Page 18 of The Shadows of the Dawn

“I’d come to think you lot got yourselves killed,” came Morrigan’s reply.

Oh, so she’d so far managed to survive. Nikola tried convincing himself that was a good thing with minimal success. “We will be there early tomorrow night,” he informed her, straight to the point. He leaned against the trunk of a tree, his companions laying low in the woods outside of a cul-de-sac. “I’m calling to know exactly what it is we’re walking into.”

“Many of Malkolm’s coven have fled the city entirely to only the Horned One knows where. I, myself, lost a quarter of my ranks, and a great deal of Moon Children have been executed on sight.”

Nikola’s response was instinctual, as if his mind was slotting itself back into the role of Morrigan’s soldier. “I am surprised those loyal to the lord have not tried taking advantage of the situation by storming your headquarters.”

Morrigan gave a haughty laugh full of disdain. “That is exactly why those cowardly rats have not tried anything foolish. They lost three of their highest-ranking leaders just before the fall. Those who have managed to survive were wise enough to come crawling to me.”

The greatest danger had shifted from Blood to man. What other creature than a human better encapsulated both violence and love? “What would be the best route to take to avoid traffic stops and, hm, other pitfalls?”

“My advice? The north side of the dead mall. It collapsed during the tremors, and it was the first location to be swept for any hideaways. But my patrols have reported that it’s since been quiet. From there, head straight to my headquarters, avoiding the streets as much as you can. Most of those being hit are those mistaken for humans out past curfew.”

Nikola locked eyes with Asher before they both scanned Trish and Katsuki. Invisibility wouldn’t be an issue. “Soon, Queen Morrigan.”

When Nikola and Asher had first fled Grander, it had been a circus of sirens, screams, fires, and disaster. But eerie silence blanketed the city as heavily as the six inches of snow on the ground, a haze of lingering smoke blocking out any hint of moonlight.

Trish’s breathing was audible as she followed from the rear, Katsuki leading the pack. Nikola willed the units of passing police in black uniforms to look the other way, while the other Moon Children forced the drivers of discreet patrol cars to round the next corner. Asher shuddered, slinking close to Nikola as they navigated the streets.

Nikola pecked Asher’s forehead as Asher clung to his arm. Asher trembled, but not so much nerves as it was restraint. Evidently, the young hybrid would rather be fighting than sneaking around.

Queen Morrigan’s headquarters was equally unmoving as the rest of the city. Asher halted everyone with a hiss, a finger to his pressed lips. He needn’t explain his reaction. This was suspicious.

Nikola cocked his head to the side as he listened closely. He could pick up the circulatory systems of multiple bodies, the shuffling of feet and hushed voices. The building was too far away for him to pick up exact words, but he could detect the vindictive rage and underlying fear laced throughout the headquarters.

It was clear that Nikola and the others had been spotted. But Morrigan surely would’ve notified her people of their impending guests.

Either Queen Morrigan was expecting greater danger, or she’d been infiltrated by the very vampires she’d given shelter to. Nikola considered her lack of mercy before—when she’d been dead set on executing Asher. Was she that desperate for numbers now that she was offering mercy?

“So,” Liam whispered, hearing what everyone else was hearing but not quite grasping the gravity of the situation. “Do we split up?”

Asher frowned. “Maybe if you got a death wish. Nah, we stick together. The newborns especially stay close.” He shot Nikola a knowing glance between him and Moss, for which Nikola was grateful. Nikola didn’t have the intense bond he surely would have had with someone he’d personally sought out to Change, but his protective obligation blazed inside of him like a great fire. Asher addressed Kat. “If shit hits the fan, you think you can hold your own?”

Katsuki arched an eyebrow. “I’m no match physically, but the Moon doesn’t fight with fists.”

Asher’s chuckle rolled over Nikola, one of his favorite sounds on the planet. It struck a chord of lust and protectiveness in Nikola’s heart, half of him wanting to yank Asher into a fiery kiss and the other half begging to drag him the hell away from this place. Oh, how he’d foolishly believed they’d escaped Grander.

This is my final fight for you, Nikola prayed toward his patrons. They gave no response.

“We have ourselves an invisibility cloak that got us through the city,” Asher said, his spine straightening and his voice hardening as he took on the role of a commander. Nikola had to admit, despite the gruesome history of such role, he found it sexy as fuck. “Think it’ll get us through one measly building?”

Katsuki hummed with doubt. “For a moment, long enough to break in, but other immortals are not so easily tricked by such illusions, given that they know of the Moon’s tricks. Keener eyesight, sense of smell—there are a great deal of factors to influence. Doubly so since they knew we were coming. We will have the element of surprise and not much more.”

Asher pointedly cracked a knuckle, rolling his neck. “We still have surprise on our side? Shit, count me in. Nikki?”

“Either we enter the building, or we turn around,” Nikola rumbled. “I fear we do not have much choice.”

“One last hurrah before we start our boring lives in the wilderness,” Asher said, his eyes twinkling with humor, telling Nikola that his lover was jesting. “Moss, Liam, you two stand in the middle of us. Trish, stand close to me, and help Katsuki out with their freaky deeky Moon shit. Whatever you do, don’t run past us, and sure as fuck don’t engage with someone unless they’re so close they’re spitting in your face. Keeping your own asses safe is the best way to help us help protect you. Do we understand?”

He spoke with such authority that no one had the nerve to argue. Even Nikola bowed his head in obedience. Master Asher Black indeed.

“Alright then,” Asher said, already starting toward the gate, an exaggerated swagger to his walk. “Let’s blow this joint.”

Nikola couldn’t help the faint trickle of excitement. True, he’d always been proud of his claim to unusual strength as a Moon lost in a sea of Blood, but now that he truly did retain some of the Horned One’s gifts, he was grateful for it. More than grateful. He was ready to flex it yet again—which struck him as odd.

Perhaps it was more than just his body that’d been touched by Blood.

Something he’d have to reckon with during a quieter night. Tonight, it’d be put to use.

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