Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae 1)

Good thing she was smarter and much more prepared than any of them. She had the test finished with forty minutes left on the clock. She took a quick moment to text Devon on the sly, then hurried to the desk at the side of the stage to drop her test in the basket. The professor barely looked up.

A message awaited her on her phone.

Devon: I’m here.

Nervous butterflies erupted in her stomach. She tucked her computer in her backpack and stood, catching a suspicious stare from Donnie’s best buddy. It would be a long few weeks until the end of the semester—if she made it that long. She’d probably miraculously escape the elder vamp only to be brought up on murder charges for Donnie’s disappearance.

Devon waited just beside the door, his face closed down into a hard mask. Yasmine and Macy stood in front of him, pushed out to the sides like wings. Fierce determination shone on each of their faces.

Full night had descended like a blanket, the soft glow from the light poles splashing the path.

“What’s going on?” Charity asked as they started forward, she the only one not in perfect synchronicity.

No one answered her. They didn’t need to.

Students ambled toward their cars, clutching books or computers, chatting with their friends or classmates. Every once in a while, a group would look up in surprise, their laughter and chatter dying as they caught sight of one of the still figures amidst the shadows. Eyes widened and mouths gaped as they noticed the unearthly beauty of the visitors.

The vamps had shown up.

“Is this it?” Charity asked quietly, identifying four independent watchers as they headed toward the closest parking lot. “Are we going to have to fight our way to the car?”

“Not with this many people around,” Devon answered in a low tone, masking a growl. “You were right about that.”

“What about when we get near the car and the parking lot is quiet?”

Devon’s fingers closed around hers. “We won’t be giving them that opportunity.”

His gaze shifted right. Andy jogged in from that side, his eyes pinned to the nearest vampire, who was watching him with a little grin.

Devon squeezed her hand. “We’re going to make it, okay? I won’t let them take you.” Fierce possession rang in his voice.

“You’re pack, Charity,” Andy growled, something she hadn’t expected from him. He fell in on her other side. “We’ve got you.”

Macy and even Yasmine nodded in agreement.

A surge of pure fire lit Charity up from within, exploding electricity out through her limbs. She’d never felt so included in a group of peers. She’d never been this welcomed, and certainly not felt this protected. Something hard and fast took root within her. The song of battle curled through the breeze.

All she could do was nod gratefully. She didn’t have a sword, after all. Tearing through campus, chopping off vampires’ heads, wouldn’t be possible without a sword.

Of all the times to crack up, she was okay with doing it now.

Devon released her hand and drifted further back with Andy. Yasmine and Macy closed ranks, too, the four of them boxing her in. At the bottom of the next set of steps, a beautiful woman stepped out of the trees flanking the path. Her eyes and smile were hungry.

“Why so fast, little puppy?” she asked in a sexy purr. She was talking to Devon.

If only Charity had that sword…

“Mid-level,” Devon murmured.

“Left, eleven o’clock,” Yasmine said in a brittle voice.

A man lounged against a tree, ignoring the furtive stares of two ladies passing him. He only had eyes for Charity.

“Greetings,” he said as she neared. “Nice night, isn’t it? Mmm, you smell fantastic.”

“Mid-level,” Devon muttered.

“Are they going to attack?” Charity asked, electricity crackling from her fingertips.

“Not here,” Andy said quietly. “One waited for me outside my classroom. Followed me to you. They know we’re young and inexperienced—compared to Roger or Jeffry.”

“Who’s Jeffry?” Charity asked.

“Jeffry is alpha of the Hunting pack, which goes after higher-level vamps throughout the region,” Devon answered.

“Calling everyone alpha is confusing,” Charity murmured.

“Leaders like to be called alpha, especially men,” Macy said, her words strangely muffled, like she was talking out of the corner of her mouth for secrecy.

It didn’t matter. Their admirers heard.

“I agree,” a woman said just off to the side, her voice familiar.

One glance was all Charity needed to place her. There was no mistaking that red lace corset paired with the leather duster and spiked heeled boots. She sat on a park bench, looking ludicrously out of place.

“She was at the turning party,” Charity whispered back to Devon.

The woman’s ruby-red lips stretched into a smile. “I long to sample you, my sweet. The pleasure I will give you will turn you off that young pup, I assure you.”

“I don’t swing that way,” Charity replied, fire burning her alive from the inside out, fueling her courage. She opened and closed her fist.