Page 64 of Veil of Shadows

I smelled burning flesh, and I knew it had to be caused by the handcuffs they slapped around my wrists. I tugged against the tree, trying to unravel myself from its trunk. But the vampires just snarled and licked their teeth as they ogled me.

Someone gave the order not to kill me.

And I knew exactly who.

Aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-OOOOOOOOH!

Aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-OOOOOOOOH!

Aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-OOOOOOOOH!

I drew in another breath to howl once more, but the feeling of smoke in my throat cut my repeated howl off midstream. With my wrists trembling in pain and my body sweating with the building heat, I put my head on a swivel. Gone were the vampires in a flash, leaving me handcuffed to the fucking tree where I put the kids.

“Dom! The fire’s getting closer!”

“Dom, are you okay!?”

“Stay in the tree, kids!” I barked. “Stay put!”

Then she finally showed herself. She came waltzing out of that fire in her crimson red dress and matching heels with her impossibly disgusting translucent skin. Her eyes glowed red as she held out her palm and a fireball appeared within her hand. How the hell was that possible? She was a vampire, not a fucking witch. Something glimmered on her hand. Something big, and red, just like her dress. It seemed to be alive, as if I couldn’t help but to have my gaze drawn to it.

“Like it?” Delilah asked as she held up her left hand and wiggled the ring for me to see. “It was a gift from a very dear person in my life.”

I saw the swirling energy beneath the hardened surface of the red stone, and I swear to hell on high, I heard whispers. Or maybe it was just the fire crackling closer. Or, maybe it was just the blur of the pups above me crying out for dear life while I stood there, handcuffed with silver to a goddamn tree.

Dom! Where the fuck are you!?Voss asked as his voice finally pierced through groupthink.

Bexley’s headed with Merida into the woods. They seem to think he went that way with the pups,Ronyn snarled.

“No,” I said weakly, trying to reach out in groupthink. “No, tell her to…t—to not?—”

Dom,Voss barked,if you can hear me, what’s your location with those pups?

Dominic!Ronyn bellowed.

But above the fire and screaming and searing pain racking my body, I heard a voice.

An angelic, fear-laced voice.

“Doooooooom!” Bexley exclaimed. “Where are yooooou!?”

And the smile that crossed Delilah’s face as she slowly came back into focus made me shiver.

“Right on time,” she states with a confident grin.

I shook my head. I tugged helplessly at my restraints. If Bexley came out here, she was going to die. Delilah wanted her to pursue it. To pursue me. To pursue us. Delilah wanted her out here with me. Which meant the trap wasn’t for us.

It was for Bexley.

This is Lieutenant Reggie, come in, Dom.

Dom, it’s Merida. Where are you? Bexley and I can’t see through the smoke. Are you in that fire?

Dom, it’s Ronyn. Can you give us anything? Another howl? A sound? A smoke signal? Anything?

Really, a fucking smoke signal, Ronyn?

“Dominic! Make a noise for me! Anything!” Bexley exclaimed.

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