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tried to sense their thoughts but disbelievingly found them guarded, including Jonathon’s.

She felt Roman and Stefan conversing as they looked at each other, even though their minds, their thoughts were blocked from her. Tension thickened in the night air as she probed deeper, searching for answers to their secretive behavior. But each wall she broke down led to another, and then another. Apprehension rose with each obstacle they erected until she bordered on frantic with the need to know what they were hiding.

“
Where is Valya? Take me to him.”

“We cannot,”
Stefan replied.

“Why not? Where is he?”

No answer, only silence as the Protectors stared off into the night.

“Dammit, Stefan, answer me. Where is Valya?”

All three men groaned. Roman looked to Stefan and Jonathon as if silently asking for permission. Stefan gave a slight nod.

“Valya is with Nicolae.” He was still hiding something from her, causing a shiver down her spine. Her body trembled slightly, fearing the worst.

“Is he dead?” She couldn’t keep her voice from breaking, as she feared the answer more than she feared the Believers.

“No, he isn’t dead,” Jonathon intervened as he slipped his arm around her.

“Please, Jonathon, you’re scaring me. Just tell me.”

“Valya was injured.” She tried to pull away but Jonathon held fast.

“He’s all right, honey. But he needed to see a Healer.” She was silent for a moment as her head swirled with the news.

“When?” she croaked, holding onto the last bit of fortitude she had.

Jonathon didn’t respond. She shifted her gaze to Roman, then Stefan and back to Jonathon.

“When, Jonathon?”

“Yesterday evening.”

This time, Richelle would not be held and comforted as she stared at him in both disbelief and anger.

“And no one thought to tell me,” she admonished, her disapproving gaze chastising each one of them.

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She should have been there to help him. To let him know that she loved him, which she did so willingly and completely. Filled with resentment at being kept in the dark, she slapped Jonathon across the face. He just stood there. When he didn’t move or say anything, she slapped him again.

“I’m sorry, Richelle,” he apologized. “I should have told you.”

“Yes, you should have. I should have been with him.”

“We didn’t want you to get hurt.”

“It hurts more that you deceived me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Like that is supposed to make me forgive you?”

“Can you save this for later?” Roman interrupted. He moved Richelle closer to Jonathon, sheltering her between their bodies, his eyes never leaving the shadow of the woods. “We need to leave, now.”

Richelle followed his gaze to the edge of the forest, her eyes wary like a deer that had caught scent of the hunter. And there was no mistaking the unnatural quietness surrounding them. They were being hunted.

Without provocation, Shadow started to bark and head off toward the science building opposite where they stood. In an instant, Stefan shimmered into invisibility, transporting himself to the edge of the parking lot before reappearing and giving chase to their unseen attackers.

“Get to the car and get her out of here! We’ll meet back at the apartment and take her to Valya,” Roman ordered, leaping off the steps toward the woods without waiting for a response.

“Come on.” Jonathon gripped her elbow and started leading her to the solitary car. Her heart was racing, trying to keep up with his long strides as they crossed the lot. Stumbling, she lost a shoe but she didn’t miss a step as she quickly recovered to keep up with Jonathon. They were almost at the car, just a few more feet.

“Richelle.”

Stopping abruptly, Jonathon’s hand slipped from her elbow. She turned and stared into the night, trying to determine from which direction the voice had come.

“Come on!” Jonathon yelled as he grabbed her by the arm and started dragging her to the car.

“Richelle.”

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She kept running toward the car, ignoring the voice calling out to her.

She banged into the car when Jonathan released her arm and went around to the driver’s side, fumbling for the keys to unlock the door.

“Richelle.”

She kept her head down, setting up walls around her mind, not wanting to hear the looming voice.

“Richelle, come to me.”

“Leave me alone.”
Covering her ears with her fists, she felt the walls around her mind crumble like dust under the onslaught of mental powers far beyond her own. “
Please, leave me alone.”

“Get in the car, Richelle!”

“Please, leave me alone.”
She whimpered at the first lance of pain that invaded her mind, commanding her attention, demanding her obedience.

“Come to me, Richelle.”

Her mind reached into the darkness, struggling to find the other part of her soul, to renew her strength. Her mind called to him. “
Valya
.”

“He is dead.”

“You lie! He lives.”

“You belong to me.”

“I belong to Valya.”

“I will never let another have you.”

“No! Let me go!”

“You are mine!”

“Get in the car!” She hadn’t seen Jonathon come around the car. He shook her by her shoulders, jostling her as he tried to open the door.

“Richelle, come to me.”

Taken aback, they both turned and faced the embodiment of evil— Luka cel Rau. From what she had learned, Richelle expected him to be a hideous monster, but it was quite the opposite. In an almost uncanny contrast to Valya, he had long golden hair that rustled in the breeze. And his eyes were an astonishing shade of blue, pale, almost translucent, like ice. Even the bitterness in his voice dripped like icicles.

Pressing her back against the car, Jonathon shielded her body with his, standing between her and the Evil One. He raised a gun he pulled from his coat pocket and aimed for Luka’s heart.

“She isn’t going anywhere with you!”

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Laughing haughtily, Luka tipped his head back, flashing his elongated canines. His chin dropped and he glowered at Jonathon.

“And how will you stop me, human? With that?” He motioned to the gun in Jonathon’s hand.

“Get in the car, Richelle. We’re leaving.” He walked backward, keeping Richelle behind him. When he reached the car he fumbled for the door handle. Luka took a step forward as Jonathon got the door open and shoved Richelle in, slamming it quickly behind her.

Luka laughed again, sending chards of pain through her mind, stinging her face like frostbite. He took another step forward. Jonathon waved the gun in front of him.

“Back off! I said we’re leaving!”

Luka stopped and glared at him, his eyes sparking to gold, like fire, but it still did nothing to conceal the coldness that lurked behind the blue orbs.

Stretching out his arms, he lowered his head and smiled darkly. He took a step forward.

“I said back off!”

He took another step toward the car. Jonathon cocked the hammer and took careful aim.

“I’m warning you. Stay back or I’ll shoot!”

“Richelle belongs to me,” Luka stated. He took a step forward before Jonathon fired a single shot, striking his mark. Luka’s smile faded as he staggered backward, his arms still open. After a few backward steps, he regained his balance. He looked down to where the bullet had struck, blood soaking the front of his shirt. He looked back up and smiled. Grabbing the opening of his shirt he ripped it open.

They watched in stunned awe as Luka’s chest began to pulse, in and out, until a single silver bullet popped out of his chest, landing on the ground covered with blood and turning black from the contact with pure evil. Then, the skin seemed to meld together and seal the wound.

“My God!” Jonathon exclaimed as he raised the gun and emptied the barrel into Luka’s chest. The results were the same. The silver bullets lay strewn at Luka’s feet, black and covered in blood. Luka raised his head and howled into the night. When his head lowered, he glared at Jonathon.

“There is no God, only Luka cel Rau. And I will take what belongs to me,” he arrogantly commanded, his gaze fixated on Richelle.

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Dropping his gun to the ground, Jonathon backed away, going around the back of his vehicle when he bumped into a large body behind him.

Startled, he jumped away and spun to see Pieter standing behind him, his arms tucked by his side, his stance casual, not the stance of a Protector defending his charge.

“Pieter, thank God,” he murmured, casting his eyes between Pieter and Luka. “The silver bullets are having no effect on Luka. I need you to hold him off while I get Richelle out of here.”

Pieter didn’t reply. He remained immobile, like a statue carved in granite.

“Pieter,” he repeated. “Did you hear me? I need to get Richelle out of here.”

Pieter cocked his head to one side and stared unblinkingly at him, as one would do when encountering some type of puzzle needing to be solved.

“Pieter?” Perplexed, Jonathon could only gape at him. “Help me. Help Richelle.”

Pieter began to move, circling around Jonathon, each time drawing him farther and farther away from the car. All the while he chuckled, a mocking sneer set on his grim visage. When he finally stopped, he quietly gawped at Jonathon, his cheek muscles ticking. Jonathon looked at Pieter’s eyes, the vivid blue fading to a pale, icy blue, the same as Luka’s.

“Oh, my God.”

“You’ve already been told. There is no God.” Pieter’s voice was as cold as his eyes.

Richelle watched the scene unfolding before her with dread. They had been duped. She, Jonathon, Valya, Nicolae, and the Protectors had all been fooled. Pieter was the betrayer and was in liege with Luka. The Protectors drawn away by Believers. Jonathon would have to deal with Pieter himself.

Pieter laughed and began to circle around Jonathon again, taking him even farther from the car, from Richelle, while Luka looked on.

“Richelle! Get out of here! Now!”

Richelle tried opening her door but was met with resistance. The door wasn’t locked. It just wouldn’t open. She experienced a dizzying nausea and felt the icy grip of evil holding the doors of the car shut. Looking out the front window, she saw Luka watching her, insidiously grinning at her. In spite of his handsome appearance, she was repulsed.

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“I can’t,” she hollered to Jonathon. “The door won’t open.” She tried to unroll the car window, thinking she could slip out, but she couldn’t get a firm grip on the handle with her shaky hands. She continued to struggle with the door, throwing as much of her weight as she could against it, trying to force it open, but it was no use. She was trapped.

“You are mine,”
Luka repeated as he slowly advanced.

“Jonathon!” she screamed. “Help me!” Her body broke out in a cold sweat. Unable to control her hands shaking, she started beating against the window, believing she had the strength to shatter the tempered glass.

“Jonathon, please!”

Reaching into his pocket, Jonathon pulled out a dog whistle and blew.

Pieter began to laugh, low at first but then wildly, sounding like a rabid hyena.

“Do you think that mangy lupine will be able to save you?” Pieter taunted.

Nonchalantly, Jonathon shrugged as he replied, “You never know.”

“You’re a fool.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“You humans. You believe you have the right to stand beside an Immortal as an equal. Humans are nothing!” Pieter spat, malice dripping from every acerbic word. “You are dogs! You’re only good to trail at your master’s heel and serve him.”

Jonathon roared in rage as the words hit their mark. Pieter laughed mockingly. Jonathon’s anger did not deter him as he continued his taunting.

“You should fall on your knees before your master, Luka, and beg him to spare your life, you worthless cur!”

Jonathon lunged at Pieter and tackled him midsection, sending him backward to land with a thud on the ground. Richelle was screaming from the car as Jonathon threw a right and then a left cross that landed squarely on Pieter’s jaw.

Pieter retaliated by placing his hands upon Jonathon’s chest and using his Vampyre strength, propelling him through the air to land on the back of the car. Rolling off the trunk, stunned, Jonathon staggered to his feet prepared to do battle. Unsteady on his feet, he reached down and pulled a dagger from his bootstrap.

Banging on the car window, Richelle began to shout.

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“No, Jonathon! Get away! Run! Run!”

Pieter drew back his lips in a vicious snarl, revealing his fangs in intimidation. In the blink of an eye, the pale blue orbs became blood red as he glowered at Jonathon.

“No, you are not dogs,” Pieter mocked. “Humans are nothing more than cattle, the blood on which Immortals feed. And right now, I’m starving.”

Jonathon switched knife positions, the blade overhead so he could thrust it downward into Pieter’s heart, and charged forward. Pieter grabbed his wrist to prevent the killing blow and used his other hand to seize Jonathon by the throat. Jonathon gasped for air. Vainly, he grasped Pieter’s wrist, attempting to pull his hand away from his throat. It only resulted in Pieter tightening his grip.

“Please, no!” Richelle cried from her makeshift prison. She turned to Luka, nearly upon her.
“Please, release him, and I will go with you.”

Luka laughed in disdain.
“You bargain with what is already mine.”

Richelle turned back toward Jonathon, tears of frustration and sorrow streaming down her face. Jonathon was going to die, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
“Oh, Valya, where are you?”
She looked toward the sky as if he would magically appear and end this horror.