‘Then she’ll never know where I hid it,’ I said.“It” was buried in my pockets again, drained of all value, but he didn’t have to know that.
‘We can get more blood out of him,’ Randal said, jerking his head towards Raleigh.‘It’s your insolence she’ll punish.’
‘You stole my vial?’Raleigh choked.
‘She can’t control you without it.’I kept my gaze levelled at Randal, trying to read his next move.
Elif laughed shrilly.‘What on earth are you talking about?’
I spun to her, confused, but before I could clarify, something whistled past my ear and lodged itself in Elif’s chest.Moira pushed through the doorway, a blazing beacon of death, already reloadingthe next shot into a crossbow without waiting to see if the bolt had hit its mark.
Elif collapsed, screaming as Moira approached.She clawed with one hand at the rapidly gaping chasm where her heart used to be as she dragged herself across the floor with her other, jaw stretched wide to bite down on Moira’s leg.
‘Nice try,’ Moira said, and unloaded the second bolt right between her eyes.
Elif exploded into a cloud of ash before she had the chance to know what had happened.
Face devoid of emotion, Moira kicked the dust off her feet.‘Is that the only—Raleigh.’Moira scrambled for another bolt but found the pouch empty.She threw the crossbow aside, fumbling at her belt for another weapon.
Without hesitation, Randal threw Raleigh at her.They fell to the ground in a heap.Moira immediately rolled over to put herself between Raleigh and Randal, but as she tried to stand she swayed, then fell.She was breathing heavily, skin deathly pale.
Randal scoffed.‘Is this your army, Raleigh?From the way Lukas spoke I thought at least one of you could fight.’
‘Is that what your friend would say?’I asked, brushing a stray flake of ash from my nightgown.
Randal turned slowly to me.Good.I needed his attention off Moira.She shouldn’t have been fighting in her condition; neither of us should have been.But I needed her to do just one more thing.
‘Elif didn’t havefriends.’He took a step towards me.‘You did us all a favour killing that one.’
I thrust out my dagger – hilt upwards – to ward off his approach.
He stopped abruptly, eye twitching.‘Do you really think you can fight me, human?’
I stepped to the side, making him turn so that his back was toRaleigh and Moira.Moira picked herself up and this time managed to stay upright.
‘Let’s find out.’I lashed out with my dagger, no longer caring that I was grossly outmatched.
He knocked my hand aside.‘Is that the best you can do?’
‘I’m not the one you’re fighting,’ I said.
‘Wha—’ He couldn’t finish his question.His eyes bulged, mouth falling open, blood welling up from his throat.I pulled myself free, staggering out of range as Moira pulled her stake out of his back.Randal’s final curse was silenced as his body crumbled, his malice fading to ash with him.
A syrupy silence fell over us.The room was in utter disarray: the walls were cracked and crumbling.Ash covered the floors like the aftermath of a volcanic explosion.
‘Are there more?’Raleigh asked, picking himself off the ground.
‘There were three downstairs looking for Clara.All dead now.’
‘Good,’ Raleigh said.‘And Enrique?’
‘Downstairs with the surviving guests.’Moira touched her bandage and flexed her neck, wincing with pain.You’ll have to hypnotise them.They think you brought the vampires here.’
Raleigh sighed.‘Let’s get this over with.’
Downstairs was a throng of panicked energy.The floor was a mess of blood and ash, the surviving humans frantic and fearful.There were eight in total.I didn’t know how many guests there had been to start with, but with the inn fully booked I knew it must have been a lot more than eight.
Whatever fear the guests were feeling before we entered was nothing compared to their sheer terror when the Prince of Rostenburg walked in.If they hadn’t recognised him before, they certainly did now.He held his chin high, his eyes narrowed and cold.Every movement sparkled with choreographed elegance.
