His mother watched, hesitating, but finally followed.
The light eased across the sky, casting shadows over the empty street. A pair on the roof ducked out of sight as daylight threatened.
Bennett halted at the edge of the building. Lizzy waited at his side.
A voice echoed from inside the building. “Calloway says that in forty-eight hours, we will no longer be hiding in the shadows.” Blayk. Asshole. Bennett gripped his sword, ready to launch it straight for his throat.
A few whoops and hollers.
Bennett moved to slip in the backdoor. Easing inside, he found a crowd gathered around Blayk, the dickwad standing above them on the steel stairs. Adair was unchained, casually leaning over the banister at the top of the stairs. What the fuck?
Blayk shushed the cheers, his gaze landing on Bennett for only a blink, then casting back onto the crowd. “Our future lies in the balance. We can’t lose hold of our hope for the future. Lay your lives on the line for the cause… and don’t let Bennett out of here with our hostages.”
Across the crowd, Blayk flashed a grinning wink at Bennett. Shit, this wasn’t going to be an easy one. His mother moved to his side and gripped her axe, ready to start swinging.
Two dozen vampires caught his meaning and turned in place, snarling and ready to pounce as they caught sight of the hunters that joined the party.
He glanced up at Adair, unsure what to expect. She beamed; a massive grin spread across her lips as she stood at Blayk’s side. He’d figured they knew each other, but she looked a little too comfortable next to the enemy.
His mother roared at his side and rushed for the crowd. Fuck, she was furious. Bennett ran to catch up.
Bashing his shield into the first, he sliced his sword through the next.
One leaped onto his back. Jerking his head back, he slammed into its nose. Spinning, he drove his sword into the hollow above her collarbone and wrenched until she dropped to the ground.
His mother quickly discharged her third kill as Bennett sliced his sword through the throat of another.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Blayk flashing through the mob, taking out his own guys without remorse.
In the opposite corner, Adair gracefully took out another batch of them. Across the room, she flashed a grin at Blayk. And he raised his eyebrows back as if they were having the time of their lives.
Furious, Bennett thrashed through the final few.
Bennett lowered his sword but tightened his shield.
Across the warehouse, the corner of Blayk’s lips turned up, his eyes crinkling in appreciation. Strolling confidently over the scattered bodies, he moved to greet him.
Raising his sword, Bennett beckoned him close. “Ready to finish this, now that we’re not so sleepy?”
Seeing one of the vampires twitching at his feet, Blayk leaned down and snapped his neck.
What the fuck was going on? Bennett held his breath and looked to Adair. She grinned at him and then watched as Blayk motioned to a meeting room at the opposite end of the warehouse and waved Lizzy over. “He’s fine. He’s in here.”
Lizzy didn’t loosen her grip on her sword, but followed. With a guarded gait, she kept her distance. On seeing Jonathan was okay, alone in a supply room, she dropped her axe and fussed over him.
Bennett sheathed his sword and hooked his shield onto his back. Adair came sprinting down the stairs, aimed straight for Bennett. As she looked ready to leap into his arms, Bennett folded his arms over his chest.
Adair stopped inches from him and her brow drew together. Fuck, he could smell the confusion on her, but not half as strong as the scent of Blayk all over her. And vice versa. As if she didn’t know what he was pissed about? Yeah, she appeared so… tame, so normal, but his parents were right. She was a purebred vampire.
“Bennett? You okay?” She glanced back to see Blayk keeping his distance, a deep scowl between his eyebrows as he watched Bennett’s cold reception.
“I should be asking you that, but clearly you’re unharmed. We never committed to each other, no, and you made it damn clear that you had no interest in a tomorrow with me. But I’m not getting played. Again. And I sure as fuck don’t share.” His fists clenched so tight his fingernails broke the skin of his palms; his jaw gritted so tight his teeth squealed in defense.
She ran her fingers through her hair and stepped back. “Of course. Why would you trust me?”
Blayk came dashing over. “Hey, Bennett. I won’t pretend I couldn’t hear all that. And I won’t pretend I don’t know Adair well enough to know she’s too damn stubborn to explain.”
Adair shifted her glare to Blayk. “Stay out of it.”
