“He’s a shifter.” The way he said it, with a sneer, said a lot about him.
“Nicolono isn’t a leader. He’s strong, but selfish, like a child. I’m taking my chances with the shifters. And you should too if you want to live past next week.” The dark-haired vampire was smart. Maybe too smart, but Bennett decided to let Ramsey handle him.
Edward flashed his teeth at the other vampire and the guy didn’t even hesitate as he pushed the sword through. Edward’s eyes widened right before he gurgled. When he was done, he pulled the sword out and sheathed it.
He turned and held up his hands again. “My name is Angel. Nicolono handled the whole situation with the witch with pointless violence. I want to help you get out of here.”
“I know your leader is keeping at least one shifter. I can smell a dragon,” Ramsey said.
Bennett could tell Ramsey didn’t trust Angel.
“That way. There’s a hidden basement area in the stables. He’s been down there for a long time, even before I came.”
“Why haven’t you released him?”
“I’ve tried, but he blows fire at me every time I get close. He couldn’t shift. Thanks to Nicolono’s wife. That might have changed since your witch arrived, though. He erased all the damage Silvia did. She’s a mean bitch and Nicolono let her have her way until it became inconvenient for him.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Just a few years.” For a paranormal a few years could equate to fifty. “I trusted Nicolono at first, but he lost that trust along the way. I’ll show you where the dragon is. Maybe he’ll calm down for shifters. I’ll help you get the human out of there too. They’ll kill him if we don’t.” Angel led them around the side of the house.
Bennett heard Gabriel growl and completely understood. Even though Gabriel didn’t want a mate his instinct would be to keep him safe.
“Ramsey, I have to get Lucas to Mom. He’s bad, man.” Bennett held Lucas even closer, rubbing his cheek in Lucas’ hair. He felt Lucas take a deep breath and then sigh. It was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.
Ramsey looked from Angel to Gabriel and then back again. “Don’t fuck with us or I’ll kill you.”
Instead of answering, Angel bared his neck to Ramsey in a sign of submission. The fact that a vampire was submitting to a shifter was unheard of and Angel did it, without reservation.
“I grew up around shifters. I have no problem calling you Alpha.”
Ramsey nodded and then turned to Bennett. “Go to the plane. Tell Vaughan to take off.”
Bennett shifted and took off through the treetops.
Bennett could feel Lucas slipping a little bit more with each second that went by. “No, baby.” Bennett kissed Lucas’ cheek. He sat with him on his lap on the plane. “I love you, baby. Please, don’tleave me.”
“When he was in the cell, he seemed to get stronger when he was taking Silvia’s power. I noticed he sort of glowed when he did that. Well, I noticed it after he fixed my leg. Couldn’t focus on much through that pain.” Sage wrung his hands together.
Bennett reached up and felt the mating mark on his neck. He remembered the teeth Lucas had gotten when they’d bonded and wondered how he’d done that. And Lucas’ senses had become a lot more intense after they’d mated.
Bennett shifted his teeth and pierced his wrist, bringing the wound up to Lucas’ mouth. “Can’t hurt, right?”
“Whatever brings him back or at least sustains him enough until we can get him to Estelle,” Sage said, surprising Bennett. He admitted he didn’t know the snake shifter very well, but he had a feeling Sage would be hanging out at his house a lot.
It seemed Lucas had gained a new best friend.
You have to be okay. Do you hear me?
“Who’s Estelle?” Jules asked. Vaughan had given the poor guy clothes. They were too big, making him appear younger than he already seemed.
“How old are you?”
“Nineteen.”
Fuck, he was young. “Estelle’s my mother. She’s a witch.”
“Like Lucas?”
