Scanning the entire room in the space of a single blink, he let his anger and rage consume him. Stephen held Riley against him, and her head lolled to one side, exposing her bloody neck. Chains wrapped around her torso, pinning her arms, but still allowing her to struggle weakly.
They wanted her afraid. Terrified. Wanted to feel their prey try to fight. And fail. Her red sweater was ripped clear in two, exposing the pale swell of her breasts and her flat stomach.
Patrick writhed on the floor in front of Stephen and Riley, his hands black, his face blotchy. Rolling onto his side, he vomited thick, black sludge.
The third vampire streaked towards Declan, but he was young, and was no match for Declan’s speed. Leaping over Patrick, Declan wrenched Riley out of Stephen’s arms and kicked the vampire in the solar plexus to send him flying against the wall.
The sound of the gunshot in the small space threatened to burst his eardrums, and his side started to burn as Riley whimpered in his arms. The scent of her blood—fresh blood—enraged him further, until another smell registered. His blood. Fuck.
Whirling around, he came face-to-face with a group of three Hunters. The tallest of the three aimed a pistol at Declan’s chest, while the other two had bows fitted with silver and wood arrows.
“Put the woman down,” the leader growled. “I’m a bloody good shot, mate.”
“You’re only human.” Crushing Riley against him, Declan spun away as the Hunter fired a second time. This one missed him by a meter, and he dove behind a heavy metal table.
The other two vampires still on their feet flanked the Hunters, but Patrick only begged for help, his voice weakening as arrows and shots flew.
He had to get out of here with the precious cargo in his arms. Grabbing the chain, he snapped it in half, unwound it from her thin frame and then looped it three times around his hand before tightening his grip enough he practically fused the links together.
Riley coughed and made a small, pained sound. “Who…?”
“Shhh,acushla. I will get you out of here. Do not fight me.”
She blinked up at him, desperately trying to focus. “You…I…know…you…”
“Close your eyes, luv.” He did not want her to witness the next few moments. Tossing her over his shoulder, he clamped his arm around her thighs, sprang up, and with a roar, headed for the fray.
The chain found its mark time and time again, slamming across the back of one Hunter, tangling Stephen’s legs and wrapping around Michael’s neck. As Declan reached the door, Patrick grabbed a fallen Hunter and sank his fangs into the man’s neck.
The Hunter cried out, begging for help, and Declan growled out an oath. Patrick didn’t deserve to live. Even if the Hunter did want Declan dead.
Backtracking, he kicked Patrick in the skull, denting the vamp’s temple, then met the Hunter’s gaze. “Kill that one for me, will ya’, mate? You bein’ such a bloody good shot and all.”
As he raced up the long hallway to freedom, he heard the pistol, then Patrick’s death rattle. Fitting.
Blood soaked into his shoulder from Riley’s side, and he cursed. He had to get her back to his castle. Now.
