Kissed by a Dark Prince(43)

Loren couldn’t.

He was already tiring and he was weak. It would be easy for Vail to injure him when he was in this condition. He had to rely on Bleu to weaken Vail and only then could he attack.

With a weapon.

He had other abilities at his disposal though, ones that could help Bleu.

Bleu growled and thrust his spear at Vail. Vail deflected it with one blade and attacked with the other, slashing at Bleu’s chest. Bleu arched backwards, evading the tip of the blade, and swung his spear, smashing it into the side of Vail’s head. Vail staggered left and bared his fangs, his ears flattening against the sides of his head. Blood crept down his right temple, black in the low light.

Vail roared and brought both short swords down in a swift arc towards Bleu. Loren flung his hand out and hit him with everything he had, sending him shooting across the grass. Vail slammed into the thick trunk of the tree he had hung the vampire in, splinters of bark and wood exploding outwards under the force of the impact. Everything was silent and still for a few long seconds and then his brother clawed his way out of the tree and snarled at him, blood covering the entire side of his face now.

His armour had borne the brunt of the damage though, protecting Vail.

Bleu rushed him, not giving him a chance to shake off the effects of the blow. He leaped at Vail, holding his spear in both hands and bringing it down hard. Vail clumsily blocked with his right forearm and the impact sent him to his knees. Loren’s breath left him when Vail’s gaze snapped to his and fear flooded the link his brother had long ago closed between them.

“Vail,” Loren whispered and reached for him, unable to ignore his need to protect his flesh and blood.

Vail reached for him and disappeared in a bright flash of colourful light.

Bleu’s spear hit the dirt and he growled. He swung around to face Loren, breathing hard, and Loren could sense his fatigue and frustration. The tree creaked ominously.

“Bleu, move!” Loren stared in horror as the huge oak began to fall towards his friend.

Bleu looked over his shoulder.

Loren used the last of his strength to teleport, grab Bleu and disappear again just as the tree crashed to the grass, the sound of branches snapping a cacophony in the night.

He landed hard with Bleu a short distance away and looked back at the tree as it settled on the grass, limbs swaying and swishing.

“You were foolish to leave your ki’ara alone, Brother.” Vail’s cold voice drew Loren’s gaze up the height of the fallen tree.

His brother stood on one of the broken branches near the top, perfectly balanced in a low crouch, his feet together and knees splayed. He rested his elbows on his knees and cocked his head to one side, his wild black hair falling down over one eye.

Loren opened his mouth to say that she wasn’t his female and she wasn’t alone, but stopped himself when Vail casually checked his armoured wrist as if checking a watch that wasn’t there.

“Time is up.” Vail lifted his head and smiled down at him. “Boom.”

A huge explosion rocked the ground, the shockwave from the blast sending Loren and Bleu to their knees on the grass. Leaves swept past them and Loren instantly pushed back onto his feet and turned away from the fallen oak, towards the other end of the park.

Fire rained down from the middle of the Archangel building and swallowed several of the floors in flame and billowing white smoke.

A chill ran down Loren’s spine and his arms, and incredible pain engulfed him and then he felt nothing.

“Olivia.”





CHAPTER 10


Olivia’s ears rang as she clawed herself out from underneath a section of ceiling tiles. Red lights flashed and thick smoke swelled from fires dotted around the large open-plan room. She covered her mouth with the bottom of her white coat and squinted, her eyes stinging. She sat in the middle of chaos, struggling to take it all in, staring at those less fortunate than her as their lifeless eyes looked off into eternity and unable to hear anything above the ringing in her mind.

Her heart thundered, spreading acid through her veins. Her left hand rested limp in her lap, the burning in her fingers telling her at least two of them had suffered severe trauma, possibly broken.

Sable.

She had been talking with Sable away from the lab when the explosion had happened.

Olivia tried to move and cried out as her right leg blazed with white-hot pain. She dropped the cloth from her nose and mouth and clutched her shin with her good hand.

“Olivia!” Sable’s voice cut through the damned ringing and relief surged through her when she spotted her friend coming towards her, nursing her arm. A huge gash down her forearm oozed blood in thick rivulets.

“Sable.” Olivia pushed the word out, alerting her friend to her location. Sable’s golden eyes shot to her and she hobbled over, struggling to keep her footing on the debris.