Beyond the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #6)(67)

“You spineless coward,” Salvatore hissed. “If you want to fight, then face me like a man.”

Briggs laughed as he casually reached down to backhand the cur, snapping back his head and sending a spray of blood flying through the air.

“My house, my rules.”

“What do you want from me?”

The crimson eyes flashed with the sort of impressive fury that took centuries to nurture.

“I want you to suffer before you die,” he hissed, grabbing Max by the hair and viciously shaking him. “I want you to watch as I torture your servants. I want you to know that once I take your throne, I’ll destroy everything you loved or cared for in your life.”

The king in him demanded that he try to negotiate with the Were. It might piss him off to admit that Briggs held the upper hand, but for the moment it was the unfortunate truth.

The wolf in him, however, snapped.

A member of his pack was under attack, and it was his place as alpha to protect him.

“No, you bastard. I’m done with your games,” he gritted, heading across the cavern to the tunnel on the other side. “You can’t hide from me any longer.”

“Stay where you are or I’ll kill him, Salvatore.”

“Not if I rip out your heart first.”

“Salvatore. Come back. Salvatore.”

Ignoring the furious commands, Salvatore charged through the darkness, his skin prickling and the glow of his eyes bathing the stone walls in shades of gold.

His wolf clawed to get out, eager for the taste of blood in his mouth and the feel of flesh tearing beneath his claws. His animal half was ready and eager to wreak havoc among his enemies.

Following the twisting tunnels ever deeper into the earth, Salvatore savagely beat back his beast.

Soon enough he would rip Briggs into tiny shreds and feed him to the rats. For now he had to keep his priorities straight.

Rescue his curs.

Discover who was behind the nefarious plot.

Mutilate and destroy Briggs.

In that order.

Passing through empty caverns, some obviously having been used as living spaces in the past and others as grim prisons, he ignored the strange energy in the air that muted his senses. He might not be able to follow Briggs’s scent, but the spineless worm couldn’t hide the nasty iciness that clung to him like a shroud.

Following the growing chill in the air, Salvatore at last came close enough to the bastard to smell the stench of rotting flesh.

He slowed, entering the large cavern with a stone altar and burning brazier set in the middle of the floor.

“I know you’re here,” he growled, checking the nooks and crannies that were shrouded in heavy darkness. The chill was thick enough to give him frostbite. “Briggs? I can smell your cowardice.”

Briggs’s laugh echoed through the cavern. “Always so full of yourself, Salvatore.”

“Then come out of the shadows and let’s put an end to this.” The words had barely left Salvatore’s lips when there was the sound of shuffling feet and Hess made an appearance from behind a stalagmite—or was it stalactite?—whatever. The important thing was the rigid expression on his servant’s face, and the blank emptiness in his eyes as he charged directly toward Salvatore. “Shit.”

“Don’t blame me if you don’t like the game,” Briggs countered in sly tones, taking obvious enjoyment in watching Salvatore scramble to avoid Hess’s attack.

Muttering beneath his breath, Salvatore crouched and watched as Hess abruptly shifted into his wolf form.

Cristo. This was exactly what he hoped to avoid. His soldier was completely under the thrall of Briggs, helpless to do anything but what the damned bastard commanded.

With a fluid movement, he jerked free the knife he’d tucked into his ankle holster before heading for these caves. It was silver, but it would do less damage than the silver bullets he’d loaded in his handgun.

Or at least that was the plan.

Balanced on the balls of his feet, Salvatore was prepared when Hess jumped forward, his massive jaws snapping at his head. Jerking back to avoid the fangs that could easily rip out his throat, Salvatore brought the knife upward, slicing a thin wound through the cur’s upper chest.

He wanted to stop Hess with as little damage as possible.

Of course, what he wanted and what he got was rarely the same.

With the scratch of claws on stone, Hess scrambled to turn and squatted down as he prepared to pounce. The acrid scent of burned flesh filled the air, but Salvatore only had to glance at Hess with his eyes flashing crimson and his lips curled back in a snarl to know it was going to take more than a scratch to end this battle.

He clenched his teeth and prepared for another assault. He didn’t have to wait long.

Familiar enough with his finest soldier’s tactics, Salvatore was prepared when he feinted a strike high and then darted low to attempt to circle round and hamstring him. He swiftly turned and slashed with the knife, catching Hess on the muzzle.

The cur whined as the silver bit deep into his flesh, the blood flowing, his flesh burned by the silver. Shaking his head in a pained motion, Hess appeared briefly defeated, then with a sudden leap he hit Salvatore directly in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

Salvatore managed to yank his head to the side, avoiding the snapping teeth, but it left him vulnerable and he howled in pain as Hess sank his fangs into his shoulder. The cur tore a chunk of flesh from him before Salvatore managed to get a grip on the cur’s thick coat, and with a savage thrust tossed him against the wall.