Page 77 of Bound By Blood

Drake glared at her. “I have sent my people away. The Fortress is yours. Give me my daughter.”

“I never said I would give her to you.”

Drake took a step forward, his fingers claw like, his eyes glowing hot as hellfire when he reached for her.

Nadiya raised one hand and it was as if Drake had hit a wall. He recoiled, his face contorting with pain.

Zack swore as residual supernatural power arced through the air, brushing his skin. It was like nothing he had ever felt before. Not painful, but uncomfortable.

He nodded to himself when Liliana murmured, “Witch.” That explained it.

Elena took a step forward, one hand extended in a silent plea. Nadiya, I know we have never been friends,” she said, her voice thick with unshed tears, “but Kaitlyn has never done anything to you or your family. Please let her come home to us.”

“Three of my sons are dead,” Nadiya replied, her voice like acid. “No blood has been shed to avenge them.”

“If you want blood, take mine!” Elena cried. “But please don’t hurt my child. My only child.”

“If you want blood for blood, take mine,” Drake said, his voice thick with barely suppressed anger. “I am the one who destroyed Florin. Although you seem to have forgotten he deserved to die for his treachery against your husband.”

Nadiya’s eyes narrowed ominously. “You dare say that to my face!”

“It is the truth and you know it!”

“Be gone from here!”

“Drake?” Elena looked up at her husband, her cheeks damp with tears.

“Come, wife, let us go.” Taking Elena by the hand, he started down the trail, then turned back to face Nadiya. “Know this. If you harm so much as a hair on my daughter’s head, I will hunt you down and rip out your heart no matter how long it takes me to find you, no matter what the cost.”

Without waiting for her reply, he stalked down the long, winding path that led to the valley below.

Lucien stood at the foot of the trail, his men stretched out behind him.

Drake paused in front of the other Master Vampire, his eyes narrowing. “I should have known you would be in on this,” he said, his voice thick with contempt. “I have always known you coveted this place. It is a shame you lacked the courage to fight me for it, man to man, instead of hiding behind a woman’s desire for revenge.”

Vampires didn’t blush with embarrassment or grow flushed with anger, but Lucien’s eyes filled with shame as he stepped aside to let Drake pass.

“Be warned, Lucien,” Drake continued, his voice laced with quiet menace, “if anything happens to my daughter, your life will also be forfeit.” Back rigid, he swept past Lucien and the other vampires.

Stefan and Liliana followed Drake and Elena down the mountainside.

Zack brought up the rear.

As he started to pass Nadiya, she put a staying hand on his arm. Magical power rippled over his skin like tiny electric shocks. “Who are you?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Just a friend of the family.”

She stared at him. “What is your name?”

“Zack Ravenscroft.”

Recognition flared in her eyes. “You knew my son, Daryn.”

Zack nodded. “I saw him a couple of times.”

“Do you know where he is?”

“Yeah,” Zack drawled. “I know.”

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