Page 123 of Heir

“Drak bit you and injected a paralytic into your body so you’d stop attacking everyone at Lerris’s behest,” I said.

“Did you at least get Lerris?”

We all exchanged looks.

“He uh . . . he got away,” Maxar said.

“But we’ll find him,” I replied. “Now that we know it’s him and what he’s after, he can’t hide forever. And we won’t hide forever. Just enough for everyone to get strong again.”

Raver’s expression turned sad. “I wonder if he’s behind the vampire killings?” He glanced at Drak. “Didn’t the mage you captured say that a demon approached him and promised him a high position in his master’s court?”

“Vampire killings?” I asked, taking Zandren’s hand in mine and giving it a big squeeze. What were they talking about?

Raver nodded. “Someone is coming after vampires. Killing them with zero provocation or remorse. Women. Children. Families. Nobody is safe.”

My eyes widened. “That Phaceanesh, the one I killed in the alley, he said something about being hunted.”

“You never said anything about that before,” Drak said, his tone accusatory.

“I’ve been a little busy,” I shot back, shooting a harsh glare his way before refocusing on the other three men again. “He said ‘you’re hunting us. Killing us for sport’. But he was referring specifically to demons. Then he said something about turning the tables, which I assume meant that he was going to kill a demon. I must have completely forgotten about it until now.”

“It was a traumatic night for you, Little One,” Zandren said softly. “A lot happened. It’s understandable.”

I smiled at him, then turned back to Drak and Raver. “How long has this been going on?”

Drak pressed his lips together for a moment in thought. “It’s been happening for probably the last six months, but in the last month it’s gotten more frequent. Near daily reports of murders or attempted murders. A lot of vampires are going into hiding.” Drak’s expression was dour. “I was torturing a rogue hunter mage for information when I was struck by lightning.”

I swallowed. Torturing?

Could he see my demeanor change when he mentioned his vocation?

“He was caught trying to sneak into a vampire family’s home. Said there is a reward for every vampire head you bring in. At first, we thought he meant the Phaceanesh, but either he misunderstood, or all vampires are being targeted.” Drak glanced at Raver. “After I was struck by lightning, I recommended to King Howar that Raver take up the position I once held, figuring out who is behind this.”

“And you think it’s Lerris?” I asked.

“We don’t know. But it makes sense. If Lerris killed Donovar, he expected to have a court of his own. So to make promises like the one he made the mage isn’t unfounded.” Drak focused on Raver. “Do you know the name of the henchman Maxar torched?”

Raver shook his head. “No. But I’ll find out. Once I know you’re all safe in hiding, I’m heading back to New York to meet with the King. Then I’m going to go hunting.”

Zandren stood up, and I helped his naked ass climb down out of the cube van.

“Melissima has some clothes in here that’ll fit you,” Raver said, leading the way back into the house. “You’re not the first bear she’s hosted.”

Zandren grunted. “Don’t really care about clothes.”

“The rest of us would prefer not to have a staring contest with your one-eyed snake, thank you very much,” Maxar said dryly.

Zandren merely grunted again.

Raver ducked into a back room, returning a moment later with a stack of clothes. After some trial and error, Zandren settled on gray sweatpants that actually fit, and a yellow T-shirt that he looked like he was going to Hulk out of any second.

The men all sat down at the table, and after I made Zandren some tea and brought it to him, I went to grab a spare stool from the island to sit on, but he snagged me around the waist and hauled me into his lap, kissing the nape of my neck. “I’m sorry if I hurt you, Little One.”

“I was the only one you didn’t hurt,” I said, settling into him, grateful for his sturdy presence and warmth behind me.

Drak and Raver exchanged looks, but they stowed them as soon as they caught me watching.

My brain hurt from how many questions cannoned around inside of it. And one that wouldn’t leave me alone was: what was the thunderclap all about?

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