“Not a single one left, Kade,” she promises me, looping the stake belt across her torso.
I hear the chaos of blades erupt and open the bedroom door to hissing and Hunters yelling at the base of the stairs.
Sounds like Riot and the boys have their hands full already.
Grace positions herself at the top of the stairs, crossbow aimed below as I launch over the railing, my feet landing in a whisper onto the floorboards.
There are three ways to kill a vampire.
My blades swipe through the air, crossing in front of me to sever the neck of my enemy. Cold blood races down my wrists and sprays through the air, and the vampire’s head rolls away and onto Grace’s favorite rug.
First way.
Before I turn, a vamp snaps into existence in front of me, materializing out of nowhere with its telltale flitting movement, and I plunge my knife into its throat to pin the creature in place. Tossing my other blade in the air to free my hand, I snatch a stake from my belt, stab the wood into its heart, and splay my palm for my airborne blade, its hilt landing back in my grip. The vampire gurgles, and its eyes flash red, its anger and sorrow emanating. My magic simmers with approval as the ancient being shrivels and crunches, collapsing into a heap.
Second way.
I spin, Hunters fighting hard throughout the house, sensing all of my warriors through our magic.
Sam takes the head off a vampire with his broadsword as Riot throws the fire canister to me with one hand and stakes an intruder with the other. Grace’s bolt takes down the vampire behind that one.
There’s an entire fucking coven here tonight.
I snatch the canister from the air as Riot stomps on the vamp he’s pinned to the ground, the force of his boot crushing its neck before he slices off its head with his sword.
“Behind you,” Grace warns from atop the stairs, and I spin, flipping the switch on the canister and aiming the nozzle at my attacker.
Fire blazes and swallows the vampire, its screams shredding the silence of the night. Its body sizzles and sparks, burning and coiling until ash rains.
Third way.
Before I breathe, five more close in. And then another five, their striking faces taunting us with confident grins and elongated fangs.
This is an orchestrated attack. We haven’t seen this before—usually it’s just one, or a handful, hunting their next meal.
The first two attack in a blink, snapping into existence a breath from me. I slash through both necks before they’ve even fully materialized, my Hunter speed untraceable.
Spinning, I take the next two at my back, blades swiping, cutting through the foulness that captures and tortures our people.
My jaw absorbs a hit from the side, and my magic surges, sensing the speed of this vamp. We trade several blows before I gain an opening and shove its chest, my strength punching it back as my fingers jam into its eyes.
It stumbles, and I throw a stake into its heart before it has a chance to recover.
That one was trained—also not something we’ve had to deal with in Southend.
I’m a flurry of limbs as I kill the remaining three near the fireplace, Riot working his side of the room. Sam and Rhett fight hard in the kitchen now, plugging the funnel of vampires coming in through the back door. Two more Hunters defend the stairs, an impenetrable barrier between our enemy and their Heir on the balcony above. And the rest are spread about the first floor, moving with precision. The leader I’ve worked to become blooms with pride.
I sense every movement of my Hunters—the Captain’s advantage. I know their actions like I’m reading a battle map and the status of their bodies. Our magic connects us on a visceral level.
The last vampire goes down under my knee, adhered to the floor with my strength, its beady eyes searching my face.
“Hunter, your time is almost up,” it whispers.
My lips stretch over bloodied gums. “I can say the same for you. Last words, asshole?”
A tear slides down its cheek. “My name was Kyle.”
My mouth parts at the confession, and I slowly push the stake into its heart. Sometimes it’s difficult to consider every vampire my enemy; they were all human once. With names and lives, loved ones, and dreams. Just like us.
