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  Have to do this.

  My hands shook as I unstoppered the lid inside my jacket. Deep breath, Kari. You gotta do this. One, two, three ... I mouthed, then splashed the perfume into Stinky’s eyes.

  Whoa!

  Stinky bucked and reared. It was like being on a rodeo ride. ‘It burnsss! It burnsss!’ He screeched and dropped me.

  Ha! Served it right. Ow! Ow! Leaves and sharp twigs smacked me in the legs and arms as I grabbed at anything to slow my fall. We weren’t that high, but high enough that I could break a leg or arm. It’d take too long to heal—at least a day. Stinky would find me.

  Oomph! Aaargghh! A sharp pain in my arm as I hooked it around a branch to break my fall. Deep breaths, Kari. I swung there for a second waiting for the pain to recede before dropping to the ground.

  Above me, Stinky screeched and circled the treetops.

  Ooh, it was mad! Tough nuts, Stinky! I chuckled and cradled my sore arm.

  I squat in the giant roots of a she-oak and scooped up a handful of decayed leaves, grasses and dirt and rubbed them all over me to disguise my scent.

  Okay, now what? I could stay hidden in the woods till daylight, or make a run for it.

  I bit my fingernails. Decisions, decisions. Once out of the woods, it was open landscape. It could easily swoop down on me. Could I outrun it? No way, Jose.

  I would have to stay put.

  I felt for my blood vial beneath my jacket pocket. What if I’d smashed it against a tree? My heart skipped a beat just thinking about it. I’d last taken it two days ago, which was enough to get me through the new day. I clutched it to me. Thank you, Princi.

  Yep, I could wait it out.

  Why wasn’t Old Stinky shrieking anymore? I stuck my head out from behind a root and peered up. The sky was clear. Where was he? There was no way he would’ve given up. My skin prickled, as if thousands of cockroaches were crawling over me.

  A funny whistling sound ... a thump, the rustle of dried leaves ... the smell of rotting meat.

  Oh no! I froze.

  Stinky!

  My chest constricted, but I had to know how close it was. Peering through the exposed tree roots, there it was, wings folded tight against its body, clawed feet digging into the earth. It angled its ugly, pointy head in all directions and sniffed the air.

  Hells bells! It must have dived down through the canopy. If my heart beat any faster, I’d be human. And if I could hear it.... His head snapped in my direction and sniffed. My throat went drier than an old spinster’s tit.

  It knew where I was. How?

  I sucked in a breath. Jake’s perfume bottle. Some of the drops had fallen back onto my jacket.

  Kari, you dope!

  I shoved my blood vial down my bra then peeled off the jacket. After I kissed my precious perfume pendant, I flung it high into the trees. It would give me a few seconds to find another hiding spot.

  Then I ran.

  Chapter 18 - Collateral Damage

  LAURA

  Alec pumped vial after vial directly into Jake’s heart. Once or twice, aware of my gaze, he glanced up. The pain in his eyes made my stomach knot.

  This was my fault.

  Cal crouched next to him, one hand squeezing Jake’s shoulder. Two blood red trails slid slowly down his face. ‘Live, brother.’

  The world around me shrunk into a narrow tunnel where all that existed was Alec frantically working to save his best friend’s life.

  Jake lay still, face pallid. Unresponsive.

  ‘Please, please Jake, open your eyes. Live Jake!’

  I swiped away my tears and shoved my sleeve against my mouth to prevent a sob escaping.

  ‘Another one.’ Alec held out his hand, and Dominik passed him yet another vial.

  How many did he have left in his medical bag? What if he ran out and Jake still hadn’t revived? There’d be no time to fetch more.

  I wrapped my trembling arms around my middle, briefly closed my eyes and prayed.

  How many minutes had it been? Or was it hours? Still Jake lay there, his skin ashen.

  My mouth dried when Alec rummaged around in his medical bag, frowned, then licking his lips he thumped hard on Jake’s chest with one fist.

  No heartbeat.

  No response.

  He thumped it again. Harder this time.

  From the edge of my tunnel vision, Sam, who’d been sitting still as a statue on the floor, arms extended over his knees, now moved and crawled to where Jake lay.

  In the doorway, arms braced against its frame, stood Terens. ‘Why didn’t he wait for us? Fuck! I’m the one who charges off into danger. Not him. It shouldn’t have been him.’ He punched the wooden frame, cracking it.

  Alec thumped Jake’s sternum again, waited three seconds, then again ... and again. ‘Damn you, Jake!’

  A sudden, deep inhalation pierced the deathly silence. Jake’s eyes shot open. He sat up and looked around. ‘What the hell ...’

  If Marcus hadn’t had his arm tight around my shoulders, I would’ve sunk to my knees with relief.

  ‘Welcome back.’ Alec sat back on his haunches and wiped his brow, undisguised relief on his face.

  One heavy rock lifted from my heart, but there was still another so I barely noticed the shouts and laughter, the backslapping.

  ‘Deus! Deo gratia.’ Blinking rapidly, Marcus turned his face toward the ceiling.

  Jake shot to his feet. ‘Where’s Kari?’

  ‘That smelly bastard’s got her, bro. Flew off with her.’ Terens remained standing in the doorway, his tall frame blocking all view to the outside.

  Jake’s face darkened. ‘Why didn’t you go after it?’

  Terens pointed to his sword hilts, jutting out above his shoulders. ‘Do these look like wings to you?’

  ‘There was nothing they could do, and you were dying. I pumped nine blood vials into you.’

  Jake faced Alec, swallowing hard as his gaze took in the syringe and the empty vials littering the floor. Alec had used up part of his own supply. Jake’s jaw slackened and he stared at Alec. ‘Dammit, Alec.’

  ‘What did you expect me to do? Let you die?’ He retrieved his bloodied shirt, collected and dumped the empty blood vials into his medical bag and handed it to Dominik. ‘Take these back to the chateau. We’ll be along soon.’

  ‘Did I do good?’ Dom gazed up at him in awe.

  ‘You did.’ Alec slapped him on the back.

  Dom’s bony chest thrust out, and an ear-to-ear smile split his face. It was almost painful to see how eager he was to please Alec, like a boy looking to his father for approval. And in a way, that’s what Alec had become to him, and that wasn’t a bad thing.

  Jake took in a shuddering breath, hands clenched as he stood there. ‘I’ll make it up to you, Alec, I swear.’

  ‘You owe me nothing. Go find Kari.’

  ‘Jake.’ I pressed his arm. ‘Forgive me, Jake, please.’ I would thoroughly understand if he couldn’t ... at that moment. ‘You were nearly killed because it was my stupid idea to send Kari to accompany Adeline outside the ward. I should’ve thought ... I’m so sorry.’

  Jake’s brows creased, he let out a breath and shook his head. ‘Come here.’

  I left Marcus’s side to be embraced by Jake. ‘Thanks sunshine, but get that idea out of your head. You’re not to blame. Get it? Adeline needed an escort home and Kari was there. If not her, then one of us would’ve done it. Same result. It’s. Not. Your. Fault.’

  ‘Would you have rushed out like that if it had been anyone else but Kari?’

  ‘Do you know that for sure?’ Jake gazed earnestly at me.

  I darted a glance at Terens, recalling his words from earlier that he was the one who always charged into danger ahead of the others. Him, not Jake. ‘Yes,’ I said.

  Behind me, Terens muttered, ‘Gotta learn to keep my mouth shut.’

  Jake held me out at arms length, dark lavender eyes gazing earnestly into mine. ‘I’ll take the blame for that. Not you. Repeat
after me: It’s not my fault. Let me hear you say it.’

  ‘It’s not my fault,’ I whispered.

  ‘Now believe it.’

  I nodded, although it would take some time convincing myself.

  Jake dropped his hands and looked at Marcus. ‘Which way did it go?’

  ‘East.’

  Jake’s eyes blazed, his knuckles white as he unsheathed his sword. ‘Let’s go.’

  ‘Let me know as soon as you find her,’ Alec said.

  Jake gave him a curt nod, and he, Cal, Sam, Terens and Marcus sped out into the night.

  ‘You’re not going with them?’

  Alec’s gaze connected with mine. ‘Not this time. Kari’s Jake’s responsibility.’

  I should’ve felt guilty that I was relieved. I then remembered I still had Alec’s phone. ‘Thanks for the loan.’ I handed it back to him. ‘Soon as we get back, I’ll recharge mine.’

  He pocketed it. ‘What Jake said.’

  ‘When I know Kari’s safe.’

  ‘That’s not how it works. I don’t want you carrying a false sense of guilt, darling.’

  ‘I can’t help it!’

  From the top of the stairs, came a faint whimper. Adeline! I’d forgotten all about her. Large round eyes peered down at us through the railing at the top of the stairs, the horror of what she’d seen holding her in its grip from the rapid beat of her heart and her small sharp intakes of breath.

  I raced up the steps and crouched down next to her. ‘You’re safe now. It’s gone. You can come down.’

  She shook her head and backed away from me. One hand gripped the bannister while the other clutched the folds of her jacket at her chest. ‘Go away! GO AWAY!’

  ‘Adeline, it’s me, Laura. You’re safe.’ I took a step toward her and extended my hand. The terror on her face tugged at my heart.

  Adeline’s eyes widened further, her breath sawing in and out. She scooted till her back was against the wall. The word, ‘Monsters,’ tumbled from her lips.

  I called down to Alec. ‘Adeline’s in shock.’

  He bounded up the stairs just as I knelt near her. Her gaze shot to him. She shook her head, turned her face to the wall and clawed at the wallpaper as if she could gouge a hole through it.

  Alec crouched down next to her. ‘Adeline, look at me.’ His low mesmerising voice stilled her frenzied scratching.

  Slowly, she faced him and raised her eyes to meet his, chin trembling. In all the years she’d known my family, had she never seen any of them in vampire form? If not, I couldn’t blame her for being in such a state. The first time Alec had transformed in front of me, I’d screamed and sunk to the floor in a trembling mess.

  But, to be confronted by them all as they’d battled the grotesque-looking lamia to boot would’ve been too much for anyone.

  Poor Addy. How was her mind going to cope with it?

  Alec’s eyes paled. He cupped her face in his hands and soothed her. ‘Shhh ... All is well. No one will hurt you. You’re safe.’ He waited—and I held my breath—until Adeline’s expression calmed. ‘Take a deep breath for me.’ Her nostrils flared, chest rising and falling at the in rush of air. ‘Again.’ As she did so, her breathing returned to normal.

  ‘Will she be all right?’ I whispered.

  ‘I think so,’ he whispered back, before speaking to her again. ‘Adeline, nothing unusual happened tonight. Kari brought you home. You couldn’t find your key, so she forced your door open.’

  That was as good an explanation as any.

  ‘Have no fear. Go to bed now and sleep. It’s been a long day.’

  Alec stood and hoisted her to her feet. Eyes glazed, Adeline nodded, and seemingly oblivious to our presence, walked down the hall to her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

  ‘She won’t remember we were here?’

  Alec shook his head. ‘It’ll be like a dream.’

  ‘Cheaper than therapy.’

  He smiled and took my hand as we went down the stairs. Before we left the house, Alec braced the door then texted Morrel. ‘He’ll keep an eye on her and get someone to fix the door in the morning.’

  ‘He’s a good man, and I think Adeline likes him.’ I couldn’t help noticing the way she’d clung to the police chief when they’d come to tell us of Pere Hubert’s tragic death. I clutched my stomach as that thought led to the rest of the events of this night ... and Kari.

  My dear friend in the clutches of the lamia.

  Please, Lord, keep her safe.

  Chapter 19 - Nighthunter

  MATT

  I released a deep breath after exiting Jenny’s apartment. It was done. For sure she was on the phone to Laura right now, letting her know I was on my way—just as I’d planned. So I’d invented a witness. So what? I needed Laura to be scared ... enough to persuade Munro to run. It was the only way to issue an Interpol Red Notice on them: location, arrest and extradition.

  I raced down the stairs to my car. In less than five hours, I’d be on a flight to France, and I still hadn’t packed. As I drove, all I could think about was her. Yeah, I wanted to see Laura again, but if she responded to Jenny’s warning as I hoped she would she wouldn’t be there when I arrived. A tinge of regret that I wouldn’t be seeing her cut through me, and the feelings I’d been trying to quash the last three months just resurfaced.

  Mate, give me a break! I punched the steering wheel. The horn went off. Fuck! Guy in the next car glared at me.

  ‘Ah, shut up!’ I drove off and turned left. My block of flats was just up ahead.

  I checked my watch after parking the car.

  Dave and I had worked tirelessly the last three months to get to this point, gathering the necessary evidence to get Interpol involved. Pity the information I’d got from Laura about Reynolds death was inadmissible. I’d need her permission to use it as evidence, and that was as unlikely as a snowstorm in Sydney in January. Regardless, forensics had found traces of unknown DNA on the portrait that matched blood splatters in Munro’s flat. It had to belong to Reynolds. The poor, sick bastard had kissed the portrait on the lips after he’d finished painting it.

  We issued a Blue Alert with Interpol. ‘But I’m not going further than that,’ Dave had said. ‘It was sheer dumb luck I got a sympathetic judge to okay that forensics search warrant on Munro’s flat. You know how flimsy our evidence is. Until we have something more concrete that’s as far as we can go. I’m not sticking my neck out any further, mate.’

  I was grateful.

  Checked my watch again. Four-and-a-half hours before I got on the plane.

  Damn city traffic! I sprinted down the corridor to my apartment.

  Who the hell were they?

  A couple of young blokes—faces unfamiliar—lurked just outside my apartment door: one tall with a shock of blonde hair so pale it could’ve been white. Backpack over his shoulder. The other, back against the wall, playing with his mobile, was slightly shorter and stockier. Ring in his right nostril. Never understood how anyone could wear one of those things. How the hell did you blow your nose?

  At least they were humans: no lavender eyes. Dammit, when had I begun to think like that?

  The white-haired one spotted me. He was no more than twenty, if that. ‘You Matthew Sommers?’

  What the hell? ‘Who’s asking?’

  The other young guy—no, kid, no more than seventeen ... eighteen at the most—pushed away from the wall and faced me. Checking out my T-shirt? So it was a little crumpled. So what?

  ‘Hard day, mate?’

  Cocky little bastard. I ignored him.

  The older one extended his hand. ‘Alistair Davis. You recently ordered a box of white-oak bullets from us.’

  Nice manners. North Shore, private boys school. Probably lives in Woollahra or Double Bay and goes to Sydney uni. And who calls their kid “Alistair” anyway. What the hell was he doing this side of town?

  Then it hit me. I’d bought anti-vampire bullets from a couple of kids.

  I resist
ed the urge to slap my head.

  Hell, you never knew who you were dealing with online. But they looked innocent enough.

  ‘You’re Nighthunter?’ It was the website I’d bought the first box of white-oak bullets, the ones that bastard Munro had taken from me. My trigger finger itched at the thought of him.

  ‘That’s us.’ The younger kid approached. ‘I’m Brad.’

  The older boy jerked his head toward his friend. ‘My associate. Mind if we talk?’

  His “associate” was back playing with his mobile. I shook my head. Last time I’d buy anything online. I’d need to get a post office box, too.

  The entrance door downstairs opened and closed. Someone could overhear us. I looked over my shoulder. All clear.

  ‘Show me some ID. I’m not letting any underage kids into my apartment.’

  ‘I’m twenty! I’m studying law at Sydney University.’

  ‘Yeah, well, you’re not a lawyer yet. IDs, now!’

  Both grimaced when producing their driver’s licenses.

  ‘Satisfied?’ Davis looked at me smugly, like he’d proven some stupendous point.

  The younger kid handed me his. Eighteen three weeks previously, and the license was legit.

  I strode past them and unlocked the door. ‘Okay, you’ve got exactly ten minutes to tell me why you’re here.’

  I’d forgotten about the mess of newspapers, research notes and papers I’d left on the sofa. I could always make then stand.... Nah. I dumped it all on the coffee table, on top of a pile of other stuff.

  ‘Take a seat.’

  Davis picked up one piece I dropped. I managed to snatch it back before he saw too much. ‘I see you’ve been doing some research.’

  None of your business, kid.

  I sat in the armchair opposite. How much did they already know? Hell, I’d ordered vampire-killing bullets from them, so they weren’t here on a social call. They were sussing me out. I’d bet my promotion on it.

  Only one way to find out for sure.

  ‘Been long in the vampire-killing business?’ Nothing beats directness. I sat back and relaxed, waiting for the comeback.