Page 8 of Bitten

Chapter Two

Twenty Years Later…

The vamps came out of the woodwork, nearly too many for them to handle. Shots rang out all around. Ash swirled in the air, so thick, Kane could barely breathe. Kane saw the leader of their taskforce, Noah, grabbed from behind and slammed up against a door, his weapon slipping from his hand. Just as the vampire lunged to bite him, Kane slammed his silver spike through the vampire’s chest—and watched as the creature turned to dust.

They fought for what felt like hours, but had likely only been a matter of minutes. He moved quickly, picking off vampire after vampire…

Each death brought him pleasure. It fed the desire for vengeance.

Inside, a bright light came out into the hall. Kane followed Noah and the others on his team inside, just as several vamps attacked—and several others came through the portal.

Kane slammed his spike into one chest… and then another… but they were coming in too fast. He knew he had to shut down the portal, or they’d be overrun. After fighting off another vamp, he rushed closer and slammed his fist into the front of the portal. Lit with magic, he knew it had to be the source of the opening. He kept hitting until the light faded and vampires no longer rushed through… and then he kept ripping it apart to ensure it couldn’t be repaired. He tore down the metal ring that acted as a halo around the portal and created the opening.

When he was done, he let out a scream filled with rage and anger. Pent-up emotions he’d held on to for a good many years. He rose to his full height and saw he’d gotten a couple of vamps mid-transport. Their arms and legs lay on the floor of the contraption, twitching like parts of a dead snake. A smile crossed his lips before he pulled out his stake and helped finish off the remaining creatures.

All grew quiet as the final vamps in the room were brought down. Noah turned to Colm and Theis. “Can you take the men and clear the rest of the building?”

Both men nodded before rounding up the group.

Kane walked past Noah, but the bear shifter reached out and grabbed Kane’s arm.

“Are you good, man?”

Kane eyed him, feeling a bit out of sorts. “I want to kill them all. Every fucking leech in Midnight.”

“There are some who have lived here peacefully for many years.”

Kane spat on the floor. “Only good vampire is a dead vampire.”

He sensed something calling out to him… another…

Tilting his head, he searched for the source, trying to determine what it was he was detecting.

Kane stormed from the room and began checking, room by room…

He sensed Noah behind him, following his mad trail. At the third room, he found the something that had been calling him.

A naked man tied to a chair.

Heat slammed into him… at the worst possible moment. Kane recognized who this male was instantly…

Mine…

His gaze roamed over the bruises… the bites… rage unlike any he’d ever felt gripped him. Yet as the desire to destroy overwhelmed him, he knew he needed to protect this man…

He shoved his silver stake into a holster on his hip and raced over to the chair. The man was small… elvish looking. Kane saw the slightly pointed tips to his ears and the long, thick shining black hair cascading over his lean body. And he saw a glimmer of magic… strong magic, but it was sputtering.

Dying.

The man had bites all over his neck and shoulders. His head fell limply to one side, his skin pale.

“It’s just a feeder,” Noah muttered.

“No,” the naked man moaned. “Don’t… bite…me… please…”

“Damn it,” Theis said, after rushing into the room. “That’s Ralnur.”

“Ralnur?” Noah asked, his eyes widening. “The king’s missing uncle?”

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