Night Unbound(124)

Zach could see why the other immortals were reluctant to raise this one’s ire. David could be a formidable opponent.
“Sheath your claws,” Zach told him. “I won’t betray Seth or stab him in the back or whatever it is you fear I’ll do. I’m one of you now and intend to remain so for the rest of my days. Or for as long as Lisette can tolerate me.”
David stared deeply into Zach’s eyes.
What did he see there?
The dark Egyptian’s smile went from chilling to friendly in a heartbeat as he took a step back. “Then we’re good.” Clapping Zach on the shoulder, he turned and raced through the trees toward his home.
Zach stared after him.
“That was scary.”
Jumping at the sound of a voice behind him, Zach spun around and watched Lisette step from the trees.
“Yes, it was,” a deeper voice agreed.
Issuing a squeak of surprise, Lisette did a one-eighty. Her mouth fell open as Seth stepped from the trees behind her. “How long have you been there?”
“About as long as you have.” His features darkened with feigned disapproval. “Really, Lisette? Eavesdropping? Tch. Tch. Tch.”
Smiling, Zach shook his head. “Aren’t you guilty of the same?”
“Yes,” Seth said as he and Lisette strode forward. “But now that everyone knows I’m not infallible, I can get away with it.”
Lisette laughed.
“Are you ready to do this?” Seth asked.
Zach nodded and gave Lisette a quick kiss.
“Be careful,” she ordered.
“I will,” he promised.
Her brow furrowing with worry, she stepped back.
“Let’s shift now,” Seth said.
“What form?”
“A hawk. Average-sized. Nothing that will draw notice.”
Zach grimaced. Shape-shifting was a lot easier when you shifted into something roughly your own weight. Significantly smaller animal shapes were more difficult to maintain.
The worry on Lisette’s face vanished in an instant when he and Seth shifted. Her eyes widened. Her beautiful lips stretched in a grin. “I so wish I could do that!”
Laughing inside, Zach leapt into the air and began their flight to the compound. We could have teleported, then shifted when we were closer, he commented mentally as he and Seth rode the breeze.
There’s so much we can’t share with Lisette, Seth replied. I wanted to show her something we could.
Thoughtful bastard.
Seth’s laugh floated through Zach’s mind.
It didn’t take long. Zach marveled over how accurately the satellite images had represented the impressive compound. Was Donald and Nelson’s compound like this?
Hell no. It was a cheesy motel compared to this place.
Movement on the training fields over which the two soared drew Zach’s attention. Is that what I think it is?
Vampires training like military soldiers? Yes.
The vamps were newly turned and exploring the extents and limits of their abilities. They were also high on the power they now wielded.
The humans in their midst responded with both awe and irritation as the vamps’ taunts and showboating increased.#p#分页标题#e#
Scuffles nearly broke out at least half a dozen times while Zach and Seth passed overhead.
They’re already having difficulty controlling them, Seth said.
Zach agreed. It must be why they’re so determined to get their hands on an Immortal Guardian. They hope to discover what keeps immortals from going insane so they can prevent it in their own army. Power mixed with volatility is a disaster waiting to happen.
Near the heavily guarded entrance to the compound, a vampire argued with a human soldier. The more the vampire tried to convince the human he was obsolete, the more heated their words grew.
“I can see in the dark, dumb ass,” the vampire bit out. “You need night-vision goggles that cost thousands of dollars.”
“Bullshit you can see in the dark. You just see better in the dark,” the human retorted.
With preternatural speed, the vamp yanked the soldier’s weapon away from him, aimed it up at the sky, and fired.
The bullet slammed into Zach’s shoulder, damaging his wing. Unable to shift without blowing their cover, he tumbled to the hard ground.
Are you okay? Seth asked, flapping his wings in feigned panic before veering away.
Zach groaned. Yes. He peered through the tall grasses at the vampire who had shot him.
“You see that, asshole?” the vamp crowed. “Can you do that? I don’t think so. Like I said . . . you’re obsolete.”
“Oh yeah?” the human retorted furiously. “Well, let’s see you do that during the day!”
The furious vampire yanked the soldier forward and sank his fangs into the man’s neck.
Vampire and human soldiers alike raced forward, some to break it up, some to incite more violence.