Page 51 of Inevitably Yves

“Yves,” he manages, his breath rattling.

“Gods,” Yves says, dropping to his knees and cradling the vampire’s head. “Who did this to you?”

Thorn is tracing the long streak of blood left by the vampire in the parking lot. Eros and Raphael are right beside him, their mates looking on with nervous curiosity.

“Who did this, Cane?”

Cane’s eyes roll back but he manages to focus on Yves again. “Attack,” he says. “Church.”

Yves tilts his head, lifting his gaze to me, then Syn. “Church?”

“Old,” Cane whispers, his life clearly bleeding out.

“The Church,” Bowie says. “That old club on the north side?”

Cane nods, whispering, “Yes. Vampi…res. Att…ack.”

“Used to be a Mafia hangout,” Tru says. “But it was burned down years ago.”

“The vampires are at the church?” Yves asks a dying Cane.

His breath rattles again and he grips Yves’s hand. “Don’t go. Death.”

“They can’t kill me, Cane. How many are there?”

His brow creases. “Lots. Maa…” He winces in pain.

“Come on, Cane,” Yves urges. “Just a little more.”

Cane’s body trembles but he pushes on. “Magic,” he gets out. “Brain…ahhh.”

“Brain?” I ask. “Brainwashing?”

Cane looks relieved and nods as he coughs up blood. “Not thinking.”

“Hadrian has magic that is influencing vampires to fight for him?”

Cane releases a noise that sounds like approval, but then his eyes flutter, and blood flows in streams from his lips. He dies in Yves’s arms, his eyes turning cloudy as his eternal walk ends.

Yves’s energy turns immediately dark as he gazes down at the dead vampire in his arms. “He used the last of his life force to warn me. We cannot let his death be in vain.”

“It won’t be.”

Thorn is back, gazing down at Cane, then looking back up with anger flashing in his eyes. “Cane left a trail. Should we follow it?”

Yves turns his gaze to me, and in it I see the loss, rage, and frustration he’s held in his heart since we left each other all those years ago.

“My instinct says no. What do you think, Dami?”

“I agree. We should see what Vivienne finds out and contact the council.”

“I’m going,” Thorn says, clearly torn up. “I have to. First the kids on the street, now vampires. I can’t wait.”

“We’ll go with Thorn,” Syn says. “Strength in numbers, right?”

Panic rises in Yves, seeping out of him. “He’ll use you all to hurt me.”

“He’s not there,” Eros says. “He’s got a nest, but he’s not there yet.”

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