"Great!" Dougal strode toward them. "Let's go. We need to rescue Leah."
Briathos held up a hand to stop him, then turned to Angus. "You will gather your forces here so we can attack."
"Right." Angus retrieved his sat phone from his sporran. "Rajiv, go wake up the shifters."
Rajiv dashed off to the guesthouses, while Angus quickly made some calls.
The Vamps teleported in, and after listening to Angus's quick explanation, they gawked at the angelic newcomers. Dougal studied them, too. The more he stared at them, the more solid they became, and the more detailed. Briathos had blue eyes and golden brown hair. The others behind him had hair ranging from blond to black.
What Dougal found strange was that if he looked away, then glanced back, their images seemed to shimmer for a few seconds before sharpening into focus once again. It was as if they were there, but not really there. He tried to recall everything Marielle had said about them. Most likely, they wouldn't kill Darafer but send him back to hell. That was fine with Dougal, as long as Leah was safe.
Connor approached him, smiling. "We'll be able to find Leah now."
Dougal nodded, then stepped toward the angels. "How is she? How is Leah?"
Briathos hesitated. The Epsilons behind him exchanged looks, then their leader finally answered, "Her guardian angel is in contact with us. She is . . . alive."
Dougal's heart stuttered. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. "If you're able to get involved, then that means Darafer has broken a rule?"
"The decree of free will has been violated," Briathos said quietly. "A child of God has been forced into evil."
A chill swept down Dougal's spine. "Who?"
Briathos regarded him sadly. "Leah Chin."
"No!" Dougal roared. He clenched his hands and shouted his rage to the heavens. Blood rushed to his head till he thought he would explode. With another shout, he smashed his prosthetic hand into the tiger statue, demolishing its head.
"Dougal!" Connor pulled him back. "We need to stay strong."
He shoved Connor back. "He should have taken me!" The damned demon should have taken him. Not Leah. She hadn't even wanted to learn how to shoot, she'd been so fearful of hurting someone. How could she survive surrounded by evil? How could he have failed her so completely?
"Everyone, prepare yerselves," Angus ordered. "We're going into battle."
The Vamps and shifters rushed off to the nearby building where extra weapons and ammo had been stashed.
Dougal strode toward the God Warriors. "How can I save her from evil?"
Briathos sighed. "There is no cure for a demon bite."
Dougal's prosthetic hand snapped into a tight fist. "He bit her?"
"He took the shape of a black wolf and bit her. She has been infused with evil. The only way to save her is to return Darafer to hell. Then she will return to normal."
"Then let's do it!" Dougal drew his claymore. "Where is she? Take me to her now!"
Briathos regarded him calmly. "All will be revealed in due course."
"What? What the hell does that mean?"
Briathos arched a brow. "It means all will be revealed in due course."
"I want to go now, dammit!"
"Dougal," Connor whispered. "Be respectful to the angel."
"I'm going crazy!" Dougal shouted, then turned back to Briathos. "Where is she?"
"You will have your answer-"
"When?" Dougal yelled.
Briathos frowned. "Soon."
Dougal stalked away, shouting his frustration. What did soon mean to an angel? A thousand years?
The Vamps and shifters returned to the courtyard, armed to the teeth. Rajiv's cousin Jia had joined them, armed with a sword and three daggers.
Headlights glowed in the distance as a vehicle approached the village. Were-tigers gathered around the jeep as it came to a stop on the riverbank.
"Dougal, behold." Briathos motioned to the jeep. "Your answer has come. And Leah's good work has been rewarded."
The were-tigers escorted the driver of the jeep up the stairs to the courtyard.
He was dressed in black with a long, hooded robe. When he pushed the hood back, J.L. gasped.
"Wu Shen?" J.L. approached him. "What are you doing here?"
"Who is that?" Angus demanded.
"He's one of Master Han's top officers," Dougal explained.
Wu Shen gave them all a wary look. "I trust you will not kill me since I come with valuable information. I know where Dr. Leah Chin is being held."
"Why should we trust you?" J.L. asked. "You could be leading us into a trap."
Wu Shen lifted his arms. "I carry no weapons. I am at your mercy. My sister and her family were from the village that Dr. Chin saved. My niece, Yu Jie, told me how they were enslaved. I will take you to Darafer's camp."
"How many men does he have?" J.L. asked.
"Forty-five soldiers," Wu Shen replied. "Several servants. And Lord Qing is there."
Rajiv sucked in a breath. "Did you hear that, Grandfather? I will avenge my father."
"I will come with you," the Grand Tiger said.
"Me, too," Jia added.
"How far away is it?" Dougal asked in Chinese.
"About three hours by car," Wu Shen answered.
"Or three seconds if you travel with us," Briathos added, then gave Dougal a wry look. "Will that be fast enough for you?"
Leah jerked awake, her vision blurred with a red haze, and her head pounding with a constant throb of raging emotion. Hate. Hate. Hate.
Anger slithered through her veins. Fury scorched her skin, hot and relentless. She wanted death. Destruction. Suffering.
She jumped to her feet and stretched. A surge of power rippled through her muscles. She was strong. Invincible. Her heart thundered in rhythm to her pounding head.
Hate. Hate. Hate.
She glanced over at the neighboring cell, where Guang lay, his throat ripped out, his clothes drenched in blood.
And she smiled.
"That's my girl." Darafer moved from the shadow, his eyes gleaming with pride.
"Master." She recognized him at once and bowed her head. Only her master could be so beautiful. "How may I serve you?"
He unlocked the prison door. "We have much to do, you and I. Together, we will create a new race."
"Yes." She strode from the cell. She would be invincible. All-powerful.
"We will rule the world."
"Yes!" How fortunate she was that the master had chosen her. "Thank you, Master. I will do anything for you."
"Will you die for me?"
"Gladly." Her mouth twisted. "But I'd rather kill for you."
With a chuckle, he led her toward the stairs. "Let me take you to your new quarters. You will be dressed in the finest silks. And have the finest weapons. In case I wish you to kill for me."
"Yes, Master." She ascended the stairs by his side, each step reiterating the pounding rhythm in her head. Hate, hate, hate.
Dougal studied the wooden barricade that surrounded Darafer's camp. He and twenty-six Vamps and shifters had been joined by ten more were-tigers, including the Grand Tiger and his granddaughter, Jia. Briathos had brought them all here with a flick of his hand. He stood nearby with his unit of six God Warriors.
Wu Shen had said there were forty-five soldiers inside, so their forces were fairly well matched. He'd come along but had decided to remain hidden in the woods during the battle. Angus had readily agreed. This way, Wu Shen could retain his position in Master Han's army and, hopefully, help them again someday.
"We could teleport in," Angus suggested. "A surprise attack."
Dougal shook his head. "You might surprise the soldiers, but it would give Darafer and Lord Qing advance warning and they would teleport away." And maybe take Leah with them.
"Darafer must not know that we have come," Briathos said. "Once we have surrounded him with seven swords of fire, he will be trapped and unable to escape."
"Jia and I have an idea." Rajiv briefly described their plan. "J.L. said he'd do it with us."
"Your idea has merit," Briathos announced. "You may begin."
Angus gave Rajiv a wry look. "I think I've been outranked. Go ahead. We'll be ready."
Rajiv and J.L. left the cover of the trees, walking toward the camp and dragging Jia with them. She put on quite a show, cursing them and resisting, but they hauled her up to the front gate.
"What is your business here?" a soldier yelled down from the ramparts overlooking the gate.
"I wish to join Master Han's army." Rajiv motioned to J.L. "My friend wants to join, too."
The soldier snorted. "And why have you brought the girl?"
"She's a gift," J.L. explained. "So you will accept us."
Rajiv pushed Jia down onto her knees. "We heard you have a vampire lord who likes pretty young girls."
The soldier hesitated, then whispered to another soldier, who rushed off. "We will inform Lord Qing of your gift. You will wait for his reply."
"Thank you." Rajiv grabbed Jia, who attempted to scramble away.
A few minutes later, the gate opened, and Lord Qing emerged.
"No!" Jia screamed, but Rajiv and J.L. held her tight.
Lord Qing's fangs popped out, and with a hissing sound, he grabbed Jia. She kicked him hard in the groin, and as he doubled over, howling in pain, J.L. whipped a silver chain around him to prevent him from teleporting away.