Page 58 of The Wayward Sons & The Vampires of Fortune
A vampire rushed us, and I steeled myself for a fight, but it never came. A Hellhound clad in blue armor came out of the darkness. It caught the vampire around the waist and hoisted it off the ground. Strong jaws clamped around the vampire’s torso. No matter how hard it writhed, it couldn’t get free.
And like the dog it practically was, the Hellhound violently shook its head, flopping the thing around like a goddamn chew toy. The screech that filled the air was horrific—loud and piercing. I felt it down to my fucking bones.
Crouching, the Hellhound planted one paw on the vampire’s legs and yanked back. Tendons, muscles, and bones stretched,broke, and tore apart as the Hellhound ripped the vampire in half.
We scattered, and I pulled Ryder away from the carnage as body parts were strewn all over the place.
Blood.
Organs.
Bones.
Normally, I wasn’t squeamish, but my stomach bottomed out, and that pressure at the back of my throat built at the sight of the carnage. Next to me, Ryder audibly gagged.At least I wasn’t alone.
The Hellhound stalked up to Sam, its head dipping enough to headbutt him in the chest. It was strong enough to lift him slightly off the ground as it did. The damn near gentle affection was such a stark contrast to the violence we’d just witnessed.
“Good boy,” Sam praised and ran his hands through the Hellhound’s scruff. It chuffed once before galloping right back into the fight.
“I want a Hellhound,” I said to Ryder, never looking away.
“No,” Ryder replied.Typical.This was the baby hyena all over again.
“Let’s go.” Sam quickly ushered us in his direction. “Come on. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.”
Pushing Ryder between us, I brought up the rear as we followed our way right back toward the rest of the group.
Snarling.
Screeching.
Growling.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest while my hunter senses buzzed violently against the back of my skull. My power waned, and so did Sam’s, our light dimming. Across the way, Cole and Andrea’s power dropped in intensity as well. We could only maintain it for so long.
And as the light dwindled, the vampires tightened their approach. We moved closer to one another with the Hellhounds taking up guard spots around and between us. Sam stuck close to Ryder and me, and I lost sight of the others.
“How many have they killed?” I asked.
“One,” Andrea snapped. One down, three to go. “We need more light. Hellhounds can’t see great in the dark. Not the way vampires can.”
“Fuck,” I swore. They were waiting us out—waiting for complete darkness. They’d have the advantage over us.
Unless we could trap them for the Hellhounds to take out…
It was a bad idea. I knew that. But we were out here fighting vampires with weaponized Hellhounds while people wore super suits. At this point, nothing was off the table.
“Make me a fuckin’ promise,” I snapped, grabbing Sam’s shoulder.
“What?” he frowned.
“Whatever happens next, you make sure Ryder gets out of this alive, you hear me?”
“Gray—”
“Promise me, Sam,” I cut him off. “Whatever happens, don’t let anythin’ happen to him. Not like your wife. Please.”
I was pushing a button by bringing her up, but I needed him to understand. Whatever happened next, I needed him to protect Ryder where I couldn’t. Emotions filled his expression as those vivid blue eyes searched my face, questioning and concerned.
