Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(41)

“No.” She kept her gaze on him. There was a serious flaw with his logic. “Cass will know you are the one who hurt me. Not Luke. You’re the one he’ll come for.”

His voice dropped to a whisper as he told her, “I won’t be here. It will just be Cass, your dead body…and Luke. And here’s the thing, dear Amber…I think Cass gave you his heart. I think he’s finally—after centuries of having nothing—found a woman that he let get close.”

Her hand was over his heart right then. And it’s still not beating.

“Cass won’t have a sane thought when he wakes and you’re dead. He’ll know only rage. And even if he did try to fight through that fury…Luke will be blaming him. Luke will see him as your killer. So Luke will attack. They’ll fight, and I’m sure it will be epic.”

She couldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t let that happen.

Why wasn’t Cass waking up?

“So…this little chat has been fun—always nice to have my brilliance appreciated—but it’s time for you to die.” He snapped his fingers together. “Marguerite, love, why don’t you go for her eyes?”

Distracting. That was what he was doing. His witch was coming for her eyes and Amber knew Gregory would attack her at the same moment.

Amber aimed and fired—again and again and again. She shot at the crows as they flew at her and they dropped to the ground. One, two, three, four—

Cass’s heart jerked beneath her hand. He was coming back! She just had to hold off the attack a little longer.

Bam! Bam!

Five, six crows down…Did she have to kill them all before Marguerite stopped the attack? Amber fired again—

And at that last shot, all of the crows just fell from the sky. They hit the ground and took the form of Marguerite. A very still Marguerite.

“Out of bullets?” Gregory was right in front of her.

“Not yet.” She fired at him.

The bullet blasted right into his chest but…

He was a vampire. That wouldn’t kill him.

She tried to fire again. But the gun just clicked.

Now I’m out.

The fear must have flashed on her face because he laughed again. Gregory grabbed her and yanked her up. His hands locked around her neck. “Can’t have too many wounds on you. Has to look as if his touch alone killed you…”

She slammed her forehead against his. He swore and his hands tightened on her neck.

He didn’t let her go. Without her wings, she was no match for him. Barely stronger than a human. And she called out desperately for help…using the last of her strength to send that psychic call…knowing there was one thing she had to do…

Luke…don’t hurt Cass! Don’t!

She opened the psychic path between them, pulling Luke in once more as she fought to send out that message—

Snap.

She was staring straight into Gregory’s eyes when he broke her neck. He smiled at her and then he dropped her to the ground.

***

Gregory rubbed his hands together. Amber was at his feet, her body half-sprawled across Cass. Perfect positioning.

Humming, he turned and headed toward Marguerite. Her eyes were wide open and staring at nothing. The gloves were still on her hands.

“Don’t mind if I do,” he murmured as he took those gloves and slid them onto his own hands. What a perfect fit.

Overhead, lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled. Luke would be coming soon…after all, Gregory had called him while his werewolves had been attacking Cass and Amber. The bullets had started flying and he’d known it was the perfect moment to bring in the Lord of the Dark.

Now it was time to retreat and watch the fireworks. He was sure the battle would be something to see…the stuff of legends.

He’d always wanted to be legendary.





Chapter Fourteen


Cass’s eyes flew open and he sucked in a deep gulp of air. “Amber!”

His hands shot out as he sat up and…

And Amber was on him. His hands had curled around her shoulders. His bare hands.

He let her go instantly, but she just sagged back onto him. Her body was limp. Lifeless.

No, no. He slid from beneath her, terrified of again touching her with his bare hands. Her eyes were closed, her body slack on the ground. “Amber?” He pressed his mouth to hers, trying to breathe for her as he’d done before.

Don’t do this. Please, f*cking please…stay with me.

Thunder boomed overhead. Lightning flashed in the sky.

And he couldn’t look away from her.

“Please come back!” He was begging and he didn’t care. This was Amber. His gaze flew over her. Her hands were covered with blood—his blood. He remembered her touching him. Remembered the fear on her face. He’d wanted her to run because Gregory was still out there…

But she couldn’t run. I tied her to me and the forty-eight hours hasn’t quite ended. Not yet…

His head shot up and he glanced around. Bodies littered the ground—the werewolves, the vampires and…Marguerite.

Where in the hell was Gregory?

Cass put his mouth against Amber’s once more and tried to breathe for her. Her body…she looked perfect to him. He didn’t see any wounds on her.