Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae #1)(69)

The vehicle roared to life as she craned her neck to see.

Come on, Devon, let’s go!

He was fighting for his life against a vampire in its swampy monster form, so quick that its movements were lost. The thing swiped down, raking its black claws across a blood-soaked, furry shoulder. Devon yelped and turned, ripping a chunk of flesh out of the vampire’s leg. The vampire shrieked then slashed. Devon dodged, limping badly. She just barely caught his glance at the car before he redoubled his efforts, lunging, trying to force the vampire further away.

A sick realization turned Charity’s stomach. Devon wasn’t trying to get clear and get to the vehicle—he was sacrificing himself to give her more time. He was offering himself as a distraction so she could get away.

He must’ve known they would kill him for his efforts. He was the enemy even if he wasn’t the target—he hadn’t a hope of making it through this. Not without her.

Determination and rage welled up.

“No way, Devon. That is not how a team survives. We’re getting out of here together.”

She glanced to the side for a status update on her BFF. His face filled the window, completely healed and annoyingly perfect. His eyes shocked into her, dark and intense. “Such courage,” he said, his words muffled through the window. “You are inexperienced and frightened, but are charging into battle anyway. You are everything your kind should be.”

“And you are too fucking weird.” She pushed the button to release the parking brake. She hadn’t driven a car in a few years, and that one had been John’s dilapidated old Honda, but the mechanics had to be similar. Like riding a bike.

The door lock clicked.

Panic bled through her. “What the—”

A manicured hand reached for the door handle.

“Crap—forgot about that!” She slammed her foot against the pedal

Vlad’s muscles went taut, pulling at the door.

She jabbed the button to re-engage the locks, then focused with that lightning in her chest.

Nothing happened.

She could feel the vampire’s magic tingle against her skin. It was like nothing she’d ever felt before.

Another yelp of pain pierced the night.

“No!” She would not lose anyone else to these creatures. She would not lose Devon.

The car lurched aggressively, tires squealing against pavement.

“Whooooaaa shiiit!” This machine had way more power than that old Honda.

She yanked the steering wheel to the right, scraping a parked car that had been five spaces away. The smiling face appeared in her window again, the vampire running to keep pace with the SUV.

“Why are you so freaking weird?” she yelled, and yanked the steering wheel again, foot heavy on the gas. The vehicle rocked and then bumped wildly over a cement parking block. “Shiii— Way different. This is way different!” The SUV careened as she tried to straighten it out.

Her BFF appeared in front of the vehicle like a ghost, the lights highlighting his flawless skin. Beyond him fought Devon, liquid glistening within his black coat as he limped then lunged for an incredibly fast vampire. He was slowing rapidly, nearly out of energy.

She slammed on the gas with determination, the Range Rover surging forward like a demon. Her BFF jumped gracefully, his two boots landing with a dull thunk on the hood. She tore the wheel to the right. The creature windmilled but stayed on.

“How the hell…” She ripped the wheel back the other way and slammed on the brakes. The SUV bumped over another cement parking block. The vampire went flying.

“Ha,” she yelled. “Try to anticipate me and you get thrown, sucker!”

She ripped the vehicle around and headed straight for Devon. At the last moment, she stomped on the brakes, making the SUV skid to a stop. Impatiently glancing out the passenger side window, she stupidly realized that wolves couldn’t open doors.

She threw herself across the seats and opened the door. As Devon leapt into the seat, she straightened up to an enlarging fist within the frame of her window.

She screamed. Shatterproof glass fragments rained down on her as a delicate hand reached through and gripped her arm.

Pain bled into her—nothing delicate about that grip. He would drag her out, and she had no hope of fighting him. The other vamp, bitten to hell but heart and neck still intact, reached for Devon through his open door with his one remaining arm. They were outgunned. The vampires had the advantage.





Chapter Thirty





She screamed again. Electricity surged through her middle as she threw up her hand to ward away her BFF.

Heat and light, an exact mimic of noon, rained down. It shocked into the exposed skin of their attackers. The electric bug zapper noise drowned out the sizzle of vampire skin. Both vamps howled, throwing their hands up to try to protect their faces. As Charity’s energy dwindled quickly, she smashed her foot on the gas and the SUV lurched forward. Long screeches sounded as claws tore up the sides of the vehicle.

The sun blinked off like a halogen light, making the car lights seem dim and useless.

“Stay above forty and we’re fine,” Devon said, his voice weak and hoarse. He was back in human form. Blood oozed from gashes all over his body, a couple of them deep and gruesome. He caught his swinging door in a crimson-covered hand and barely had the strength to pull it closed.