Page 70 of Hitched to the Vampire King
“Why don’t you let me finish the dishes? Go play slayer with your friends, and prepare yourself for tonight.”
“You aren’t coming with us?”
She sighed and shook her head. “We agreed it would be Sam tonight. I’m the alpha, so according to him, I shouldn’t be running into danger unless absolutely necessary. And tonight isn’t necessary.”
I slid an arm around my sister’s waist and pulled her in for a hug. I knew she hated being left behind, but Sam was right. This wasn’t her fight, and her pack had nothing to do with tonight’s upcoming slayage. Involving the alpha could create some potential political problems between the werewolf and vampire community. Sam was an alpha, but he wasn’tthealpha. So we had some leeway there.
“You’ve got this,” Lucy said. “But you better come home to me tonight. Or I swear, I’ll kill you myself.”
I chuckled, then quickly kissed her cheek before disappearing into the living room where my weapons cache awaited.
ChapterTwenty-Four
It was officially go-time.The sun had set, Gabriel was awake, and we were ready to rock ‘n’ roll. The five of us stood across the street from Adrian’s mansion, hidden behind the dense canopy of a live oak tree, characteristic of Esplanade Avenue. The sprawling branches, adorned with hanging vegetation, created an ideal hiding spot, and allowed us to blend seamlessly with the scenery.
“Movement in the house,” Jaden announced.
I nodded. That was expected, seeing as how Adrian didn’t go anywhere without his personal guards. Fortunately for us, we outnumbered them six to five, provided Elias joined our side in the fight. Add in the fact that two of us were werewolves, and I was fairly confident about our chances.
During a quick strategy meeting earlier that night, we’d analyzed some satellite imagery and discovered the house had a massive, fenced backyard. Sam and I decided we would take advantage of that enclosed space to shift into wolf form. At least back there, the fence would hide us from prying human eyes. It meant I couldn’t use any stakes or swords during the fight, but it also gave me more strength and sharper teeth and claws.All the better to behead you with, my dear.
“Is everyone ready?” Gabriel questioned.
A chorus of affirmations rippled through our group, each of us focused on the task at hand. Excitement hummed in the air and sent a shiver rolling down my spine. I lived for moments like these—the adrenaline and the thrill. In my mind, I pictured my wolf anxiously pacing back and forth, eager to run free and hunt some vamps. It was her favorite pastime, after all.
We crossed the street under the cover of darkness, our steps silent against the backdrop of the evening’s usual hum. Thankfully, no one pointed at us and screamed bloody murder, so that was a win. We moved quickly and quietly, slipping through the gate and entering the backyard, exactly as we’d planned. Those of us with supernatural hearing kept an ear out for Adrian’s people, but no one from inside cried out a warning.
Either Elias had kept his word, or he’d betrayed us and Adrian knew we were coming.
Guess we’d find out soon enough.
Once we reached the back door, Gabriel tested the handle and nodded when it turned. That meant Sam and I were up. I was just about to strip out of my clothes when Gabriel appeared before me and cupped my face. He stared into my eyes, silently communicating everything he felt for me, then leaned in for a kiss. The soft touch of his lips against mine had me lifting my hands to cup his. When we finally parted, he held my gaze a moment longer, before finally stepping back.
Sam and I quickly stripped, then immediately shifted, dropping onto all fours. Jaden gathered our clothes and stuffed them into a bag we’d brought for this exact purpose. She tucked it beside the house, so it didn’t weigh anyone down while fighting, then gave a thumbs up.
We waited with bated breath while Gabriel opened the door. One squeak or moan of the hinges would give us away. But thankfully, the door opened without so much as a swish. The dimly lit entryway inside was quiet. Time to move.
Gabriel stepped inside first, sword at the ready, his vampire senses on high alert. Jaden and Josh entered next, leaving Sam and I to pull up the rear guard. We padded silently behind, our keen senses attuned for any hint of danger.
We moved as one unit, a deadly procession making our way through the mansion. Our path took us past a grand doorway and beneath sparkling chandeliers, each step hopefully bringing us closer to our target, who I could hear speaking upstairs right this second. From the sound of his level and peaceful words, he was having a normal conversation with someone.
We were about to turn a corner into the next room when Gabriel suddenly paused and held up a hand, signaling for us to stop. Ahead, the corridor forked, one direction leading toward the kitchen, the other leading upstairs. Adrian was our prime target here tonight, but we wanted to take out the other vampires too. Which meant splitting up to check the entire estate.
Without a word, Jaden and Josh veered left, their steps leading them toward the kitchen. I nudged Sam and jerked my head toward them. They were excellent vampire slayers, but they were human. Having a werewolf on their side couldn’t hurt matters. Sam nodded, then quietly trotted behind them.
Gabriel and I locked eyes for a moment, then broke to the right and headed upstairs, where we could hear Adrian’s voice. Every step we took, Adrian’s scent grew stronger. This was definitely the right direction.
At the top of the stairs, I leaned around the corner and stole a glance down the hall. Not a single vampire in view. I didn’t love that. It suggested they were all camped in the same room as Adrian, making our job a little harder.
Together, Gabriel and I moved forward. Up ahead, a door stood slightly ajar, light spilling into the hallway. Shadows moved in front of the light and we paused, waiting to see if they passed. I lifted my head and sniffed the air, immediately picking up on Adrian’s, Elias’s, and another vampire’s scent. Three against two were good odds. We needed to move fast though. Because if I could smell them, they could surely smell us. It was a miracle they hadn’t noticed yet.
Gabriel approached the door with caution and flattened himself against the wall. He silently counted us down to three, then he stepped forward, pushed open the door, and strode inside with me following right behind.
Adrian immediately whirled around, the surprise on his face rather comical.
Elias stood next to Adrian, the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement. Guess he hadn’t betrayed us after all, much to my pleasure. I’d believed everything he’d said last night, but I hadn’t trusted that he wouldn’t change his mind after returning here. Luckily, my fears seemed to be unfounded.
“What the…?” Adrian muttered before growling at his guards to attack.
