Page 109 of Let Sleeping Vampires Lie

The host cleared his throat, asserting control again. “Forty-five million. Going once.”

The air in the room crackled.

Enhanced guards at the edges shifted almost imperceptibly. Not restless. Ready.

Valerian’s presence flared.

My skin prickled.

“Going twice,” the host continued.

I scanned the room in one swift sweep.

Guards near the main entrance had changed stance. Feet spread, hands hovering near weapons. Two near the rear wall had angled themselves toward the stage instead of the crowd.

The pattern was wrong.

“Con,” I whispered.

“I see them,” he said.

Cerise’s eyes flicked toward the guards as well. For a heartbeat, her brows drew together. She had not planned this.

Interesting.

“Sold,” the host said. “To Position Five.”

I did not hear the last word.

The world detonated.

The lights snapped off for a heartbeat, then red emergency strips blazed to life along the walls. Gunfire cracked through the air. The quick, clean bursts of practiced shooters who knew exactly where to aim.

The two guards by the rear wall moved first.

They drew weapons and fired directly at the host and his assistants.

The host jerked as impact hit, but a hidden shield flared around the podium, throwing sparks and deflecting the rounds. One assistant screamed, clutching a shoulder as blood bloomed through her sleeve. The other dove behind the stand.

Pandemonium surged.

Buyers shouted. Some dropped behind seats. Others scrambled for exits. A few reached for their own weapons, but the enhanced mercenaries were already moving.

Three more broke from positions along the walls, heading straight for the stage.

Not toward the host.

Toward the case.

Con was already moving.

He stepped in front of me, blocking me as a volley of bullets tore toward our row. My shield flared around us, thin and shimmering, catching the rounds. The impact rattled my teeth.

“Down,” he ordered.

I dropped, rolling to the side as another burst cut through the air where my head had been a moment earlier.

The hall was a storm of noise now. Screams. Gunfire. The crackle of breaking glass as display cases shattered. Magic flared as some buyers decided they were not dying quietly.