Page 51 of Hitched to the Vampire King

Lucy’s amused snort drew my attention, and we shared a wink before she and Sam vanished into the hallway and headed downstairs in search of the other slayers.

I turned my attention back to Gavin. The fight had clearly drained from him, and he slumped against the wall in defeat.

“Let’s move this party downstairs,” I suggested, my grip on Gavin’s arm still firm as I pulled him upright and guided him out of the bedroom and into the hallway.

Jaden and Josh stood by their room, concern alight on their faces, while Aimee stood inside her doorway.

“Stay with Gabriel,” I told Jaden and Josh. “Just in case this one’s lying about how many slayers he’s brought. Shout if you need any help.”

Jaden gave a single nod, then darted into my room, still clothed in her pajamas, but armed with a pair of daggers. Josh returned to their room to grab some clothes, then followed after Jaden, his gaze lingering on Gavin briefly before he stepped into my room and closed the door.

“Need any more help?” Aimee asked.

“Nah, we got this,” I said.

“Very well. Ensure he understands how much I dislike someone breaking into my home. Violently, if necessary.”

Gavin choked back a sound.

Chuckling, I guided him down the stairs, his heavy boots thumping against the wooden steps, a stark contrast to my silent tread. At the foot of the steps, I spotted Avery, whose narrowed gaze tracked Gavin’s every movement. She stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her hair just as mussed as everyone else’s. A quick glance revealed a rumpled blanket on the couch, where she must have been sleeping.

Lucy and Sam soon returned to the living room. Sam had a grip on two slayers, both of whom were women and approximately my age. One had long, dark hair, the other a shorter, red bob that accentuated her face shape. Lucy held the third, a male with blond hair and freckled cheeks.

“Any neighbors see you?” I asked.

“Don’t think so,” Lucy said. “We were quiet, and it’s still fairly early.”

I nodded, then shoved Gavin into Aimee’s favorite chair. Sam and Lucy disarmed their three slayers and dropped their arsenal of stakes and daggers onto the coffee table, then pushed them down onto the couch.

My gaze swept over Gavin and his crew. From the looks of their torn clothes and blackened eyes, they’d put up a bit of a fight, but thankfully, I didn’t see any serious injuries. We weren’t their enemies, and they weren’t ours. Yes, they’d come to slay Gabriel, but they’d only been doing what they’d been ordered to do by an organization they explicitly trusted. I knew all about that.

I needed to tread carefully here. I needed to break the indoctrination that’d been drilled into their brains, but if I pushed too hard, they’d shut down and ignore everything I had to say. To save Gabriel, I had to carefully dismantle their beliefs piece by piece and make them see the Academy for what it really was. Not an easy task, considering I’d been painted as the enemy.

We also didn’t have a lot of time for this either. We had a big day ahead of us, what with our plans to sneak back into the warehouse. I was being pulled in so many directions, I truly didn’t know where to start. But right now, I had to focus on these four.

“Names?” I asked. “I’ve already become acquainted with Gavin here.”

The red-head jutted out her chin. “Daisy.”

A vampire slayer named Daisy. How…adorable.

The other woman sighed and rolled her eyes. “Justine.”

“Mark,” said the third.

“Alright Daisy, Justine, and Mark. You four are here to fulfill a bounty, right? To kill a so-called dangerous vampire? Not to mention take me down. A supposed traitor who’s broken the sacred rules of the Academy. That sound about right?”

Gavin shifted uncomfortably but nodded, his eyes narrow slits. His companions, still silent, followed suit. So, he was the leader then. My focus lingered on the other three, one male and two females, all of whom looked pissed and ready to fight.

“I used to be like you,” I continued, my tone calm and measured. “But things changed for me. And I want to tell you why. I have a story I’d like to tell, if you’ll oblige. All you have to do is listen.”

“They told us you’re a liar,” Daisy piped in.

“Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me,” I said, facing her head-on. “The guilty always tend to accuse others. Ever notice that?” I surveyed all four of them. “Tell you what. You listen to what I have to say, and when I’m done, you’re free to go, provided you don’t come back and try to kill Gabriel again. If you do, I can’t guarantee you’ll leave a second time in one piece. And again, I’d like to remind you how easy it was for us to take you out. We did that without any warning. Imagine what we can accomplish when we’re on guard.”

Justine swallowed, then glanced at Gavin, who gave a jerky nod.

“Great.” Clasping my hands behind my back, I started to tell my story, all while pacing through the living room. “I used to be exactly like you, happily serving the Academy without question. I’d receive a contract and a-slaying I’d go. I had no issues slaying vampires, until the day I met Gabriel.”

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