Page 22 of Rescued By the Vampire Assassin

When the last guard fell, Keri stood panting, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She turned to Joshua, a question in her eyes.

"How did I do that?" she asked, voice shaking. "I've never fought like that in my life."

Joshua studied her intently. "It must be the mate bond," he said after a moment. "You're drawing on my knowledge and abilities."

Before Keri could process this, Chrissy's voice cut through the haze of confusion. "Keri, you have to run," she said urgently, struggling to sit up. "Anatol will kill us both for failing to trap the assassin."

Keri knelt beside her friend. "It's okay, Chrissy. Joshua is my mate now. We're not what the Vasiles were expecting."

Chrissy's eyes widened in shock, darting between Keri and Joshua. "It worked.”

"It's a long story," Keri said, helping Chrissy to her feet. "Listen, we need you to get everyone out of here. Joshua, is there somewhere safe they can go?"

Joshua nodded, quickly giving Chrissy the address of a Nicolau family safehouse. "They'll provide sanctuary until this is over," he assured her.

As Chrissy began rousing the other occupants of the harem, she turned back to Keri, tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I never meant for you to get caught up in all this. I couldn’t help myself."

Keri squeezed her hand. "It's not your fault. We're going to stop Anatol and make sure he can't do this to anyone else."

“Stop him how? He’ll never stop.”

“He will if he’s dead,” Joshua said.

Chrissy's expression grew grave. "When Anatol dies, the power of his serum dies with him. You’ll no longer be mates. Keri, Nicolau will kill you for helping Anatol capture him. He’ll kill us all."

A chill ran down Keri's spine at the words. She glanced at Joshua, seeing the tension in his jaw and the conflict in his eyes. "That will not happen," Joshua said firmly, meeting Keri's gaze. The intensity of his stare made her breath catch. "I swear it."

Chapter 7

CHRISSY'S EYES DARTED nervously between Keri and Joshua. "Anatol's rooms are through that door," she whispered, pointing to an ornate entryway in the corner of the harem. "But it's warded and locked. You can't just walk in."

Joshua's lips curled into a predatory smile, his fangs glinting in the dim light. "Then we won't use the door," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down Keri's spine. There was something both terrifying and thrilling about the casual way he approached their seemingly impossible task.

Keri squeezed Chrissy's hand, feeling the tremors that ran through her friend's body. "Get everyone out of here," she said. "As soon as we break into Anatol's sanctum, gather the others and run. Don't look back, no matter what you hear."

Chrissy nodded, her eyes wide with fear and a flicker of hope. "What about you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"We'll be right behind you," Keri assured her, though she wasn't entirely convinced of that.

As if sensing her uncertainty, Joshua placed a hand on Keri's shoulder. The touch was brief, but it sent a jolt of electricity through her body, reminding her of the bond they now shared. "We finish this," he said simply, his dark eyes meeting hers with an intensity that left no room for argument.

Back in the hallway, Joshua eyed the wall separating them from Anatol's chambers. The wallpaper was a rich burgundy, adorned with intricate gold patterns that seemed to shift and dance in the flickering candlelight. "Ready to make some noise?" he asked Keri, his voice low and dangerous, a predator ready to pounce.

Keri flexed her fingers, marveling at the strength coursing through her veins. It was still strange to her, this newfound power that hummed just beneath her skin. "Let's bring this place down," she replied, a fierce grin spreading across her face.

They attacked the wall with inhuman force, their fists moving in perfect synchronization. Plaster cracked and splintered beneath their onslaught, wood beams groaning in protest. The sound of their destruction seemed to shake the very foundation of the Vasile stronghold.

As they continued their assault, she felt in tune with Joshua. Every move, every breath was perfectly coordinated, as if they were two parts of a single, unstoppable force. It was exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure.

The wall began to give way, chunks of plaster and wood falling around them in a dusty avalanche. Through the growing hole, Keri caught glimpses of Anatol's chambers—a riot of luxury that made the harem look austere by comparison.

Just as they broke through, the thunder of footsteps announced the arrival of the Vasiles’ remaining soldiers. They poured up the stairs, a tide of snarling vampires with eyes gleaming with bloodlust and fangs bared.

"Let’s get to Anatol," Joshua said.

They dove through the hole together into Anatol’s chambers.

Once inside, Joshua launched himself at the oncoming horde. He moved like a blur, his movements so fast that Keri's enhanced vision could barely keep up. The first vampire to reach him went down in a spray of blood, Joshua's hand punching clean through its chest.

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