Addict (Hunter #2)(104)

“I don’t feel anything.” Trent had to shout because the whole club had erupted into chaos. He kept his weapon up, his eyes scanning for more trouble.

I moved in close so he could hear me. “How much did you drink?”

“Half a beer, maybe. I got called away,” he explained. “Fuck, I just killed a man who’s been my friend for ten years.”

“Unless you get them somewhere they can’t hurt anyone, you’re going to have to kill a whole lot more,” I said.

“I think we’re past that now.” Jamie watched the dance floor.

Trent looked down at me, his eyes beginning to turn. “Kelsey, you should run.”

Gray’s hand was on my arm, hauling me back when Trent howled. The sound shook the damn roof, but before he could change, something slammed into him from behind. He fell to his knees, gun clanging to the floor right before his head hit.

Dev Quinn came out of the smoke, one rifle in his hands and several more slung over his shoulder. “Tranquilizer dart. Extra extra druggy. Even Trent will sleep for at least an hour.”

We all stared at the faery.

He shrugged and started passing out the rifles. “My contingency plans have plans. Did I ever dream a day would come that our allies could be turned against us? Every damn night and twice during the day. James, how good a shot are you?”

“Excellent,” my brother replied.

“Good, then come with me. There’s a perfect sniper position up in the lighting unit. I’ve already called Daniel. He’ll be here as soon as he can,” Dev explained. He was perfectly calm even as the club collapsed into chaos. “So I figured out that Winter must have drugged my beer shipment when two of my best bodyguards attempted to behead me. They’re sleeping it off in a cell. Do we have a way to bring them back?”

“My blood amplified by the king’s.” Gray’s voice sounded even deeper than normal and I heard Quinn gasp.

When I turned, Gray’s eyes had gone white. He stared ahead, though it seemed like he was seeing something.

“What the hell?” Jamie asked.

Gray’s eyes returned to normal. “Sorry. That happened quickly and honestly, it was more about common sense than prophecy. But I do know it’s the right way to go. I feel it deep inside. The most efficient path is the same we took healing Kelsey’s arm. The drugs are booby-trapped in a way. Any use of normal vampire blood will amplify the damage. Demon blood accelerated with the king’s own is the only way to heal the wolves.”

“I’ve only seen those eyes once before,” Quinn said, his voice unsteady. “On a prophet.”

“Yeah, Gray picked up some cool new powers at the mansion tonight,” I explained. “But we’re not going to be able to use that information if we stand here talking. I need to find Winter. He’s got to be here somewhere.”

I had to move. There was a massive crowd coming our way, likely trying to get away from the now crazed wolves and shifters.

Quinn and Jamie started shooting anything that looked vaguely psychotic. I took one of Quinn’s tranq guns and so did Gray. Luckily it wasn’t a full moon or the wolves would be at peak strength.

The crowd shifted and started running the other way, back away from the exit.

That was when the outliers showed up. Our wolves were simply crazed, but the group from Brimstone had been introduced to the drug slowly.

They strode in like they owned the place, a massive alpha at the head. I’d seen him before. I was fairly certain he was a werelion. He was also a drug addict. He stopped and took a long breath.

“Take them all boys. Winter’s promised us all the Brimstone we can handle and a million dollars to whoever brings him the king’s head.”

The werelion stared down at his chest where a very large dart was now stuck.

Sometimes I love my job. The leader went down but the rest of them scattered.

“Dev, you and Jamie pick off as many as you can,” I ordered. “Gray and I are going to find Winter and put a stop to this. Where did you say the king is?”

“He was upstairs with our family. He’ll be down here once he’s sure they’re safe.” Dev stood next to Jamie, ready to do his job.

I would never call the man paranoid again. He was prepared and it was a beautiful thing. “Tell him to stay upstairs. They’re looking for him. There are too many of them. He would have to kill them and he won’t like that option.”

“I’ll do it.” Quinn and Jamie headed for their spots.

“Where would Winter be?” Ahead of me, the dance floor was empty. As far as I could tell, everyone was hiding or trying to. I was fairly certain I’d seen a bunch of non-shifters hightailing it for the bathrooms. Hopefully they could hole up there or in the kitchen. I didn’t want to have to worry about civilians.

The vampires were fighting. I saw my assistant holding off a brown werewolf. The wolf snapped at him, drawing blood, but he wouldn’t fight back. He merely tried to keep the wolf off of him.

One neat shot and the wolf went down.

Justin immediately dropped to his knees, pulling the wolf into his arms.

His girlfriend. He was weeping over her, trying to get her to respond.

“She’ll be out for about an hour,” I explained.

“She’s not dead?” Tears streaked down the kid’s face. He loved the wolf.