“Look, I know you’re probably upset about the other night, but you can’t blame a girl for defending herself, can you?”

“Billy Dan didn’t deserve to get smoked by no bitch,” said Dumb. He was leaner than his partner, but had a feral gleam in his eye that told me he was the more dangerous of the pair. “And this time you don’t have your bodyguards holding us off with no shotguns.”

The group spread out, forming a semicircle to block my escape. The time for talking was over. I reached back to grab my gun. When my hand touched nothing but the waistband of my jeans, a cold sweat broke out on my scalp. I cursed myself seven ways to Sunday as I realized I’d forgotten to get it back from the bouncer on my way out. I’d been so excited about the upcoming meeting with Clovis, I’d lost my head.

The group was closing in slowly, obviously expecting some spectacular move on my part. They would be disappointed. My mind scrambled for a solution as I leaned down and pulled the stake from my boot. As far as weapons went, an apple wood stake was quite effective. However, one stake versus six massive male vamps was pitiful. My only hope was to reduce their numbers by at least one to make the odds more sporting.

I crouched down, ready for the inevitable first wave. In fights like these, usually one or two macho assholes decide to show off. For some reason, it never occurs to them that if they all attacked at once I’d not stand a chance. Not that I was complaining.

A few seconds later, two came at me. I noticed that the leaders fell back, ready to have their friends do the dirty work. Turning sideways, I tripped one with a leg sweep. He fell down hard and fast, giving me enough time to spin and catch his buddy in the heart with the stake. The stake made a sickening sucking noise as I pulled it out before he ignited.

Before anyone could react, I jumped on top of the first guy and stabbed him in the chest too. This time, the bloody stake was too slippery to remove, so I jumped back just as it and he went up in flames.

I turned my back on the two smoldering piles and faced the rest. I was barely winded, but panic made my heart race as I realized I still had four vamps to kill and no weapons. The odds were better, but I’d have to do some serious maiming in order to escape.

I lifted an eyebrow at Dumb and Dumber. They traded glances and then both ran at me. I managed to fell Dumber with a stomping knee-joint kick. He fell instantly, grabbing his broken knee. It wouldn’t slow him down long, but it bought me a few seconds. I turned to Dumb, who flashed his fangs with a snarl.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” he said. His body fell back into a classic martial arts pose. I felt my lips curl into a smile.

“Bring it on, asshole.” I swiveled my body sideways and went at him with a roundhouse aimed at his ribs. He grabbed my ankle before it made contact. He jerked my leg toward him. My arms windmilled as I tried to keep my balance. I managed to grab his free hand and take him down with me. He might have been bigger, but I had speed on my side. I straddled him quickly, making sure to land high up on his chest to pin his arms.

His facial bones were like steel, and after a few punches my hands felt like tenderized meat. He used his massive body to buck me off. In a flash, he had me. His arms snaked under mine and he locked his fingers together behind my head, pulling me up. I scraped his shin with my boot heel. He jerked his hips back, out of range. Then he laughed in my ear. “Not so tough now, are you?”

His breath felt hot in my ear and his voice caused my spine to shrivel. His friends came forward, laughing like demented hyenas. I fought like a wildcat, trying to break free. At best, they would stake me. At worst, they’d rape me, drain me, and then stake me. As they surrounded their friend, they hurled insults and groped me with their paws.

I knew if I didn’t keep my head, I’d never make it out alive. My training kicked in and I took a slow, deep cleansing breath. I refocused my rage and let it fill my limbs like steel. They might have me trapped, but I’d be damned if I was going down without leaving at least a few scars.

The male in front of me leered. “Hey, boys, I think she likes being manhandled.”

I leaned back into Dumb and used the leverage to kick up with my legs. My boot heels caught two of them in the face. They fell back with howls. My face snapped to the side as I received a slap for my impertinence from Dumber. Pain bloomed in my cheekbone and I tasted my own blood. That was all right. Pain was my friend. It meant I was still alive.

“Okay, enough horsing around,” Dumb said. He tightened his arms and held me closer to him. Another one crouched and grabbed my legs. I struggled against them as Dumber came at me with fangs extended. I reared my head back, trying to evade him, but it was no use. His hot breath on my neck made my skin crawl. When he scraped his fangs over my artery, my eyes stung with revulsion. I didn’t close them. That would be a sign of acceptance. The idea of this cretin vein-raping me made me want to vomit, but I’d never give him the satisfaction of showing my fear.

Before he could break the skin, his body flew backward. I heard a loud thump and then a shriek. I tried to look up, but the one holding me threw me behind him. My head smashed into the floor. Stars of pain exploded behind my eyes, but I shook it off quickly. Behind me, the lot filled the sounds of crunching bones and male grunts. I turned and my mouth fell open in shock.

The mage from Ewan’s bar stood several feet in front of me. As I watched open-mouthed, one of his boots made contact with a vampire’s face. I jumped up, confused but determined to put an end to this. I ran toward Dumb, who was coming at the mage from the side. The air crackled, making the hair on my neck tingle. I tackled the male from behind, and on my way down, I saw a spark of blue light shoot through the air like a missile. A wave of heat followed as another vamp bit the dust.

I didn’t have time to ponder what kind of spell the mage was using. Instead, I whacked the leader’s forehead into the concrete. He went limp, but not for long. My eyes scanned the area for something I could use as a weapon, but found nothing.

A whistle caught my attention. I looked up to see the mage holding up a knife. “Catch,” he said. He threw the knife to me, and I caught it by the apple wood handle. Without hesitation, I jabbed the blade down through the leader’s back and straight through his heart. When the handle made contact with his blood, his body exploded, throwing me back a couple of feet. I lay stunned for a moment, before jumping back up to rejoin the fight.

Only the fight was over. The mage leaned against my bike with his arms crossed. Six piles of ash in various stages of smolder littered the floor.

I brushed off my jeans and walked toward him. He wasn’t winded. I gasped for breath. He didn’t even look dirty. I felt as if I’d been dragged through a dumpster.

“Thanks,” I said, panting. “But I didn’t really need your help.”

He chuckled. “Liar.”

I stopped a couple of feet away and eyed him. His sandy hair and goatee shouldn’t have made him look dangerous, but they did. He wore a white tank that displayed his nicely muscled arms and chest. His chinos hung low on his slender hips, and battered brown boots filled out the urban commando look.

“So are you going to tell me why you’ve been following me?”

His full lips quirked into a lopsided smile. “Let’s just say I’m a friend. By the way, how’s your new roommate?” Before I could react, he waved a hand in the air. I blinked and he was gone. The Ducati stood alone where the mage had been only a second before.

“Well, that’s just great!” I yelled, hoping he could still hear me. When no answer came, I ran a hand through my tangled hair and sighed.

“Asshole.” The insult lacked heat because he’d saved my ass. The idea was unsettling. I made my living with my wits and my fists. The idea that those bastards had almost bested me didn’t sit well. Not to mention the fact I still had no idea who the mage was other than the one who’d summoned Giguhl.

At least I now knew who sent the demon. What I couldn’t figure out was why. It didn’t add up. Why would he summon a demon to try to kill me and then turn around and help me in a fight? It was just one more mystery to solve in the riddle my life had become.

8

One benefit of growing up in the Temple was my knowledge of its complex floor plan, which included several hidden passages meant for quick escapes. They worked equally well for sneaking in if you knew where to look.

The chapel still smelled of myrrh. The heady scent reminded me of my childhood and watching my grandmother perform the sacred ceremonies. I used to watch the secret incantations and breathe in the mysterious aromas with childish awe. Those days, my grandmother was a goddess—the breathing embodiment of the Great Mother, Lilith. Back then, before I knew better, I dreamed of following in her footsteps.

I ran my hands lightly over the red velvet covering the altar, lost in thought. Now she was more like a benevolent dictator—light on the benevolence, if truth be told. I knew part of her hardness had nothing to do with me. After my mother’s ill-fated love affair with a mage, which resulted in both their deaths, my grandmother turned all her focus on me. It was as if she wanted me to be everything my mother wasn’t and couldn’t be. But my mixed blood prevented me from ever really being accepted into mainstream vamp society. So she raised me to be the best vampire I could be, despite the limitations of my birth.

Honestly? Sometimes, I resented being blamed for something I had no control over. And my grandmother’s constant expectations and pressure ate at me. But I believed she’d done the best by me she could.

I tried not to think about why she asked me to kill David. Going there in my head led to questions I wasn’t quite ready to face. Surely, I reasoned, she had a plan. Maybe I didn’t understand it or like it, but sometimes loyalty asks things of us we don’t quite understand. At least, that’s what my grandmother had taught me.

As if summoned by my thoughts, she walked in. She glanced at me and then closed the door quickly.

“We don’t have much time to talk,” she said. “The acolytes will arrive shortly for prayer.”