Tyrant (Scars of the Wraiths #2)(86)

“Deal. We can’t go out the main gate. They will see us.”

“No, they won’t.” Serafina peeked around the side of the house. “They are stupid vampires.”

I gasped. Vampires. Shit.

She raised both arms out to the side. “Come. I can mask us for thirty seconds. They won’t see or hear us. Don’t know if vampires can smell us, Rayne-drop. We go another way to be safe.”

I went into her arms and the heat from her body sank into me. It was refreshing and soothing, like a blanket that had just come out of the dryer.

“We go this way,” Serafina ordered. She held me to her as we walked across the lawn with no cover.

I was terrified the vampires would see us, but the Mask held and there were no shouts as we reached the edge of the property.

Serafina stopped. “I’ll throw you over the wall. But when I let you go, the Mask will drop. So be quick, quick. Okay?”

I nodded.

I stared up at the wall. It felt so familiar. Exactly the same as when I was twelve and trying to escape the compound, except I hadn’t had Serafina.

Fear encased me and I felt like it was that day again. I couldn’t go back. I wouldn’t go back. Please let me get away. The memory intensified and I panicked seeing the wall, knowing it was too high to get over by myself.

“Rayne-drop,” Serafina’s voice whispered.

I stood trembling, staring at the wall, voices all around me. Anton shouting. Men shouting. Knowing I was going to be locked up.

Serafina’s palm slapped me across the cheek and I staggered into the wall. I put my hand over the burning sting. “What did you do that for?”

Serafina shrugged. “You were in zombie land. You want out of here, then suck it up. Time for a mental breakdown comes… well, never. Piss on it.” Serafina grabbed my arm and shoved me toward the wall. “Upsy-daisy.”

Serafina hoisted me into the air, high enough for me to grab the ledge of the wall. I pulled myself up and over then jumped to the ground on the other side. Serafina’s light glowed bright red as it stretched to the limit.

“Serafina, come to me.” Oh, God, don’t let her be stuck on the other side. That would trap us both.

Serafina appeared, landing gracefully on her feet beside me.

“Oh my, did you see that guy. The Taster.” Hack? “He is smashing hot. Like roll me over and—”

My heart pounded. “You saw him? Was he okay?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “He came out of the house and dove on a vampire. I like a man who fights like that. New terms. Chess, and I get to meet him. This Hack guy.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I said. I’d agree to anything right now. “Now, come to me before I become too weak.”

Serafina’s brows lowered. “Don’t get hurt. I have shit I still want to do and a man I need to meet.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Serafina pouted, but she did as requested, and there was a burst of burning heat as Serafina trailed a path from the link through my body to settle on my shoulder again.

Then I ran onto the main road and hailed a cab. “Queen and Strachan.”




I called Kilter from the cab, but there was no response, so I texted him that vampires were at the house and I was going to the gallery to meet Delara. I wasn’t going to mention Roarke, but Kilter already had trust issues and I wanted him to trust me, so I texted that Roarke was meeting me, too.

I hopped out of the cab at the park a block from the gallery and walked under the massive gray stone arches then headed up the path between two rows of flower gardens until I reached the circular path. I saw a man standing with his back up against a maple tree smoking a cigarette. He pushed off and sauntered toward me. A border collie ran across his path, barking as it chased a squirrel, and he called the dog back and they both walked past.

My skin prickled in warning and I turned to see Roarke. “Roarke.”

He nodded to a wooden park bench a few feet away. “We’ll wait here for your Scars.”

I shook my head. “No, I should go to the gallery. Delara is supposed to meet me there.”

“The gallery isn’t safe. They’re watching it.”

Oh shit. “I have to call Delara.”

“Yes. She can meet us here.”

I nodded. Taking out my cell, I tapped on the screen until Delara’s number came up then hit Send. “Delara?”

“Rayne,” she said breathless. “Thank God. You got out.”

“I’m at the park by the gallery. With Roarke.”

Silence then, “Stay there. Jedrik and I are on our way.”

“Are the others okay?”

“Yeah. A few scratches, but nothing Anstice can’t heal. See you in fifteen.”

“Okay.” I hung up and texted Kilter where I was.

“You used your Ink to get out?” Roarke asked.

I nodded. “Yes.”

He half-smiled and, with his hand on my lower back, guided me over to a park bench. He sat, but I hesitated. “You have nothing to fear, Rayne. You know I’d never harm you.” The streetlights glimmered off his face and there was nothing but softness. “I need you to understand why I couldn’t risk taking you away from Anton.”

I sat beside him.