Bennett strides forward, a confident smile on his face, and magic meets magic in a clash of power. His eyes shift to mine briefly, and I’m startled to see how similar they are to Jamison’s. Then his attention shifts, focusing on the battle between him and Jamison.
I don’t get to watch them for long as the third vampire moves in, his red gaze locked on me.
With a flick of his hand, Jamison sends him flying back to the entrance and into the last three of the six vampires. The four smash into each other, but they’re up and moving in a microsecond.
A body falls, and my heart stops, but I quickly realize it’s one of the first vampires. Mathias’ sword slices off his head, but he doesn’t have time to rest. The other vampire doubles his efforts.
Gatlin enters, tackling one of the other vampires to the ground. The red-headed vampire shoves him off and sends him stumbling back a couple of feet. Another vampire sneaks up behind him and wraps his arms tightly around Gatlin, and I can tell he’s trying to squeeze him to death. Gatlin grunts, then his skin hardens.
A hand grips my head and pulls it back. Pain shoots up the base of my skull.Damn. While I was watching Gatlin, I forgotto track the other vampire. He looks down at me and opens his mouth. I slide a finger across his neck using the curse. His head detaches from his body. Blood squirts all over me, and I grimace, but that’s at least two down.
Magic streaks across my bicep but dissipates quickly. I dart a glance at Bennett. His head is tilted as his gaze moves from my arm to my face and back again. It’s obvious he’s trying to understand why the magic didn’t work on me.
Magic envelops me, like a thick membrane, and I brush it away. When I look at Bennett, there’s a stunned look on his face. I guess my secret’s out.
Hawthorne enters and grabs one of the vampires attacking Gatlin. A staff appears in his hand with a lethal-looking blade on each end, and he proceeds to engage in battle.
The vampire fighting Gatlin steps a bit too close, and in a swift gesture, he shifts his hand into an eagle talon and slices his head off.
Three vampires down. Three to go. Much better odds. Gatlin, Mathias, and Hawthorne split the remaining between them.
Jamison curses, turning fast beside me, but he’s too late. Air rushes from my lungs as a body slams into mine. Confused, I look up and see Bennett’s triumphant grin above me. I slam my hands on his chest and hold them there as the curse reaches inside and triggers a heart attack.
Bennett grabs his chest, and in the light, I see his mouth twist in pain. He mutters a few words, takes a deep breath, then laughs. “Good try.”
The curses aren’t foolproof. Apparently, the next one I use needs to be lethal…
All of a sudden, my chest tightens, and I press a hand to it. Sweat breaks out on my brow. Confused, I stare at him. Pain spreads from my left arm to my chest, and I realize what’s happening. He’s turned the curse against me. He laughs.
Jamison shouts in the background, and I grit my teeth and slowly turn my head to look at him. He’s pounding on air. My brow furrows. I hear another voice on the other side and glance over to see Mathias’ furious expression.
Bennett dips his head closer and licks my face. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time. I didn’t realize you’d be immune to my magic. What an exhilarating challenge.” There’s an edge of maniacal excitement to his voice.
I look past him to Gatlin, who’s staring at him with death in his eyes.
Bennett lowers his mouth to my ear. “Can you die? There’s so little information about you in this world. Scraps.” He waits for me to say something, but I’m too busy fighting not to succumb to the pain.
My heart falters, and Mathias roars.
“Interesting,” Bennett says, flicking a look over his shoulder. “I didn’t realize he’d be able to hear your heart.” He turns back to me. “I’m guessing you can’t die. After all, three thousand years is a long, long time. Certainly more than any mage will ever get.”
The world begins to darken, and I raise my hand to Bennett’s chest. “Don’t be jealous.” Twisting my wrist, the small stiletto I keep hidden springs out and slides like butter between two ribs, puncturing his lung.
His breath catches, and the magic around us wavers.
Jamison’s ready. His magic punches through the barrier like a freight train. He wraps it around Bennett and hoists him into the air.
Mathias pulls me into his arms, his hands moving frantically over my body. “I can hear your heart. It’s erratic. Stopping and starting. What’s happening?”
I stretch up and place my lips by his ear. “He turned my curse against me. Heart attack. Remember what I told you.” My heart stutters, barely beating.
Gatlin curses and shouts, “Incoming!”
I’m weak, barely able to turn my head, but it’s hard to miss the horde of uniformed vampires pouring into the space. Guards.
Jamison opens a portal and yells for everyone to retreat. Hawthorne and Gatlin move closer to him, battling to keep the new vampires from reaching us. Mathias grips me tighter.
Bennett’s magic whips out and strikes Jamison while he’s distracted. As he falls to the ground, Bennett disappears into thin air. Or so it seems. I peer into the dim light and realize it’s one of the translucent portals Harlequin uses. That must be how he got to me so fast.
