. His normally thick accent sounds more American than I’ve heard.
“Have you learned nothing, Erick Pembroke? You are of no consequence to me. I’ve allowed this frivolity to occur purely for entertainment purposes. I am finished, and it is time to go, son.”
I stand, wiping dust from my eyes. Callum’s long fingers wrap around Terrin’s arm, pulling him toward the window. “Tell them goodbye. You will not see them again alive.” He opens the window, and large black wings spring from his back. Holy shit…wings.
“I’m sorry, Violet,”Terrin’s voice rings through my head.“I’m not strong enough.”
“No!” I scream, racing through the attic faster than I’ve ever moved. I’m in front of Callum and Terrin a heartbeat later. Without thought, I strike the ancient vampire, leaving a bloody line in my wake.
Callum steps back and touches his cheek. The blood that covers his fingers turns his face from the handsome man he portrays to a monster. Yellow-stainedfangs protrude from his mouth, overlapping the disfigured chin below. Red eyes replace blue, and anger fills the attic.
“Leave the boy,” Cyrus says beside me.
“We will not allow you to take him,” my maker says from my other side.
Callum releases his hold on Terrin and roars, shattering the windows from their frames throughout the attic. We’ve unleashed the monster that is Callum.
Without warning, Cyrus, Simon, and Harrison are on top of the ancient vampire, each fighting for their life. Lucien wraps his arms around Terrin, pulling him away from the fight and his maker.
“Get him out of here,” I beg Lucien. He nods, raising his hands high above his head, and claps. The moment his hands make contact, both Lucien and Terrin disappear from the attic. I don’t know where they’ve gone, but I know Lucien will protect him.
“Stay back from the fight,” Erick warns, coming to my side. “You will not survive.”
“None of them will survive,” Phillipe says, joining us.
“What about Cyrus?”
Erick nods his head toward the chaos. “He made his choice.”
As quickly as the fight began, it stops. Harrison is lying on the wooden floor, covered in blood, while Cyrus’s body is crumpled near a destroyed desk, withSimon lying next to him. I don’t know what to do. What can I do?
“Where is the boy?” Callum roars. “What have you done with him?”
“The warlock took him,” Phillipe answers truthfully.
Callum’s wings stretch wide as he rips at the skin covering his chest, exposing torn flesh and bone. “How dare you!” The look in his eyes tells me none of us will leave this attic. “He’s mine!” he continues.
“We have no control over the warlock,” Erick adds. Long fingers wrap around my arm, and he slowly begins to pull me backward. He bows deeply. “We will take our leave.”
Callum roars again, collapsing part of the attic wall around us. “You will not leave until the boy is returned.”
“Violet, raise your hands in the air,”Terrin’s tiny voice says through my mind.
“What?”
“Just do it!”
I follow instructions, lifting my arms high in the air. “What are you doing?” Erick whispers.
