Darker (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6)(2)

My pace quickened. I reached for the door that separated the nightclub from the back playground. The sound of a commotion beyond greeted me before I turned the knob. I almost collided with Josh as he rushed toward me.

“I don’t know who you pissed off now, but we’ve got problems,” he shouted over the noise. The panicked bartender pushed by me, heading for the back exit.

I couldn’t say that I blamed him; I’d have loved to vacate, too. As it was, the other owner of the club, Kale, had been missing for weeks so I was the only one left to deal with this shit. Once I got a good look at what exactly was going on, I wished I’d stayed in the back.

A gang of vampires were happily trashing the place. Like a bunch of delinquents, they overturned tables and smashed liquor bottles. However, it didn’t take them long to target the patrons. Total hysteria broke out as they savaged stray humans. People stampeded toward the door.

The vampires that frequented the place as well as the few on my security staff attempted to fight back. The invaders were quickly tossed aside or dealt a deathblow that left them in piles of ash and dust.

I leaped into the fray, dodging a flying table and fighting to avoid being trampled by the crowd that rushed against me like a powerful ocean wave. I gathered my power but couldn’t use it with so many innocent people in the crossfire. When I had a clear shot of one of the vampires, I let loose with a psi ball that threw him hard against the wall. Guiding my focus, concentrating hard, I flooded him with enough power to make his head burst.

Sating the bloodlust had honed my senses, sharpening them to a delicate point. I was able to take out another vampire and slash the throat of a third before taking a heavy punch. I would have given just about anything to have my dagger then.

Forged by a demon, the Dragon Claw had the ability to kill a vampire with just a nick of the blade. It didn’t even need to pierce the heart. Unfortunately, it was sitting tucked away in its velvet-lined box in the trunk of my car. Real helpful.

I stumbled backward and fell gracelessly over one of the lounge-style couches. Before I could get to my feet, a large vampire with a meaty hand grabbed my arm and dragged me up. I didn’t hesitate, shoving power into him with my focus on his heart. Blood burst from his eyes, ears and nose seconds before he exploded in a shower of dust.

I expected further attack, but nobody grabbed for me. The remaining vamps hung back, looking to a shadowed figure standing mostly unnoticed near the entry.

Brook stepped into view, oblivious to the people shoving past him in their haste to escape. Some mysterious illusion hid the demon’s black wings from sight. His eyes were void of any emotion. Brook was lower on the demon hierarchy but still no one to be messed with lightly. I’d been brushing up on my demonology since Lilah had decided I was a problem that she needed to eliminate.

“Back off blood suckers,” the demon barked. “That’s enough brainless destruction. Don’t we have something for Ms. O’Brien?”

“Whatever it is, I’m sure I don’t want it.” What I wanted was to kick Lilah’s ass for sending him, but she had been lying low since our last encounter.

“Why, of course you want it. It does belong to you after all.” Brook gestured to a vampire who came forward with a box big enough to hold many things. I knew I didn’t want to see what was in there.

The vampire placed the box on the bar, never once taking his eyes from me as he backed away. I couldn’t resist. I focused on him and unleashed my energy. His head exploded first, his body quick to follow. The sense of satisfaction that followed was short lived.

“Disposable,” Brook said with a shrug. “That’s why she sent them. We came to deliver a message. This is my queen’s territory, wolf. You’re nothing. Not even worthy of the power you have. Lilah needs something from you. She wants to make sure you know she’s going to get it.”

With the help of Shya, a demon I truly loathed, I’d played a part in binding Lilah’s power. She was a demon cursed into the form of a vampire. I’d stripped her vampire power, leaving her vulnerable enough for Shya to bind her.

Clearly, it had worked. She was relatively powerless, or so it would seem since she had sent another here in her place. Unfortunately, to break that curse, Lilah needed my blood. So, here we were.

“Get out of my club.” I held Brook’s solid black gaze, refusing to be intimidated.

“And, miss you opening your gift? Now that would just be rude of me.” He gestured to the box sitting untouched on the bar. “Lilah owes you a little payback for that damn binding stunt you pulled with Shya.”

I considered reaching out to Arys through our mental connection, then decided against it. Things were tense, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I strode to the bar, keeping Brook in my sight. The stench hit me immediately. Death.

I didn’t pause, didn’t so much as hesitate with his eyes upon me. I tore open the box, knowing what I’d find before I looked inside. I just didn’t know whom.

Double take. Then another. This couldn’t be real.

Staring up at me with vacant dead eyes and a look of frozen horror etched permanently on his face, was the severed head of my fellow pack wolf, Zak.

Brook oozed satisfaction. “Consider this a warning. You have something she needs. All you have to do is provide it. Or, this won’t be the last wolf.”

He took advantage of my stunned silence. Slipping away with Lilah’s remaining minions in tow, he left me there staring down at what used to be one of my wolves. Hot, angry tears filled my eyes. I clenched my teeth, gripping the side of the box with clawed fingertips.