In the distance, Elena heard a scream filled with such pain, such agony, it raised the short hairs along her nape.
Beside her, Stefan hissed, “No!”
Afraid of what she might see, Elena glanced over her shoulder. Rodin lay on the ground, a long wooden stake protruding from his chest, exactly where his heart would be. A dark stain pooled beneath him.
In the blink of an eye, Drake had Florin by the throat.
And Liliana was kneeling at Rodin’s side, a look of horrified disbelief on her face.
One of the torchbearers drew a sword from beneath his cloak and took a step forward, clearly intending to take Rodin’s head.
With a wild cry, Stefan propelled himself across the field. Grabbing the sword from the other vampire’s hand, Stefan drove the blade into his heart, then whirled around, ready to fight the remaining vampires, if necessary. The three remaining torchbearers dropped their cloaks to the ground. None of them carried weapons.
Elena stared at the grisly scene and then, slowly, lifted her gaze to find Drake staring at her over Florin’s shoulder.
Chapter 28
Elena knew a moment of fear when Drake’s gaze met hers. Eyes burning red, fangs bared, he stared at her over the head of the vampire struggling in his grasp. She wondered what had possessed the other vampire to stab Rodin from behind, but it was immaterial at the moment.
She had forgotten how frightening Drake’s vampire mien could be. With her, he had always been so gentle and tender, it had been easy to forget that beneath his courtly exterior there lurked a deadly predator who lived on human blood.
One of the torchbearers stepped forward. After pulling on a pair of gloves, he reached into the pocket of his trousers and withdrew a pair of silver handcuffs.
Florin ceased his struggles once the shackles were locked in place.
Elena remained where she was, her heart pounding with trepidation. She knew Drake wouldn’t betray her presence, but other vampires were arriving now, followed by a handful of drones. One of them picked up Gerret’s body and carried it away.
In the flickering light, Elena recognized some of the vampires as members of the Council. They formed a large, silent circle that encompassed Drake, Florin, Stefan, Liliana, and the fallen Master Vampire.
And then Liliana rose to her feet. Eyes blazing, cheeks streaked with scarlet tears, she picked up her husband’s sword. “Rodin, Master of the Carpathian Fortress, has been destroyed by treachery.” Her voice rang out in the darkness. “I seek a champion to avenge his death and return the Fortress to its rightful heirs.”
Every member of the Council took a step forward, as did Stefan and Drake.
Hidden in the shadows, Elena murmured, “No. Oh, no,” as Liliana offered the sword to Drake.
Liliana nodded. “As Rodin’s eldest son, I honor you with the task of avenging your sire’s death.”
With a nod, Drake took the sword from her hand.
“According to our laws,” Liliana said, “you may challenge Florin Korzha, or you may execute him for his treachery. The choice is yours.”
Drake removed his cloak and shirt and tossed them aside. “Release him,” he said, his voice as lethal as the weapon in his hand. “An execution is too swift. Too merciful.”
One of the drones stepped forward and removed the shackles from Florin’s wrists. Even in the dim light, Elena could see that Florin’s skin had already blistered and blackened where the silver had touched him.
Drake glanced at his brother. “Stefan, give him your blade.”
Stefan glared at Drake, then threw Gerret’s weapon on the ground.
Florin’s gaze darted from left to right as he picked up the bloodstained sword. Then, lips peeled back to reveal his fangs, he sprang toward Drake.
Elena took a step forward, hardly daring to breathe. Rodin had fought swiftly, skillfully, meting out more punishment than he had received. Florin was not as adept. His moves were slower, less confident.
Drake fought coldly, precisely, his sword slicing into his opponent again and again. Aside from the exquisite pain of silver biting into preternatural flesh, the blade inflicted no lasting damage, the vampire’s wounds healing almost immediately, though there would be scars.
Elena choked back a cry as Florin’s sword opened a long gash across Drake’s chest. He seemed immune to the pain as he parried Florin’s next thrust. As the fight went on, Elena realized that Drake could have ended it at any time. He was deliberately prolonging the battle in order to inflict as much pain as he could before delivering the final coup de grâce.
When the end came, it came swiftly. The sword in Drake’s hand moved faster than her eye could follow, opening dozens of deep gashes on Florin’s arms, legs, back, and chest before a well-placed thrust drove Drake’s sword into his opponent’s heart.
There was a collective sigh from the watching vampires as Florin staggered backward, then spiraled slowly to the ground.
Knowing what was coming, Elena turned her back. It did little good. Perhaps it was because she had been focused so strongly on Drake, perhaps it was simply because of the bond they shared, but she heard the whisper of the sword slice through the air, saw the blade cut easily through preternatural flesh as Drake severed Florin’s head.
She swallowed hard, but she wasn’t sick this time. Instead, she was only grateful that the man she loved still lived.
Drake came for Elena later, after Rodin’s body had been carried away by the members of the Council.
His gaze burned into hers. “What the hell was Stefan thinking, to bring you here?”
“I begged him to do it. Don’t be mad at him.”
“I told you to stay home.”
“I . . . I thought . . . I had this horrible feeling that something was wrong, that you needed me.” She squared her shoulders and stiffened her spine. “I guess I was wrong.”
The hurt in her eyes melted his anger. Murmuring her name, he pulled her into his embrace. “I will always need you, but you should not have come here.” He shuddered to think what would have happened to her if she had been discovered by a vampire who didn’t know who she was. Out here, alone, she would have been mistaken for a runaway sheep. Those who tried to escape were beyond the protection of the Fortress and were considered easy prey for any who should find them. She would have been drained before she had time to mention his name or explain who she was. The thought made him hold her closer, tighter.
“Drake, I can’t breathe.”
“Sorry.” He loosened his hold immediately. “Come with me. I will take you to my quarters. Katiya is there. Promise me you will not leave.”