Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 139076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 695(@200wpm)___ 556(@250wpm)___ 464(@300wpm)
A squeal of excitement left Fox, and the witch was practically pulling him up the stairs once they’d slipped past the veil. Everyone loved freaking wolves.
“You’re not going to toss me aside for a werewolf, are you?” Winter teased as they neared the first floor.
“You’re not even funny. I love my Big Sexy and his pointy fangs. It’s just that every kid dreams of flying like a bird or being scary like a wolf.”
“Or doing magic.”
Fox snorted. “I’m more than happy with my bloodsucker, thank you very much.”
Whatever teasing comment Winter had been about to make died in his throat as they reached the first floor. The sounds of battle had moved on, and the floor was littered with bodies and streaked with cooling pools of blood. He didn’t allow himself the chance to linger. If he lingered, he’d look for his brothers or their mates. He’d search for clanmates he could do nothing for.
“Winter…”
Winter shook his head, pulling Fox up the stairs. “We keep moving.”
He spared only a glance at the fighting on the second floor. There were over a dozen wolves leaping through the action and tearing down enemies while Bel stood in the center, shouting orders. He thought he saw bobcats as well, but he couldn’t be sure in all the chaos. He wouldn’t be surprised if his brother had brought a few more animals to turn the odds into their favor.
At the third floor, the numbers were fewer, but the fighting remained fierce. Marcus was battling a pair of vampires as he wielded two short swords. Ethan had his back pressed to a wall while shooting at any vampire who tried to circle around Marcus. Sofia and her mate, David, were also cutting through Damon’s support.
But it was Aiden that Winter struggled to pull his eyes from. In the center of the room his father faced off against Damon and he was holding a sword. The man moved as graceful as the wind, the sword slicing effortlessly through the air. It was like Aiden had been born with the thing in his hand. For the first time, he could feel the heavy echo of Aiden’s age. His father was…ancient.
And Damon was no match.
“You can’t do this!” Damon screamed. “I’m going to lead our people into the light! We were born to rule the humans.”
“We’re vampires, Damon,” Aiden replied so very calmly. “We belong in the shadows. We were meant to rule the night.”
Damon rushed Aiden, but his father sidestepped him as easily as if they were dancing. The sword flashed out, deftly slicing Damon across the stomach. Blood seeped into his shirt and Damon howled, but the vampire was not done.
“Winter!” Fox shouted, jerking him from the fight.
“Can you help Ethan?” Winter asked. “I want to even some of the odds.”
Fox smiled and nodded. “Go, my scary boogeyman.” Fox pressed a quick, hard kiss to his lips and released his hand. Fox automatically slid out of the dead world and hurried over to Ethan’s side. Winter saw the young vampire’s eyes widen and heard Ethan exclaim excitedly between gunshots. Fox would catch him up on what happened on the lower level and where Winter was. Not that it was necessary.
Smiling, Winter tightened his hands around the knives he held and launched himself at the nearest attacker. He bounced in and out of the dead world, slaughtering one vampire after another. He freed Marcus of his attackers and moved to Sofia. The numbers dwindled quickly, and some just chose to run.
When he was finished, only clan and allies stood around him. Covered in blood, Winter stepped fully into the world of the living, a feral grin on his lips.
“Holy fucking shit,” Sofia breathed. “I’d heard whispers…”
“The Angel of Death,” David said.
“Our family’s protector,” Marcus announced, pride ringing clear in his voice. Winter turned to look at his older brother, a mix of worry and relief in his blue eyes. He had a feeling Marcus wanted to say more, but he held his tongue.
Fox ran across the gallery and crashed into him, wrapping his arms around his neck. He didn’t seem to care about the blood and gore as he kissed him. “My tornado of blades.”
“How will you ever go back to a normal life after this?” Winter teased.
Swords clanged together and Winter tucked Fox to his side while turning toward the ongoing battle between Damon and Aiden. He was so damn tempted to step in and remove Damon’s heart, but Aiden had the fight well in hand.
“Your family will die!” Damon shouted.
“Enough!” Aiden snarled.
And it was. Aiden blocked one last desperate attack on Damon’s part and slashed violently through the air, removing Damon’s head from his neck. The head spun through the air and bounced across the floor before coming to rest against the far wall. Damon’s body collapsed to its knees and fell over with a squishy thump.