ChapterTwenty-Three
Angelina
This was a risky proposal, but we had to go in now or the children would start dying. Viktor would grow impatient and become even more unstable than he already was.
“I’ll need to go in and face him alone. He’ll think you’re still with Antoine, and he won’t want to try and kill me immediately. His ego is the biggest thing about him, and he’ll have a need to boast and show off before he attempts to end my life.”
As I thought, Salvatore and Luca began to protest. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
“She’s right, guys. This will give us time to position ourselves to take out the rest of them.”
I was surprised at Antoine’s words. Knowing how overprotective the males of our species could be about their mates, this was unexpected. I took it as a compliment that he had confidence in my idea. Just then, Karl, Sacha, and Lilah landed close to us. Donna filled them in and all agreed it should be me who went in alone.
“You need to get as close to Viktor as you can,” Karl advised.
I glanced from Salvatore to Luca, and their expressions were grim.
“Stop looking like that, both of you. I’m the distraction you need in order to get into position. You have to trust me.”
“Yeah, she’s right. Stop acting like this around her. Your woman is more than capable of getting this right.”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise at Karl’s words. He was the strong, silent type. I’d never heard him say so much.
When there were no more protestations, we formed our strategy. I’d go directly to the room where Viktor held the kids. The stupid asshole had positioned all his team in the same location. For a demon who’d lived almost as long as my mates, he was incredibly dense… or overconfident.
I’d take the place of the hostage Viktor held. My role would be to taunt him. He wouldn’t kill the rest of the children because he’d already planned to drag them back to hell and make them his slaves anyway. No demon would pass up on the opportunity to have such young victims.
With the Hybrids’ preternatural speed, it wouldn’t take long to dispatch the familiars. Karl and Antoine would focus on the demons, filling them with as much venom as they could. This would incapacitate them until my mates and I could give them the death blow by ending Viktor’s life. Any demons in a Hybrids’ territory, apart from lesser demons, could only be killed outright by the Hybrids living there. This was still confusing to get my head around, but then this was new to me. I’d get the hang of it… eventually.
“Once we’ve killed them all, we can easily make it appear as though they took each other’s lives,” Salvatore said.
“What about the children? I’d hate to think they’d be witness to all of this.” I knew I’d never be a mother myself, but I worried for the kids.
“We don’t know that, bella. You never know… one day. Just remember what our mother told you.” Luca sent a caress inside my mind, along with Salvatore.
“Easy fix. We can wipe their minds to any horror they see. They’ll still remember being held hostage, but we can stage the familiars’ and demons’ deaths in an adjoining room.”
Donna’s words made me feel a little better, but they should never have experienced this situation in the first place.
“Okay. Enough talk. I’m going in.” I ground out the words.
After tender kisses and embraces from my mates, I took flight and headed for the back of the building. I gave thanks to whoever was listening for my gift of invisibility. I could hear frightened whimpers emanating from the great hall where the children were held. Their captors were growling and whining. I was so going to make them pay for this.
I wanted to make a dramatic entrance. One, to catch the monsters off guard, and two, to let Viktor know I wasn’t afraid of him. The door opened with a loud bang, almost coming off its hinges. Standing in the doorway, with my wings spread wide, I let out a loud roar.
“Here I am, Viktor. Now you can let the children go,” I ordered, my voice reverberating around the room.
Momentarily, there was silence, followed by sobs from the frightened children. Viktor stared at me in shock for a while and then seemed to come back to his senses. It was obvious that he hadn’t expected me to arrive in such a way. Gone was the frightened little human he’d first attacked in the park. I was a full-blown Hybrid, created to kill monsters like him.
He regained his composure and crooked his finger at me. “Come here, woman.”
His words came out in a snake-like hiss as an evil grin split his lips. Even from where I stood, I caught the smell of his sulphuric stench and those of his fellow monsters. With slow steps, I headed towards him. The low, guttural growls and cat calls mingled with the tearful whimpering of the children. I remained focused on Viktor, aware that none of his monsters dared approach me. Even though I was outnumbered, they were afraid of me.
“Let the children go,” I said in a loud, confident voice, “I’m here now. No need to hold on to them any longer.”
My eyes fell to the blade held firmly against the boy’s jugular. I glanced back up to Viktor’s eyes, which were almost completely red.
“Hmm, not certain I want to. They’ll make perfect slaves, don’t you think?” He ruffled the boy’s hair, which only made him sob more.
“For once, asshole, be sensible and take what I offer freely to you. I’m here. Kill me. Kill my mates. Isn’t that what you truly want?”
A guttural sound came from him. I supposed it was a laugh, but it sounded way too beastly. The smell of his rancid breath filled the air around us.
“I’m becoming impatient, Viktor. Let. The. Children. Go.”
I was ready to snatch the boy away when Viktor started to morph into his true form. Much to my surprise, he threw the child away from him. The boy was far from safe though, as one of the other demons grabbed him. Then he returned to his human form, grabbed me about the waist and pulled me flush against his disgusting body. I could feel the lump of his erection against me.
“Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t. Before I kill you, I want a taste of your sweet flesh. Those brothers have had you for too long. Time for me to fuck what they’ve been fucking.”
My stomach rolled, and my eyes scanned the room. No way could I rescue all the children and save them before help reached me. I couldn’t bear the thought of him taking anything from me. My plan was far from sound, and I wondered if I’d bitten off more than I could chew.
“We’re just outside the door, bella. He won’t have you. When I say now, move to kiss him, and let loose your fangs into his neck.”
Salvatore’s calm words held my focus. I gazed up at Viktor. His expression was clouded with revolting lust. In that moment of clarity, I thought of how my poor friend Cassie must have suffered at his hands. My mouth moved towards his neck and rubbed my body against his. A shuddering breath came from him as my lips touched his neck. The stupid demon took this as my enthusiasm to let him have me. Dick-driven; what an asshole.
“Hmm, perhaps I’ll keep you alive after all,” he murmured.
“Now!”