Wulf's Redemption (Borne Vampires Book 3) (22 page)

“Oh, you are a delectable bite, aren’t you? I’ll
bet you taste as sweet as you look.”

Chuckling, she answered, “Oh, I’d wager you’ve
never tasted anything like me before.”

“Really? Is that an invitation to sample you?” he
asked huskily.

Behind him, Alex appeared. “Sorry, mate, she’s not
for you.”

Whipping around, the vamp faced him, his eyes
widening when he saw the sword he held. “A Slayer. I should have known. Why do
you hunt a simple vamp such as me?”

“You know why. Do not pretend. It is unworthy of
you.”

Faking a regretful sigh, the vamp shrugged his shoulders.
“I get my meals from druggies and runaways. No one misses them.”

“You kill, and that we cannot have.”

Snarling at Alex, he dropped the handsome façade
and made to grab her. She disappeared, reappearing beside Alex. “You haven’t
been a vamp long, have you?”

“Hey,” he lifted his hands in the air, his
features back to normal, “I don’t have time for this. I’m supposed to be
setting up for the rave.”

“Sorry,” Alex said, “you won’t be playing tonight,
or any other for that matter.”

“Dude, I’m just a harmless DJ. I make people
happy. Give them awesome music lists to dance to. Why don’t we just go our
separate ways, forget we ever saw each other, and call it a night?”

“Sorry,
dude
,
can’t let you live,” Alex grimly
informed him. “You’ve killed innocent people.”

“Hell with this!” The vamp bolted and met the
flash of her sword as she swung, beheading him.

She leaned down and wiped the green blood off her
blade on the dead vamp’s jeans. Sheathing it, she said, “Huh, that was easier
than I’d expected.”

Alex gazed at the headless vamp, puzzled. “He
really didn’t expect us to kill him, did he?”

“It was like he didn’t have a clue why we hunt his
kind.”

“Typical of the Damned. They turn humans and leave
them to learn how to survive on their own. A waste of life.” Taking the water
bottle she pulled out of her backpack and handed to him, he sprinkled it on the
body. They watched as the man ignited into flames. Sheathing his sword, he
handed the bottle back to her. “Let’s return to Wulf Manor.”

Putting the water bottle back inside her backpack,
she pulled it on. “Ready.”

They shape-shifted back into eagles and flew back
to Wulf Manor. Bonfires had been lit in intervals around the manor, pushing
back the darkness. Landing in the courtyard, they shifted back and were soon joined
by Herrick and Michael.

“See anything while you were out?” Herrick asked,
shouldering his rifle.

Alex answered, “We ran into a demon vamp at a rave
party and had to deal with him. Otherwise, quiet. Here?”

“So far it’s been quiet. My mother is almost finished
with the potion.”

“Do you think it will affect me and Kai?”

“She says it shouldn’t, but we will soon find
out,” Herrick grinned, clapping Alex on the back.

Shaking his head at the Gypsy, Alex unbuckled his
sword. “I haven’t showered in a couple of days. I won’t be long.”

Herrick and Kai watched as he walked back to the
house. Alex opened the door and stood back as the
women exited the house, carrying buckets filled with a
yellow powder. Sulfur and salt, other ingredients she failed to recognize, the
overpowering smell made Kai pinch her nose. Eyes watering, she realized Alex had
forgotten to get the clean clothes she had in her backpack.

“Herrick,
I need to give Alex his clothes, then I’ll be back to help you with spreading
out the power.”

“We
can handle it. Why don’t you take a shower as well? ” Herrick grinned at her
with a sly look in his dark eyes.

Heat
crept up her neck, to her cheeks. She mumbled, “Be right back.”

Chewing
on her lower lip, she went upstairs, trying not to think about Alex naked,
water running down his skin … to feel him pressed against her naked body. “Get
a grip, girl, and stay on target. Lisle’s not gonna stay away for long.” At his
door, she lifted her hand to knock on it, before she could make contact, it
swung open.

Her
jaw dropped.

Clad only with a white towel wrapped around his lean
hips, she nearly swallowed her tongue. Drinking in his magnificence, realizing
her girlhood fantasy fell glaringly short. He’d changed from the young man
she’d seen in his dreams and it was breathtaking.
Sleek and powerful, he was perfect in every detail. Towering
over her, she tilted her head back to better see his face and nearly gasped.
His eyes were glowing dark green in the soft lamplight. His handsome face
tensed, his jaw flexed as he moved to close the short distance between them.
The masculine smell of him made her heady; the heat coming off his skin seared
her, making her want to lean into him and burn.
He pulled her into his
room. Kai jumped when the door close behind her, the click of the lock being
turned sounded more like a gunshot than metal against metal.

“Alex,” she began, silenced when he cupped her
face between his large hands and kissed her.

His warm mouth caressed hers and Kai clung to him,
opening her mouth to welcome the invasion of his rough tongue. He devoured her,
giving and taking, hungrily possessing her. Never had she seen this side of
Alex, not even when he was with Lisle. He was wild and free, and he was with
her.
He lifted his hand
and slid his long, lean fingers around her neck, pulling her up as he crushed
her lips in a hungry kiss. Sliding her hands along the hard muscles of his
stomach, she almost smiled at the low growl he issued deep in his throat.
Giving and taking, her world was spinning out of control as his arms slipped
around her pulling her closer into him.

In
the midst of the pleasure, the incredible feel of him kissing her, she felt the
darkness invade: the cold warning danger was coming their way. Pulling back
away from him, Alex made to protest until she put her hand on his chest and
stopped him. Feeling the beating of his heart, using him as an anchor in the
maelstrom of rage, hunger, and fear pulling her in as she connected to the ones
coming to kill them.

“Alex,
they’re almost here!”

“Who
is?”

“The
Damned!”

“Dammit!
That’s all we need is a pack of demon vamps on top of Lisle!” Frustrated, he jammed
his hands on his hips. “I need the clean clothes we obtained earlier.”

Grabbing
the backpack she’d dropped when he kissed her, she pulled out the clothes and
handed them to him. “Hurry and get dressed! They’re two miles down the road
from the manor and are speeding.”

Taking
the clothes from her, he turned around and pulled on the jeans under his towel
before whipping it off. Much to her regret, she didn’t get to see anything
except a glimpse of his chiseled ass, which was quite nice to view, even better
to touch. Trying not to smile at remembering how his ass felt under her hands,
she cleared her throat and focused on the danger on their way to Wulf Manor.

Pulling
one the faded black tee-shirt with a rock band logo on it, he asked. “How many
vamps?”

She
closed her eyes and focused on the vamps. “Twelve. Son-of-a-bitch!” She snarled,
opening her eyes.

Alex
was sitting on the bed, lacing the black leather boots she’d found for him. “What’s
wrong?”

“Jeremy
Waters is leading them and he’s no longer a ghoul but is a full on demon vamp.”

“Angel
must have turned him.” Slipping on his sword and fastened the silver buckle, he
took the gun she’d given him and hooked it to his waistband, at his right hip.
He took her hand in his and they rushed out of the room, hurrying downstairs.
“Dammit, I didn’t think Lisle would have asked for their help.”

“She didn’t. Waters is pissed. Really pissed. Lisle
is making a mess of his plans, and he needs to fix it before Angel finds out.”

“Great. Just great,” Alex grumbled as they headed
outside. “Can you get a fix on Lisle? Is she close to us?”

“Yes. Jeremy is searching for her, too. She
escaped the men he had watching her at the club. They followed her here. She’s hiding
out in the woods and she’s not scared. In fact, she’s….”

“She’s what?”

“Happy. Something’s not right, Alex. This whole
thing feels like a trap, and we’re the bait.”

“I agree. At least we’re forewarned. Thank God,
your gifts are back! Herrick,” he shouted waving to gain the Gypsy’s attention,
“we’ve company on their way!”

“Is it Lisle?” Herrick asked, lifting his rifle
and set a bullet in the chamber.

“No, it’s worse than Lisle. We’ve demon vamps on
their way here.”

“Are they Lisle’s creations?”

“No. They work for Angel de Morte, current leader
of the Damned. They plan to attack us.”

“Well, that confirms what Mary said that we were
to be ready. Michael, Thomas, bring out the silver ammo! Children, add wood to
the fires!”

Women and children hurried to throw more wood onto
the fire, the flames soon reaching for the sky. Herrick’s sons returned,
handing out cartons of bullets. Water jugs were passed around. Crosses had been
written onto the plastic cartons with a black marking pen.

Mary and Gaeta hurried toward them. The old woman
was holding an empty bucket in her gnarled hand. “Done! We had enough to
include the barns as well. Our livestock will be safe.”

“Gaeta,” Kai asked, “are you certain the powder
you created will keep the Damned out?”

Anxious, the old woman shrugged her narrow
shoulders. “I do not know. I’ve only read that it had worked for my great-grandmother
when their village was beset by the demons seeking her and her daughter for
their powers.”

Kai ordered, “Mary, stay beside your father! Do
not get separated, do you understand? Do not reach out to me and do not open
your mind to the Damned! They must not know you are special. Got it?”

“Y-yes, I understand. Be safe, Kai.”

Winking at her, she smiled. “We’ve faced worse. Haven’t
we, Alex?”

“Indeed we have.” The faint rumble of powerful
engines warned them they were out of time. “Herrick, get the women and children
inside the house! The Damned cannot enter without permission.”

“Can’t they burn it down?” Michael asked as his
wife and sons huddled closer to him.

“Not with us guarding them,” Alex reassured him.
“Go and settle them into the ballroom. They’ll be safe in there. I promise you.
Men, take position at the windows. Shoot only when I give the signal. Kai and I
will meet Waters and his henchmen at the gate. Let’s hope the powder works. If
not, we’ll have a helluva fight on our hands.”

“We have faith in you, Master. And you, Miss Kai,”
Herrick said with confidence.

“I’m glad you do, Herrick,” she replied, “cuz I’m
running a bit short on faith right about now.”

Grinning, he clapped her soundly on the back. “Do
not worry, Miss Kai. I have enough faith for both of us.” Resting his hand on
his heart, he gave her and Alex a short bow. “Slayers, we will defend you as
you defend us.”

“Just don’t shoot us.” Kai cocked her eyebrow at
the men, who sheepishly grinned at her. “I freakin don’t need any more scars.”

“We’ll take better care where we aim today, I promise,”
Michael assured her.

Drawing her gun, she asked Alex, “Ready?”

A wicked, predatory smile upturned his delicious-looking
mouth. “Lead the way, my lady.”

“Great.” She rolled her eyes at his eagerness.
“You’re starting to remind me of Sin.”

“I like Sin,” he replied as they headed to the closed
gates.

“You do?”

“Yes. He is an honorable man, handy in a fight.”
Alex drew his gun, set a bullet in the chamber.

“Of course you would. You, two, are a lot alike.”
The headlights from the cars broke the dark lane. “Alex, don’t take this the
wrong way, but I really wish Sin and Mina were here with us.”

“Me, too.” Before she knew what he was about, Alex
pulled her to him and kissed her. Savoring the taste of him, she wanted the
kiss to go on forever, the moment broken by the roar of car engines.

Alex drew back. “Kai, if I should fall, leave Wulf
Manor.”

“What?”

“Leave here. Go straight to Berlin, to Faeroes and
tell him what’s happened here.”

“What about the gypsies?”

“Leave here! I want you to survive. You
must
survive!” he pressed his forehead to
hers, gazing into her eyes, forcing her to see his desperation.

Placing her hand along the slant of his hard
jawline, shivering at the feel of the whiskers he allowed to grow, she
whispered, tears blurring her vision, “Without you, there is no reason to
live.”

“Woman, what am I going to do with you?”

“After we kill these assholes, you and I are gonna
have some alone time, that’s what!”

Grinning at her, exposing his white teeth, Alex chuckled.
“Yes, ma’am! Now, let’s put these bastards out of their misery, shall we?”

 
“Yes, sir.
Let’s set them free.”

Aiming their guns at the driver in the lead SUV.
The vamp was no longer wearing his human face. His mouth filled with teeth and
he was frothing at the mouth with his eagerness to run them down. Suddenly the
front of the SUV crumpled, as if it had hit a cement barricade, except there
was nothing there. The vamp launched through windshield and hit the invisible
barrier with such force it reduced him to a bloodied mass of flesh and broken
bones.

She saw the line of yellow powder the gypsies had
spread. “Holy smokes! It worked! The powder really works!”

Alex replied grimly, “It won’t against guns.”

Shaking her head at him, she gave him an arched
glare, “Always the positive one, aren’t ya?”