Bloodspell (The Cruentus Curse, #1)(47)

All Victoria could think was that somehow she knew that face, but the memory eluded her. The woman dropped into a crouch and feinted, ready to attack, and Victoria braced herself, feeling the magic responding to her needs, the energy amassing in her fingertips. The blast rocketed past the woman who spun with inhuman speed to avoid the blow. Victoria shifted to the left keeping the first attacker in sight and realizing that there was a second man, behind her. She didn't have time to hyperventilate. The power surged through her leaving her breathless—she was born for this.

They circled like three sharks that smelled blood in the water. One of the man-things leapt toward her. Words shot through her head and Victoria screamed them without even thinking about where they had come from.

"Ignis cremo!"

The curse's fiery arms destroyed the creature in midair. Its shrieks were hideous as it died, and Victoria's blood soared in response, exultant with its success. On her left, she could see the blond woman staring at her uneasily.

Victoria lifted her chin in cool challenge. The woman's answering stare was venomous, and as Victoria fought to grasp the elusive memory of who she was, she didn't notice the other man-thing springing toward her from the side. Razor-sharp, serrated fangs tore into the flesh of her right shoulder. Victoria screamed, but before she could react, the thing fell onto the ground and started convulsing in terrible agony and clawing at its face. She stared in horror as its mouth and face blistered off, the rest of it smoldering to slow ashes before her eyes.

Blood congealed into her sweater and coat, its tackiness coating her skin, pungent like corroded rust. Her shoulder stung as if there were powered glass underneath but she ignored it, her burning eyes scanning the area. With some relief, she realized that the woman had disappeared. Her vision clouded as her knees buckled. The earth was cold and wet, and her eyes grew heavy as she lay back on the grass at the side of the road, looking at the black sky and feeling the blood dancing in her veins. It was resonant with victory, but she felt drained. The pain in her shoulder faded to a dull throb as she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness.

Christian ...

VICTORIA WAS FLYING. There were tight bands around her arms and her thighs, holding her close. Dizzily, she turned her face and saw the familiar angular profile. He had come for her, just like she had known he would. Her throat stung from the effort of the words.

"Killed v ... v ... vampire ... oh God ... I killed it ... them ..."

Sleep, chérie.

And she did.

CHRISTIAN SHOUTED FOR Anton the minute he arrived at the house with Victoria limp in his arms. Although Anton's special poultice, made for an infected vampire bite, seemed to calm the weeping of the lesions, they still remained angry and raw. Even worse, Victoria was still unconscious.

When she'd called him, Christian had followed her call, the lushly wet scent of her blood like a beacon. Its siren song was nearly impossible to resist. The thought that a vampire had bitten her incensed him, and he fought to keep his rage under control as it simmered beneath the surface. He knew exactly who had sent it, and his wrath made him reckless. He picked up the phone and punched in a number. No answer.

I know you're there Lucian! he roared mentally.

They rarely communicated telepathically but the unique bond they shared had not diminished with time or immortality. They had always been able to finish each other's sentences as children, and that ability had evolved into something much more unique. Despite its usefulness, it reminded Lucian too much that they were brothers, a fact that he preferred to forget.

Christian's cell phone rang.

"What can I do for you, brother?" Lucian's voice was composed, arrogant.

"Explain."

"Explain what? That you were hiding a witch of immense power? That she killed two of Lena's men in the space of minutes? Or worse, that you thought I wouldn't find out?"

"You sent Lena?" Christian's voice was choked.

"Afraid, brother?"

"She is of no threat to you Lucian!" Christian could scarcely control his fury, he felt like he wanted to rip Lucian apart with his bare hands. He didn't even want to imagine what he would have done if they had been on the same continent. Lucian's response was quiet.

"You forget your duty, Christian," he said. "The Watchers have foreseen it. The prophecy—"

Christian interrupted him fiercely. "She is NOT the one you seek." But even as he said it, Christian doubted himself. Could she be? "No. The Watchers are not infallible. They are trained to detect paranormal threats against the vampire world, but still, their visions aren't set in stone. You know that better than anyone."

"So you admit that there's something, then? A threat?"

"If there is a threat, I'll deal with it. Don't ever send anyone here again," Christian said, "because brother, trust me you will not like the result."

"And what if she is the one?"

"Lucian, her power is raw but not extraordinary. She can't be the one from the prophecy. It's impossible." Christian could hear the silence on the other end of the phone as Lucian processed the information. After a while Lucian spoke, curiosity evident in his tone.

"So why do you care so much? Giving in to the temptation of a little forbidden snack?" Lucian's laugh was derisive.

"None of your damned business."