Blair cries out for Kane.
And as the only one of us with less to lose, I step in front of my brothers and their mates and ready myself for a fight. I’ll die if I have to—but they won’t. Their mates won’t.
I refuse to let that happen.
I’m on the first man quickly, taking him by surprise as I force him to the floor and put my knee to his neck, ready to break it. Blair screams, but before I can execute, I’m stopped by a blinding light in my eyes and a pulsing pain in my chest.
Fuuuuuck!
I’m not just weak—I’m practically paralyzed.
“Cal!” Kane shouts, charging toward me until he’s forced to hit his knees as well.
“Don’t!” I croak, trying to warn Rook as he tenses with offense.
The pain is all-consuming, and I look down at my limbs to make sure they aren’t being ripped from my body. Kane isn’t any better—he’s on the floor beside me, his jaw clenched and a vein popping from the center of his forehead.
“Kane! Oh my God, Kane!” Blair screams for him again.
“No, baby!” Kane says through gritted teeth. “Stay there, Blair!”
The pain rips through every cell in my body as Lucian casually moves toward me, nonchalantly stepping over the vamp I just took to the floor.
I scuttle back, trying to put distance between us, but he just stands there looking down at Kane, adjusting the sleeves of his black suit jacket with a smile.
In the light of the cabin, I can see him more clearly now and, though older, his features are still bright and sharp with youth. His green eyes radiate, and I know instantly that he’s the one responsible for our current pain.
“Stop!” Rook demands from behind me, his bark almost as fucking intimidating as his bite.
Lucian’s smile only deepens.
“Don’t, Rook!” I croak, holding the weight in my chest with all the strength I have. It feels like it could smother me—and I don’t even need fucking air.
Yep. We’re fucked.
Eventually, though, Lucian sighs. “But perhaps, more appropriate for this occasion…” He pauses and looks around the room at the vampires who are prepared to finish us off. “Gentlemen, please. If you’d leave us for a moment?”
They all retreat quickly, obviously at Lucian’s discretion for orders. I don’t know if they’re gofers or protection detail, but I can tell from the way my chest fucking cracks, this fucker doesn’t need either to get his point across.
As the last of the guys leaves the room, a vampire the size of a bear knocks a picture frame of the three of us as kids off the wall. It shatters when it hits the hardwood floor.
Lucian sighs again, and before I know it, the man is across the room with his throat in Lucian’s hand. “What did I say about unnecessary childishness, Lexor?”
“I’m sorry, Lucian,” the big fucker rushes to apologize. “I’m sorry!”
But sorry isn’t good enough, and in a matter of half a second, he’s no more than a pile of bones on the floor.
Both Blair and Kylie gasp behind me.
“Sorry, ladies,” Lucian says, dusting off his hands and stepping over what used to be Lexor, and then he waves a lazy hand toward Kane and me.
Instantly, the pain releases its choke hold on my body.
Both Kane and I struggle to get to our feet, and Blair rushes over to him before he can stop her. He wraps his arm around her shoulder protectively, and I don’t hesitate to meet the vice president of the Elite Council with every bit of aggression he deserves.
“All right,Lucian Wrath. We get it. You’re more powerful than we can even imagine. You’ve had your fun showing off, so let’s get down to business. What’s going to happen to us?”
He nods, a shine of pride radiating from his eyes. “Oh, Calloway. I knew you’d be tough. Your mother was strong too.”
