She blinked and tried to focus on his face. What big teeth you have. “Vam…pire…” A croak. She tried to jerk free from him. Weapon. She needed her weapon.
Dark spots danced before her eyes.
“I won’t hurt you! I won’t! I swear, I’d never—”
Vampires lied.
Everyone lied. Even the victims. No, the victims didn’t just lie. They stabbed you in the fucking heart.
Laughter. The bitch’s laughter.
Dee’s fingers curled around the hilt.
“Dying! We’re dying tonight…” Ian’s stupid singsong voice. “Death’s here. Standing right here…”
“Dee…”
“Thanks for telling us where to find her.” The bitch was talking again and Dee blinked, sure she was speaking to Simon. He set me up? Why?
She’d…trusted him.
And been so damn blind.
Ian laughed. Loud. Deep. Crazy. “Doesn’t matter what I said, nothing could have changed. Nothing ever changes. Death is coming…for you, too…”
Ian had told the woman where to find her? I dreamed about us last night.
Ice numbed her body, gentled the fire in her chest.
“You’ll be all right.” Simon. His fingers were still on her flesh, but she could barely feel them now. No, she couldn’t feel much, but she could still see—him. Fangs out and gleaming. Eyes—pitch black. A vampire’s eyes.
She wrenched the knife out of her chest. The fire roared to life again and her heart—
Dying.
“Dee, babe, no—”
She fumbled. The knife slipped from her fingers. “Bastard,” she whispered. “Why…didn’t I…see y-you?” She’d been too weak with him, from the beginning. Needed him, wanted him—
Cared.
So dumb. She should have known better.
“You won’t die. I won’t let you!” His bared fangs came toward her throat.
“No,” a breath, because that was all she had.
“We die tonight!” Ian yelled. “Tonight! Brian, are you waiting for me?”
“We’re getting the hell out of here,” Simon growled and then he grabbed her, jerking her up against his chest.
Vampire. Dee tried to shove against him. Failed. Her hands just weren’t working right now.
“You’re not going any damn place, bastard.”
Dee’s head fell back against Simon’s shoulder as he turned to face the mouth of the alley. The exit that was blocked by easily half a dozen vampires.
Trap.
The human had been the willing bait. Lure. Should have known.
Stupid fucking rookie mistake. But she’d been so busy watching Simon, that she hadn’t seen the threat screaming in the shadows.
Simon.
She tried to speak, but choked on her own blood.
One of the vampires grabbed Ian. “Thanks for the tip, asshole.” The vamp yanked Ian’s neck to the side and sank his teeth deep.
We die tonight.
Ian’s gaze pinned her. “Ready?” His lips moved in a near soundless whisper.
No.
“Give us the bitch!” A vamp spat at Simon. “Hurry, before she—”
“You won’t touch her. You. Won’t. Touch. Her!”
Huh. Sounded like he cared. Lying bastard.
The drumming of her heart didn’t echo in her ears anymore.
No more.
Her neck began to sag. No, I’m still here! I can still think, still—
So very dark.
But she could hear the snarls. The vamps were readying to attack.
And there wasn’t a damn thing she could do.
This is the way it ends.
Hello, Death.
Ian, you bastard, I’d better not see your sorry ass in the afterlife.
Chapter 8
Simon kicked open the main door at Night Watch. His arms curled tightly around Dee’s limp body and blood dripped on the floor around him.
Her blood and his.
He’d had to bite and claw his way through that gang of vampires. He’d taken as many of them down as he could, then he’d run like hell.
Staying and fighting hadn’t been an option. Not with Dee bleeding out all around him.
The shifter must have caught the blood in the air because Jude Donovan came charging down the long corridor, barreling past the guards who had their weapons up, but who stared with wide, shocked eyes at Dee’s prone body.
Donovan shoved one of the guards out of his way. “What the fuck—”
Simon’s hold tightened around Dee. She was so damn still.
Donovan’s hands reached for her. Simon clenched his jaw and let the tiger shifter take her away. No choice. The vamps would be coming for him. He had to leave her someplace safe.
It didn’t get much safer than a hunters’ den.
Her lashes cast dark shadows on her cheeks. Such pale cheeks.
“Pak!” Donovan bellowed.