I glanced at Azriel. “Bunker down. We’re coming over.”
“Make it—” He hesitated, and his face went white. “Oh fuck.”
And with that, the screen went dead.
Chapter 10
Azriel didn’t hesitate; he just grabbed my hand and transported us across to Stane’s.
We reappeared in the middle of his upstairs living quarters. The place was both dark and silent. Stane’s computer bridge was lifeless, and the air thick with the smell of fear and something else, something less tangible and oddly pungent . . .
Vampires, Azriel said, drawing Valdis. Her blue fire lifted the shadows, revealing the vamps standing together near the kitchen. Six of them.
It’s not vampires I can smell. It was something else. Something that reminded me vaguely of ash and old newspapers, but possessing an oddly foul chemical undertone. It certainly wasn’t something I’d ever smelled here before. Where’s Stane?
Close.
Alive?
Yes.
Relief cut through me. At least I hadn’t managed to get someone else killed. Why aren’t they attacking? Do you know what they want?
You, of course.
Then why not attack the minute we appeared? They would have had the advantage. Because until they did attack, he couldn’t. Reaper rules and all that rubbish.
I don’t know.
Neither do I. I drew Amaya and said, “Come on, guys, six vamps against one werewolf—that’s a little unfair, don’t you think?”
“Not if our actual aim was to draw you out,” the tallest of the six said, his voice urbane and rather pleasant. He stepped forward and gave a small, formal bow. “Risa Jones, the high council has overturned their previous position on you. Therefore, I’m afraid, you are now slated to die.”
“And they sent only six to do that?” I tsked. “Not very smart of the council.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Who said there were only six of us?”
The words had barely left his mouth when Azriel swore, spun, and pulled me roughly to one side. The knives that would have buried themselves in the middle of my back swung past my shoulder and hammered hilt deep in the middle of the nearest wall.
There were three of them behind us, three who for some unknown reason neither Azriel nor I had sensed.
Three who would have taken us out the coward’s way.
Rage exploded, rage that was both mine and Amaya’s. Damn it, I was fucking sick of everyone threatening me, my family, and my friends, and it would end now. I wasn’t helpless. I could fight and protect myself better than most, and it was time people started realizing that.
Take the three cowards out, I said to Azriel. I’ll keep the others occupied.
I called to the Aedh and disappeared. My actions didn’t seem to faze the vampire who’d spoken. In fact, he seemed oddly pleased by them. Unease slithered through me, but I shoved it aside and arrowed toward the group of six.
And saw, too late, the small device in the leader’s hand.
He pressed it, even as they all stepped aside to reveal a large, barrel-shaped container. I had no idea what it was or what it contained, and I definitely had no desire to find out.
But as I swerved away, the thing exploded.
A black cloud of molten ash plumed through the air, sparkling oddly. The thick cloud surrounded me, clung to me, its touch foul and heated.
The five vampires pulled weapons out and aimed them in my direction. I realized in that instant what they’d done—what the cloud was. It made the invisible visible. And while I had no idea whether bullets could harm me in this form, I wasn’t about to take the chance. If they knew enough about Aedh to make me visible, then it was highly probable they also knew what would kill me.