Page 30 of Claiming the Dhampir

He glanced at his companion, who was still frozen in shock, and shook his head.

“We should have known better,” he whispered. “Fairie’s magic doesn’t make exceptions, but the mere hope of going back made us stupid.”

I tore my eyes from the pathetic creature begging me for mercy. I wanted to leave them to die. They needed to pay for their traitorous acts. If Nathan didn’t survive… My blood boiled with anger. He was my family. The first one on Earth who’d earned my trust and never betrayed it.

Elliott quickly followed in Nathan’s footsteps. He’d also become my brother and friend. He wouldn’t hesitate to show his disappointment in me if I left these two to die. It wouldn’t surprise me if he hadn’t already moved the others to a secure location so I couldn’t kill them.

What would Lorna think if I left these fae in the Underworld? She would never rest if she found out, would always feel guilty for some reason. I’d have to hide it from her. I frowned. I’d just forced Kenrid to reveal his secrets because of my own convictions about hidden truths between mates. If I killed them, I’d have to tell her. Confess my sins.

“Damn,” I muttered and glared at the creatures I’d have to take back with me. “Let’s go.”

Thirty minutes later, Elliott parked outside of the address the fae had given me. It looked just like all the other homes on the street, an old Tudor Style in shades of brown and white situated in the center of an elaborately manicured, two-acre lot. It mattered little to me. The only details that concerned me were the tall hedges surrounding the property that gave it some semblance of privacy and the absence of any other people—fae or otherwise.

The peaceful facade only fueled my anger. If Brance and Alyssa really did bring their captives here, I would bring Hell to their doorstep. They would never know peace again. Fear and death would be their new bedmates.

I refused to lose two trusted friends and my mate.

I slid out of Elliott’s truck and strode across the yard. I’d reverted to my human guise, regardless of how much I wanted to storm the property in full demon mode. I had no desire to pay the consequences for revealing myself to humanity. I was angry, not stupid. I’d release my demon once I was inside.

“Damn,” Elliott swore from just behind me. “The magic surrounding this place is crazy.”

The fae I’d interrogated—and, yes, brought back to the shifters—hadn’t misled me about the power poured into the wards on the house. I wondered if even the humans could feel it emanating from the property.

I glanced over my shoulder at Elliott and noticed the dozens of shifters and witches pouring out of the vehicles behind us. We’d asked for volunteers to join us, but I hadn’t expected so many of the clan members to accept. After the vampires’ discussion about feeding from Lorna, I worried that Nathan hadn’t swayed their opinions.

I shouldn’t have doubted them, though. Nathan provided a safe haven for many in the supernatural community, not just the vampires. No one wanted to find out what would happen to the clan without their leader.

Yes, it was nice to see the clan supporting Nathan and Kenrid, but should we have brought so many witnesses? What if Lorna had given in to her dhampir? The clan wouldn’t accept her, and any trust they had in us would be gone. We’d most certainly lied to them about what she was.

No. She had to know I would come for her. I had to trust that she wouldn’t risk exposing herself.

“It’s not a concern,” I said, finally responding to Elliott. “There is no magic on Earth that can keep me out.”

Elliott raised his eyebrows at me. I answered his silent question with a shake of my head. No, I wouldn’t explain myself to him. He would witness it along with everyone else.

“Let’s check the back,” I said, pointing toward the wooden privacy fence that disappeared behind the house. “Stealth is not my intent, but I’d prefer to avoid the neighbors if possible.”

“Good idea.” Elliott motioned to the others to follow as we made our way into the backyard.

The gate on the fence was not locked, not that a simple lock would’ve stopped me. The urge to tear the gate from its posts and throw it across the yard nearly overwhelmed me, but I drew in a deep breath and kept moving forward. I had to remind myself that I didn’t want a bunch of humans coming out to investigate. The numerous cars parked on the street were already reason enough for the neighbors to be curious.

The backyard was indeed enclosed by a tall privacy fence and numerous trees. I stretched out my senses, looking for magical traps. Kenrid always placed them around his own home, so it wouldn’t surprise me to find them here as well. Sure enough, several magical trip wires were scattered on the path to the large deck at the rear of the house.

Once again, I noted that there were no fae to be seen. No guards, no patrols, no one lounging on the deck next to the pool. If it weren’t for the fae magic and traps covering the property, I might’ve thought we had the wrong location.

I stopped just short of the traps. Elliott stood next to me, with the others standing a few feet back.

“Shouldn’t there be guards or something?” Elliott asked.

“I had expected some resistance,” I replied. “I don’t think we were lied to, but something here isn’t right.”

“Maybe they just assumed that no one could break through those wards”—Elliott gestured to the house—“and so they didn’t think they needed any guards.”

“Possibly, or it’s only a handful of the fae who still follow Brance’s agenda. Maybe he doesn’t have enough followers to leave a guard. After yesterday’s meeting, most of them apologized to me,” I said, recalling the line of clan members who filed by me after Lorna’s incredible display of self-control. “Stand back while I clear these traps, then I’m bringing down their wards.”

As soon as Elliott took several steps back, I released my hold on a sliver of my demonic magic. A bank of dark fog rolled out in front of me. When it hit the first trap, the detonation rumbled through the ground. The next two went off simultaneously and a mushroom of dark magic blossomed in the air. Another rumble shook the earth beneath our feet.

Several of the people behind me gasped. I smiled. No doubt they had also felt the strength of the fae magic and wondered how we would disarm the traps. Being the only resident demon on Earth made it easy for me to hide my magic. No one knew what to expect from me. It felt good to display my strength, to show these lesser beings that nothing could match the might of the Underworld.

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