One month later

Quinn kept her face impassive as she watched the growing crowd of vampires gathering before them. No matter the indifferent front she put on, being so close to so many vamps again had her completely on edge. She kept her power turned on and honed into those around her in case she needed to unleash it on the vamps should they decide to attack.

Turning her head, Quinn took in the remains of the hotel where she’d been held captive by Earl. The charred pieces of wood lay in a tumbled heap in the center of the large clearing. The burnt scent of wood and smoke still permeated the air.

The fire department had come to put out the flames, but by the time they’d known about the fire and arrived at this desolate area, the hotel had been completely unsalvageable. No vampire remains had been uncovered as the sun had burnt away any that might have survived the fire.

Beneath the crumpled lumber of the hotel, a piece of the pool Helena had made her bathe in was visible. Quinn’s hands balled at her sides at the reminder of the vile scrutiny Helena had surveyed her with. The helpless feeling she’d experienced while she’d been compelled to do whatever Earl willed her to do engulfed her once again. She hated being back here, hated the sight and smell of this place and the memories it evoked, but it was necessary.

The past month had been relatively quiet. After returning to Canada three weeks ago, Cassie and Devon had arrived on her doorstep last night. Clint had put the bar up for sale, but he hadn’t had any luck in selling it until last week. A man from Wyoming had bought it to get away from the winters there. Quinn didn’t know if the man planned to turn it into a haunted themed bar or not. Clint hadn’t asked him. She suspected it was because Clint would have changed his mind about selling the place if the man did have plans to do so.

Instead of selling her place, Hawtie had decided to turn the running of her strip club over to some of her employees while she and Clint traveled. The girls had agreed to keep the place running while Hawtie was away. In return, they were working toward buying the place from her. Hawtie happily agreed to let them arrange a buyout plan, as she didn’t want to leave her girls with no place to work.

Clint and Hawtie originally planned to hit the road in their new RV immediately after selling his place, but they’d decided to stay until this meeting ended. Clint somehow convinced Hawtie to stay in town tonight, but she was as happy about it as a cat getting a bath.

Quinn glanced at Julian beside her. His hair had grown out some; the black patches from where the sun had burnt him were gone. The short hair emphasized the angles of his face, making him more handsome and far more lethal looking as his icy eyes surveyed the growing crowd. His bored expression revealed nothing of his thoughts. However, if he hadn’t already promised these vamps safe passage, she had a feeling he would slaughter them all without a second’s hesitation.

Standing beside him, Devon wore a nearly identical expression of boredom. Cassie stood to Devon’s left, her face as emotionless as theirs. Chris, Melissa, Dani, Clint, Luther, and Lou stood spread out to the sides of all of them. Their weapons remained sheathed, but she had no doubt they could all have them free and ready for battle in a second.

Quinn surveyed the vamps gathering before them. Most of them kept glancing around for an escape route, and more than a third looked about to bolt now. The vampires watched each other and made sure to remain a good distance apart in case someone turned violent or they had to flee quickly.

All of the vamps also stayed a good thirty feet away from where she stood with the others. Julian had chosen to have the backdrop of the decimated hotel behind them as a reminder of what they were capable of should any of the vamps get the idea to attack.

“There’s more than I’d expected,” Melissa said as more shadows slipped forward to join the growing crowd.

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Dani asked.

“I think it’s a sign they might be willing to trust us,” Clint said as he chewed on a piece of gum and rested his hands on the guns holstered at his sides—guns loaded with wooden bullets.

“Or they’re hoping to kill us all,” Lou replied.

Quinn’s jaw clenched at his words. It was a possibility, but the vampires had to know many of them would die if they attempted it. The deaths of hundreds of their fellow vampires in the hotel had to be enough proof of that, she hoped. However, she knew some vamps were cocky enough to believe they could be the ones to take them down.

If another fight broke out, they may not all be fortunate enough to walk away again this time. She could breathe life back into someone, but she didn’t know if she would be able to do that in time to save them if something were to happen here.

At the front of the crowd, the couple they’d taken from the hotel stood the closest to them. Their hands were entwined as they split their attention between the growing crowd and Julian. They didn’t shift nervously around as much as the rest of the vampires did.

Quinn glanced at Julian when he grasped her hand and clasped it within both of his. The vast power he possessed pulsed against her flesh in waves that caused her ability to slither toward him and latch on. She didn’t take anything from him, but she could now use his body to draw the life from another if it became necessary. It would give them both an influx of power that would help to decimate anyone trying to harm them.

He kept her hand in his as he took a step forward, drawing the attention of the vampires to him. Their murmurs died instantly. Before coming here, they’d all agreed Julian would take the lead on this with these vamps. Devon may be older than Julian, but most of his attention would remain on training the future Hunters and Guardians.

“We’re pleased to see so many of you here tonight.”

Hearing Julian talk in such a refined, crisp tone caused pride to swell forth in her. More at home in a bar with jeans on than in a suit and tie, leadership was not a role he’d ever sought, but she knew he wouldn’t deny the responsibility of it, and he would be good at it.

“I know you’re all wondering about this new leadership that has drawn you here tonight, and I think many of you will like what we are about to propose to you,” Julian continued.

Quinn tried to judge the reaction of the crowd so far, but most of them kept their faces blank and their bodies immobile.

“As you are all aware, Devon and I are the only remaining Elder vampires in existence. As you’re also aware, we had a big hand in destroying the other Elders.”

The crowd shifted and anxious murmurs ran through them. They quieted instantly when Julian raised his hand, but more than a few of them had slipped further into the shadows.

“The Elders’ deaths were a necessity,” Julian said. “We may have had a hand in destroying them, but we also had a hand in eradicating most members of The Commission, a group that was every vampire’s biggest enemy and still is as long as even one of them lives. The remaining members of The Commission will be eradicated if they are found.”

“You’re standing with some of our enemies right now, the Hunters!” a man shouted from the back of the crowd. Some of the vampires voiced their agreement, but most remained mute.

“They’re not your enemies,” Julian replied. “They are standing with us, just as we have stood with them for the last two years, and they will stand with you.”

The crowd shifted; their mumbles rose again. Some vampires edged closer while others remained where they were.

“How do we know that?” another one demanded. “Hunters and Guardians work for The Commission.”

Luther cleared his throat before speaking. “Most of the surviving Hunters and Guardians don’t work for The Commission anymore, not since we came to learn just how evil and corrupt they are. I was born into my role as a Guardian. I was taught by The Commission to believe all vampires were evil killers, and I taught the Hunters I trained the same thing. I’m not above admitting I was wrong in that belief. We all were.

“I cannot promise you that every remaining Hunter and Guardian will agree with what we propose here, just as not every vampire will. What I can promise you is that the many Hunters and Guardians we train, will be trained not to slay without first learning more about that vampire’s life. I have spoken with some of the few Guardian friends I trust about this, and they have all agreed to what we are proposing to you. They have also agreed to undergo some intense training with us. The training will help them to better assimilate and learn about vampires. We hope these changes will lead to a more secure future for all those involved.”

“And where will this training take place?” another asked.

“We will not ask you to divulge your location to us, and we will not divulge ours,” Devon said. “You can know that Cassie and I will be there to lead this new training with the Guardians and their Hunters. There are many Hunters and Guardians under our protection now. You will be working with the largest force of them still in existence. A force that won’t consider all vampires their enemies, if you are willing to take this step.”

“But we have no guarantee that a Hunter outside of your training won’t kill us on sight!” someone shouted.

“The Hunters have no guarantee that any vampire they encounter won’t slaughter them on sight either,” Cassie said. “There will have to be trust on both sides and an understanding that if their lives are threatened, all bets are off for both parties involved.”

“And how do we know you’re not lying to us so you can turn against us later?” another yelled.

“How do we know the same about you?” Cassie retorted.

“Again it will have to be trust from all those involved,” Julian said. “A trust that may take years to fully establish, but it needs a starting point, and this will be it.”

Julian looked to Quinn; she nodded to let him know she was ready for the next step. “Most, if not all of you, have heard the prophecy about a vampire who will become your greatest ally and savior,” Julian said. “It’s time you met her.”

Excited whispers swirled through the crowd when he lifted her hand into the air. Many of them stepped forward, some stretched their hands toward her as if she were some sort of god. Disquiet churned within her belly at the bizarre sight and the realization many saw her as a lifeline. She’d underestimated how much some of them believed in this prophecy though, which she shouldn’t have done after what had occurred in the hotel.

It took all she had not to move away from them. They couldn’t know how much their belief in her overwhelmed her. This meeting would disintegrate into chaos if they did. Swallowing, Quinn kept her shoulders back as she surveyed the crowd. She’d kill them if she had to, but she’d much prefer not to. They wanted to believe in her because they didn’t have much to believe in, not anymore.

“Stay back!” Julian snapped at them. “If one of you lays a hand on her, I’ll tear it off before I rip off your head.”

***

Julian’s lips skimmed back as he bared his fangs at the vampires closest to them. Those vamps were trying to shove back against the mass pushing them forward in order to get closer to Quinn. The ones in the front stumbled back a few more feet before the crowd settled down enough that the closest vamps didn’t have to fear accidentally being shoved into Quinn.

Quinn lifted her chin as she gazed at the vampires before them. No one would ever guess from the pride blazing in her eyes that her hand trembled within his, or that her power had begun to ebb and flow between them like the sea at high tide instead of being its normal steady stream.

“The vampires in this hotel tried to capture her and bend her to their will. You can see the consequences of those actions. She is still standing. They are not,” Julian said and paused to let his words sink in. “The prophecy states that if used correctly, she will become our greatest ally, our savior. She will never be used by anyone, but she will be your ally.”

“I will stand with you.” Quinn’s voice rose to carry over the crowd. “I will be your ally in this, and I will be theirs.” She gestured toward their friends gathered around them. “We can all work together to obtain an alliance that will benefit us all.”

The crowd shuffled uneasily. Some of them moved further toward the shadows. “How do we know she is the vampire of the prophecy?” a woman demanded.

“I can prove it if one of you will let me use my ability on you,” Quinn said.

Most of them shook their heads no. A few looked as if they were considering coming forward, but none of them budged.

Clint swore as he strolled over and held his arm out to Quinn. “I was also born a Guardian,” he said to the crowd. “My grandparents fled The Commission before I was born because they knew some vampires didn’t kill, and they believed those vamps deserved to be treated with respect. They disagreed with The Commission’s policies toward vamps, and so do I. When I first met Quinn, I didn’t know she was a vampire. When I realized it, I let her live in peace. For three years, she worked for me and had no idea about my heritage, until recently.” He turned back to Quinn. “Use your ability on me.”

“Clint—”

“Go on, Quinn. I trust you completely,” he added with a pointed look at the crowd.

Julian gave her a brisk nod when she glanced at him. “You can do this,” he whispered so low he knew no one else heard him.

Quinn released his hand and took a reluctant step toward Clint. The idea of turning her into a show pony didn’t sit well with Julian, but it was necessary these vamps saw what she was capable of if they were going to believe in them and fall in line.

“The prophecy states that a vampire, not born of vampire blood, will burn like the sun the life from anyone she touches,” Quinn said as she clasped Clint’s arm.

Clint’s brown eyes didn’t waver from hers. Julian’s fingers twitched with the urge to touch her, to give her encouragement and strength, but she had to do this on her own. He just wasn’t sure if she would be able to drain the life from her friend in order to get her point across.

As soon as he thought it, Julian noticed Clint’s cheeks sagging inward, his belly shrinking, and his eyes taking on a jaundiced hue. When sparks danced across Quinn’s fingertips, Clint’s legs wobbled. Julian felt the enthusiasm growing in the crowd while they waited for Clint to collapse.

Then Clint’s eyes cleared, his cheeks puffed back out, and his belly drooped over his belt once more as Quinn switched the flow and started to pump Clint’s life back into him. Clint smiled at her when she released his arm, but Julian saw the apprehension in his eyes as he stepped away from her.

Voices swelled throughout the crowd. He didn’t try to quiet them this time, but let them discuss what they had seen between themselves first.

“She didn’t burn him like the sun!” a man shouted from the back, silencing the crowd once more.

Quinn scanned the crowd as she stepped forward. “If you or anyone else would like to volunteer, I will gladly drain you completely.”

No one moved. The woman from the couple they had sent out to spread the word turned to face the crowd. “I saw what she can do. I saw her leave vampires nothing more than shriveled husks. She made it possible for Julian to do the same thing to them. There were a couple hundred vampires in that hotel, yet we are the only two who were allowed to walk away and only because we were chosen to spread the word. They are all strong. They can offer us protection unlike any we’ve ever had before, and the prophecy says she will be our savior.”

“How do we know Devon doesn’t have control of your mind?” someone shouted at the woman. “He could be compelling you to say these things!”

“She has been set free from any kind of mind control,” Devon said. “There is no way for me to prove this to you. Again, trust is required.”

“I feel like we’re the ones doing all the trusting here!” another vampire yelled.

“You far outnumber us,” Julian replied. “We are showing trust in you right now.”

“You’ve proven numbers don’t stop you,” a woman near the front said and waved at the hotel.

“They don’t, so know that you’d all be dead right now if that was what we truly intended for you. We have kept our word; you are standing here unharmed,” Julian said. “We could have killed you all already and been home watching TV by now.”

“What that woman claims she saw is impossible!” another vampire cried from the back. “Vampires and Hunters can’t share their abilities with others! Julian can’t use her power!”

“Grab my hand,” Julian said to Quinn. When she slid her hand into his, he stepped forward to glower at the vampires. Many of them shied away from him.

“Julian, we promised them safe passage,” Quinn said.

He didn’t miss the appreciative gazes her words earned her from the vampires standing closest to them.

“And they will have it,” he replied. “Chris, are you willing to show them what I can do?”

The expression on Chris’s face made it clear that he’d rather eat shit. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“No,” Julian replied. “Give me your hand.”

With measured steps, Chris came toward him. “You owe me, big, for this.”

“I do.”

Chris held his hand out with a sigh. “Do your best to make me ugly, but remember, it may be impossible.”

He’s been hanging out with me too much, Julian thought as he seized Chris’s hand.