Page 51 of Bite of Vengeance
“Halfway to the garage,” Viggo muttered, his eyes darting around. “I’m surprised. The Shadows are holding their own better than I thought. You haven’t been here for more than two months.”
“Yourlovelybrother has been training us for years,” Rya’s voice dripped with disdain. “Even if we didn’t listen to him, we remember what he taught us.”
Viggo pursed his lips, shooting her an annoyed look before he leaned closer to me. “I’ll meet you in the garage. The keys should be in all the vehicles.”
“Where are you going?”
“You want Zan to find us, don’t you?” he asked under his breath. “I have to go make sure that happens.”
That wasn’t an explanation, but he didn’t elaborate before he strode away, pushing through the bodies until I lost sight of him. Rya took his spot, linking her arm with mine as we jogged through the massive house. My heart pounded against my ribs no matter how hard I tried to control it. My fear wasn’t from the vampires who were dropping around me. Or from not knowing what would happen once I left this property.
It was terrifying to know that Amaros wasn’t just going to let this go.Let me go.I was sure it wouldn’t take long for him to realize that his sons turned against him. What would he do? Kill them? A month ago, that thought never would have crossed my mind. But seeing how Amaros entranced Zan to get his way, proved that his sons weren’t what he cared about most. He wanted to claim power over the humans more than anything.
“Which way?” Rya asked.
I pointed straight. “The doors are past the rotunda.”
“You’re sure?”
I nodded. I remembered the first day I came here and Zan parked in the garage. Back then, I’d been memorizing everything in case I had a chance to sneak out. I never would have guessed I’d be leaving with hundreds of Shadows at my side.
An agonized scream tore through the air, and I glanced to the side as two Shadows tore into a vampire. Red blood splattered on the wall, staining the exquisite art. The Shadows who weren’t fighting were taking the time to destroy anything in their path.
“Can you feel it?” Rya whispered, leaning closer. “The excitement? Thevengeance?”
A rush shot through my veins. “I can feel it. But this isn’t just about getting revenge. It’s to take down Amaros.”
“I know.” A cruel grin played on her lips. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun while we do it.”
“Look out,” a Shadow yelled.
The rotunda doors flew open, and vampires flowed out, some armed with guns. I ducked when bullets began firing in our direction. I grasped Rya’s hand before sprinting past them, tugging her down the hall that led to the garage. Most of the Shadows fell behind to keep the vampires from following.
Ripping open the door, relief trickled through me when I laid eyes on all the vehicles. I recognized a few that PARA used for their convoys, which could hold at least twenty bodies. There were enough that half of us could go in them.
“No one is in here,” Rya whispered. “They’re all fighting in the house.”
“Good. Let’s get what we can from the armory.”
I scanned the room as we walked between the vehicles, looking for the armory door. I finally spotted it and crept closer, surprise filtering through me that there was no lock on it. But then, why would there be? The property was full of vampires who were loyal to Amaros. He was arrogant enough to believe that no one would use his own weapons against him.
I attempted to throw my hearing to keep up with what was happening in the house, and it took more concentration than I was expecting. Maybe that was why I didn’t hear the vampire creeping behind us until a shot rang out. Rya slumped to the floor, her black blood seeping out of the bullet wound on the side of her head.
I whirled around, seeing Jasper darting behind a truck. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I raced after him.
“You think you can betray Amaros?” he shouted. “You’ll learn how we deal with traitors.”
“Come say that to my face,” I taunted, trying to spot him.
Blowing out a long breath, I concentrated until I could hear his heart thumping. But this room was massive, and while I could hear him, I had no idea how to follow it and find him. Itwas a skill I’d have to learn, and it didn’t help me now. All I needed to do was get close enough to entrance him.
Another loud bang rang in my ears, and suddenly there was a searing pain flaring up my side. Gritting my teeth, I pressed my hand to the wound, stumbling the next couple steps. The pain traveled, making every cell in my body burn. I choked out breaths, my lungs constricting.
“These new bullets that we took from PARA are laced with hawthorn,” Jasper stated when he stepped into view. “Smart of them. Look how fast it brought you down.”
I fell to my knees, fear lighting through me when he sauntered closer, his eyes gleaming with cruel triumph. This pain was far worse than when the hawthorn was shedding from my tattoo. Zan popped into my head as I remembered how he took the pain away last time. He wasn’t here to help me this time.
Blood gushed from the bullet wound, and there was a black puddle beneath me. Jasper stepped in front of me, raising his arm. He backhanded me across the face with enough power to knock me to the floor. I caught myself on my bloodied hands, letting out a cry when he kicked me in the ribs, causing the wound to open even more.
