Page 139 of Evil Hearts

Katarina heard the hiss—like an angry housecat’s—before she could see the vampire. He materialized in front of her, his face flush with shock and rage and guilt; fangs extended and eyes glowing like twin embers. Startled, Katarina turned to run, only to have the vampire’s cold, clammy grip come down on her and drive her to her knees.

“Ye’ve seen yer last night, ye long-eared cunt!” he growled, his voice growing louder as he moved his mouth closer to her throat.

“N-no…”

A roar echoed behind them, and the vampire’s hold on her tightened as she felt it twist to face what was coming. There was another flash of movement in front of her, and Katarina looked up as Anna appeared, prying the vampire’s hand from her shoulder and driving a fist over Katarina’s head. A sharp impact and a pained growl sounded behind her, and Katarina felt the vampire’s looming presence wane as it staggered back. Anna pulled her to her feet, starting away from the battle with her.

“Told you to stayquiet!” she scolded.

Katarina panted, coming down from her panic. “I… I know. I know! I’m sorry! I just…”

“Save it!” Anna barked, “They know we’re here, and they’re all out for blood! We don’t have time for—”

Another vampire appeared in front of them, cutting off their retreat, and throwing Katarina from Anna’s grasp.

The force…

Incredible!

Katarina felt herself sailing through the night air as though she were flying!

One push… and she was flying?

But what went up must come—

Chapter Seven:

Together Again

“Lass, please…pleasecome back to me,” Lachlan’s voice rose over the haze of darkness.

Katarina groaned, fighting to get nearer to that voice; that beautiful Scottish burr.

“L-Lach… lan?”

“Well I’ll be!” Munro’s voice sounded.

Anna chuckled, “The power of the word ‘please.’ Are you taking notes, Lachlan?”

“That’s it, Katarina!” Lachlan’s smiling face came into focus over her, “I’m here! We all are!”

“Wh-what happened?” Katarina groaned, rubbing her head.

“You took a swan-dive head first into a rock is what happened. Then these two went full-scale berserk and started decorating the hilltops with vampire guts,” Anna explained. “I helped, of course, though I was more graceful and less snarly about it.”

Lachlan rolled his eyes, “Ye still talk funny.”

“So do you,bro!” Anna quipped, smirking down at Katarina. “It’s good to have you back. This one’s been blubbering like a baby since you’ve been out.”

“Been… out?” Katarina blinked, looking around and recognizing the brothers’ cave. “H-how long?”

“Too long!” he frowned, wrapping his arms around her, moving his lips to her forehead. “I was so afraid I’d lost ye!”

Katarina blushed at the contact, but still found the strength to turn away. “I thought you hated me…”

“I was wrong, lass,” he looked down, guiltily. “I was feeling so strongly for ye, I didn’t know what to do! So I tried to push you away. It was a mistake, though; Munro made me realize tha’! Can ye ever forgive me?”

She smirked at that, “I suppose I could. I mean, watching you tear a vampire’s arm off to save mewasapology enough for what you said.”

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