A Shield of Glass (A Shade of Vampire #49)(24)

We weren’t as massive as they were, but we were quicker and able to work in teams to take them down. Hansa moved over to help me for a while, as Jax was able to hold his own and I was getting a little more on my plate. I was pleased to see how finely attuned we were to each other’s moves, taking turns wounding and decapitating the remaining Destroyers.

One of them fell from the sky, his head removed from his body. He landed next to me with a thud, and I looked up to see Anjani. Our eyes met, and she put on a defiant smirk, but I could see the twinkle in her gold-emerald gaze. I breathed out with relief as I realized we’d secured the ground and there were only a few beasts left flying and hissing.

She went back to assist Aida and Phoenix in killing the three remaining Destroyers still flying. Their bodies floundered and their heads disappeared in the tall grass as we all cheered.

It was over. We’d done it.

The succubi took their wounded sisters and headed toward Stonewall. Jax and his wards escorted them to the citadel atop their horses, carrying those who couldn’t walk. Phoenix, Anjani, and Aida gradually descended, putting their swords away. As soon as their feet touched the ground, their shifters returned to their original form, sniffing the air and calling out to their ”brothers” with low growls. Three more emerged from beneath the dead bodies of Destroyers, shaking their heads and licking their wounds.

I wanted to hold Anjani in my arms, hug my sister and Phoenix, but before I could take a step I saw Field flying toward me. I stilled as I noticed he wasn’t slowing down while closing the distance between us at a low altitude.

“Field, what are you—“ I managed to croak before he rammed into me, taking me in a bear hug and laughing as I struggled to keep my feet on the ground.

I failed miserably, and we both fell, tumbling through the tall grass. I landed on my back with Field by my side, gasping and chuckling as he patted me on the chest.

“It’s so good to see you, Jovi.”

“Yeah, I can see!” I shot back, stifling a laugh.

I jumped to my feet, ready to hold my succubus close for a minute. I got knocked down from the side again, and I was about to curse Field when I felt Anjani’s body on top of me, her lips crashing down on mine. I couldn’t help but smile as heat expanded through me, and we kissed with all the fire that had been building since we’d last seen each other.

I wrapped my arms around her, tightening my grip as she gasped and lifted her head. Her skin glowed as she looked at me, a warm smile stretching her lips.

“For a second there, I thought I’d never see you again,” she said slowly.

“I’m guessing you really want to finish what we started,” I replied with a smirk.

“Don’t you?”

“More than anything.” I felt my voice grow husky. She had an instantaneous effect on me when she didn’t hold back on her succubus nature. I loved it. My heart swelled as she relaxed in my arms, tilting her head for another, deeper kiss.

“Okay, you two clearly need a room.” I heard Aida’s voice from above, as my lips locked with Anjani’s.

Though we didn’t reply to her remark, Anjani and I drew apart and looked briefly at each other. We’d both made it, and we were together again.

Screw Hansa’s antiquated tribe rules, I thought to myself as we stood. There was no way to stop us, and that conclusion seared itself into my soul before I put the thought away and hugged my sister.

Aida’s body shivered against mine, and I was thankful to be able to hold her tight.

“Damn, it’s good to see you in one piece, Sis,” I mumbled into her hair.

“Honestly, I can’t believe we made it this far,” she said, looking up at me. “I swear, if it hadn’t been for them, we wouldn’t have made it into the Green Tribe’s forest…”

She looked over her shoulder and pointed at the shifters. I couldn’t control the shivers that ran down my spine as I looked at the creatures. Six of them, slumped over in the grass, their eyes glowing violet and their mouths open as they breathed heavily. They were exhausted, and four carried significant wounds on their bony arms and shoulders, which they occasionally licked.

“I never thought I’d see this,” I replied. “They creep the hell out of me, and yet I can’t stop looking.”

“I know, we’re the same.” Field came by my side. “But they’re determined to protect us.”

“And they are phenomenal in battle,” Anjani added. “I had no idea.”

Phoenix stood a few feet away, staring at the shifters through hooded lids, his jaw locked and his mouth flat. They probably reminded him of the Daughter. I went over and put my arm around his shoulder. He gave me a sideways glance and a weak half-smile.

“Glad to see you’re okay,” he said, his voice barely a whisper.

“We’ll get her back, one way or another. You know that, right?” I said what I knew he needed to hear.

He’d been fighting Destroyers over the course of so many miles, he hadn’t even had time to grieve properly. But we still had a lot of work to do, and I needed him strong and focused throughout. I had no idea how to get the Daughter back, but I had faith in our group, in our ability to come together and achieve the impossible.

He looked at the shifters again, nodding slowly.

“Let’s head back into Stonewall,” Hansa said. “If more of them come, we don’t want them to find us here. We’ll be safe inside.”