Talen nodded and turned again for the entrance, pausing at the top step. “Watch your head.”
“I know.” Zane held a gun in one hand and a blade in the other. Truth be told, he preferred the blade for fighting. “I’ve got your back. Go.”
Talen immediately jogged down the stairs toward blackness darker than any night. Silver flashed, and Zane rushed him, knocking him into concrete blocks that made up the walls. The Degoller Star ripped into the concrete wall. They crashed to the rough stone steps. A slicing pain ripped through Zane’s neck from a spinning Degoller Star, and he kept hold of Talen’s shoulders while they plunged end over end down the hard stone. Zane grunted with each abusing impact.
Finally, they reached the bottom, and Talen swept a flashlight wide. Nothing. “Thanks,” he muttered, grabbing Zane’s arms to drag him up.
“No problem.” Zane cleared his throat.
Talen stiffened. “I smell blood.” He focused the light on Zane. “Shit.”
Zane reached up to cover his neck. “The wound isn’t deep.” Well, except his head felt like it might fall off his body, and his vision wavered.
The light disappeared, and the sound of tearing fabric filled the small cavern. Talen wrapped the sleeve of his T-shirt around Zane’s neck and pulled tight. Zane fought not to wince.
“Go above and get medical help,” Talen ordered.
“No. This ends now.” Zane pushed the vampire aside and ducked low, heading into smoke. A strong hand grabbed the back of his vest, and he was yanked behind Talen.
“Stay behind me, jugular injury,” Talen muttered just as three Kurjans poured out of a far doorway. “Fight back-to-back.”
Zane gripped his blade and jumped into the fray.
More vampire soldiers filled the steps behind them. Shouts of pain echoed in the distance, and an explosion rocked through the underground labyrinth. The soldiers from the ocean must’ve breached the cliffs.
Zane fought hard, keeping his head low and watching for any spinning silver discs. He and Talen slowly made their way through the Kurjan headquarters, finally reaching an elaborate hallway lined with priceless oil paintings and burnished antiques.
“Go left,” Talen ordered, turning to the right. “If you sight Kalin, detail his location.”
Zane nodded and forged down the plush red carpet, sweeping his gun wide, the hair rising down his neck along with fresh blood. The first doorway, of heavy metal, all but vibrated with the energy flowing through it. Kalin. Drawing in a deep breath of smoke and blood-scented air, Zane gathered his strength and kicked open the door.
He immediately dropped, rolled, and came up firing.
A hard body tackled him, and they crashed into a desk, sending splinters of wood flying. Zane’s gun spun out of his hands. He punched out, hitting flesh, and back-flipped to his feet.
Kalin slowly stood, blood dripping down his white chin. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Here I am.” Zane circled around the richly appointed office. One entire wall looked into the dark and fathomless ocean, and he fleetingly wondered how far down they were. All pain, all concern, dissipated. “I’m surprised you didn’t meet the fight up above.”
Kalin hissed, his eyes churning greenish purple. “I figured the fight would come to me.”
“You figured right.” The fight raged closer outside, and a battle shriek echoed through the walls.
Kalin nodded toward Zane’s makeshift bandage. “Looks like you weren’t quick enough to duck.”
“Fucking coward, using stars.” Zane crouched and attacked, drawing his knife from his boot and slashing across Kalin’s neck. Blood arced gracefully through the air, burning Zane’s chin.
A double-edged pain slashed into his abdomen, just under his vest.
He gasped and punched Kalin’s forearm, which pulled the knife out of Zane’s gut. He growled and sent healing cells to the area. The Kurjan had height and reach on Zane, but Zane had speed and muscle. Time to use his demon side, which he’d never thought he’d do. But to protect his woman, he’d do anything. Zane focused a mental attack at his enemy while drawing out his other knife. Silver flashed in both his hands.
Kalin’s head jerked back, and he growled.
Then heavy shields shoved back against Zane’s brain. “Not bad,” he said.
“I’ve been practicing.” Kalin yanked a gun from the back of his waistband.
Zane ducked low and moved in, hitting the Kurjan at his center and driving him across the room to smash into the wall. A painting of Degas nudes crashed to the ground. He increased his mental attack. Though the Kurjan could counter, he wasn’t a match for a demon.
