“We’ll need those. How many do you have?”
“Eleven.”
Ronan glanced at the tunnels again before returning his attention to Elijah. “Give me seven of them.”
Elijah knelt and, opening his briefcase, started pulling grenades out. Saxon kept his eyes on the shadows of the tunnel as he waited for something to rush out at them. Had the bombs scared them off and the Savages were all fleeing? Or were they regrouping and plotting?
“Do you have enough explosives to blow off more doors if necessary?” Ronan asked Elijah.
“Enough for one more,” he replied.
“That will have to do. Saxon, Declan, Lucien, and Killean, take these.”
Ronan handed one to the others and two to him. The two bombs were small in his hands, but he didn’t doubt they could tear him apart if they went off.
Ronan turned to Nathan. “Take all the others above. Once there, split up and try to follow these tunnels the best you can from aboveground. I’m hoping when these explosions go off, you’ll be able to locate the other exits. You may not be able to get inside, but hopefully, they’ll come out.”
Nathan grinned at him. “And what the sun and bombs don’t kill, we will. Do you plan to stay down here?”
“Someone has to set these things off,” Ronan said and lifted the grenade in his hand. “If those exit doors open, drop the remaining grenades into them.”
“We will.” Nathan clapped Ronan on the shoulder. “Stay safe.”
“You too, and when this is over, we’re going to train a few more in the use of explosives.”
“Agreed,” Nathan said.
Elijah closed his briefcase and rose. “Should I show you how to use the grenades?”
“Yes,” Ronan said.
They gathered close as Elijah gave them a crash course on the weapons. Saxon held the grenades like they were eggs as Elijah stepped away. When the hunter finished speaking, Saxon detected the first shuffle of sound in one of the tunnels.
“Go,” Ronan commanded Nathan. “And go fast.”
Nathan didn’t look back as he ran through the group clustered within. After he passed, the others all turned to follow him out of the tunnel until they vanished into the shadows. Saxon listened to the sound of their fading footsteps as, within the other shafts, red and white-blue eyes appeared in the darkness.
“Hold off until I give the command,” Ronan said. “Give the others a chance to get out of here before throwing these things. Saxon take the tunnel to the left, Killean the one after that, then Lucien and Declan. Throw whatever you’re holding down them and get your asses back here.” He held the grenade in his hand up. “This last one is for this room. We’ll burn this place to the ground.”
* * *
“He has to feed,”Kadence said as Logan lunged at the SUV.
“He does,” Saber agreed. “I’ll handle it.”
“How?” Kadence demanded.
Saber moved so fast Elyse didn’t register that he hit Logan until his head snapped to the side and he crumpled like his bones were torn from his body. Kadence and Simone gawked at Logan’s limp form before turning scathing glares on Saber, who shrugged.
“Now he’ll sleep for a few more hours.” Saber turned and knocked on the window even though she was staring at him. “Get out. I have to go.”
Elyse fumbled with the lock before shoving the door open and stepping out. “Take him over to one of the other cabins, Duncan. Tie him up and put three guards on him. I’ll be back with some food soon.”
Elyse tried not to picture what that food was, but it was too late, and all she could imagine was a group of women lining up like cattle for the slaughter. Saber didn’t look at them as he climbed into the SUV, closed the door, and started the vehicle. Dirt crunched under the tires as Saber turned around in the drive.
When Duncan bent and lifted Logan, Elyse edged away from them. She’d seen Logan go down like a ton of bricks, but she didn’t trust the unconscious vamp to stay that way. She’d seen how fast Saxon healed.
“It’s okay,” Kadence said as she rested her hand on Elyse’s arm. “We won’t let him near you, and there are plenty of guards here to keep him under control. We weren’t prepared for him to wake so soon, but we’re ready for him now.”
