Page 117 of Samhain Savior
We exited the alcove, the darkened dance floor crowded with half-naked vampires, their faces and chests smeared in blood, their glistening skin once alluring but now macabre in the dim, stuttering light. What had been a sensual crush of bodies moments ago—hips grinding, mouths locked, laughter sharp with hunger—had gone eerily off-beat. The music still pounded, but no one moved to it. The rhythm, once intoxicating, now thrummed like a pulse dragged too fast, too hard, until it set every nerve on edge.
Their voices rumbled in a low murmur, not the throaty moans of pleasure I’d heard earlier, but guttural, restless growls, feral and uncertain. Eyes that had burned bright with lust flicked toward the shadows, searching, narrowing. Some licked blood from their lips as if savoring it for courage, while others dug their nails into the flesh of their arms and chests, nervous habits masquerading as indulgence. The room felt thick, humid with sweat and iron, but beneath it all was a different scent threading in now—fear, rich and ripe.
All eyes were fixed on the dais where Genevieve stood, her narrowed gaze slicing over the crowd, regal and dangerous, hunting for whoever dared disrupt her revelry.
I looked to the balcony where Mal and Corson stood, their eyes already locked on Archer. With a head nod and some silent communication I didn’t catch, both of them split, each going a different direction, diving into the fray with steel and fists. Behind them, a dazed-looking Vine stumbled out of one of the rooms, likely drawn by the commotion. His grin was lazy, his chest scratched raw by nail marks, pants unbuttoned like he’d wandered straight out of someone else’s arms. When he saw me he winked, then sauntered down the stairs to join us in the frantic crowd, the flicker of amusement on his face at sharp odds with the atmosphere curdling around us.
“Hell of a party, boss,” Vine offered, and I snorted at his causal tone. “You know I love me a rowdy shindig.”
“It’s about to get a whole lot rowdier.” Archer’s words were cryptic, sending a shiver of anticipation down my spine. Within my chest, my magic stirred, the bright light I had only recently discovered pulsing in response to the threat that surrounded us. Pandora had settled, but only marginally, her tiny body practically vibrating in the pouch at my waist.
“Silence!” Genevieve shouted, her voice surprisingly powerful for a person of her diminutive stature.
Someone finally cut off the music, the room falling strangely silent, everyone collectively holding their breath, watching.
Waiting.
And then it happened.
From outside the mansion, a howl rang out, followed by another and another, until the walls practically shook with the calls of voracious hell hounds.
Where had they come from?
And what were they looking for?
“Guards!” Shouted Genevieve, the word ringing out over the howls. “Where are my guards?” Vampires began running through the mansion, their human entertainment abandoned as they moved to the exits, looking asthough they were readying for battle. Behind Genevieve, three of the largest vampires gathered, their pale eyes surveying the room with suspicion.
As the crowd around the dais cleared, I finally spotted Mex, and my heart sank.
She was still seated on the low couch where we’d last seen her, but now she had a massive vampire behind her, his hand latched in her hair as he held a wicked-looking knife to her throat.
“Archer!” I shouted, tugging on his hand, drawing his attention to the captive demon. “We have to help her!”
“Mex can look after herself,” he growled, his ridiculously strong form not moved by my pulling in the slightest. “You are my priority. We have to get the diamond and get the Hell out of here.”
“We’re not leaving her, Archer. She’s our friend,” I exclaimed, rounding on him. “She is a member ofyourbrotherhood who stepped up to help us when we needed it.” I could see the indecision warring on his face, his need to protect me contrasting against his loyalty to theUmbra Fratrum. “She’s only here because we pushed our way into her life,” I added, trying one more time to appeal to the caring heart I now knew Archer had within him. “We can’t abandon her.”
“She’s got a point, boss,” Vine said, a teasing grin on his face; he was having far too much fun considering the chaos around us.
“Fine!” Archer finally agreed with a growl. “But know that if it comes down to it, I will choose you, witch, no matter the price.”
His words warmed me, even as I felt bad for Mex. Thinking back to theHullabaloo Club, I recalled that she’d had several other demons around her, but nothing like the team that Archer had built. I hadn’t considered it at the time, but now I wondered why it appeared as though she was alone. I had assumed that theUmbra Fratrumworked similarly in all its branches—loyal and committed groups of demons working together as a team—but perhaps I had been wrong.
Because it appeared that Mex only had us.
Shoving our way through the crowd, Archer led us to the dais, turning his angry glare on Genevieve.
“What is the meaning of this?” he snarled, pointing his free hand at Mex, who now had a small trickle of blood rolling down her throat. “Is this what Vampire hospitality has come to? You shame your Nest, Genevieve.”
“Hospitality is for guests ofhonor,” she replied, her eyes flashing and her fangs prominent. “You bring trouble to my door and act surprised when we defend our home.”
“We didn’t mean to,” I pleaded, earning a frustrated huff from Archer. He glared at me, warning me to stay quiet, but I only lifted my chin defiantly. “We came with the best of intentions.”
“Then explain why there is small army of witches and their hounds on my peaceful streets!” she fired back, sounding pained. “Filthy witches, betraying their bloodline and siding with demons. You cannot be trusted!” Genevieve’s beautiful face contorted into a mask of disgust.
“You would break the treaty with theUmbra Fratrum?” Mex hissed out, her teeth bared even as she fought not to move. “You swore an oath, bloodsucker!”
“Don’t you quote the treaty at me, demon. I have lived within your rules, holding up my end of the bargain. You are the one who has broken the accord,mes amis.” She said the words with venom, her accent stronger as her anger and panic rose. The Vampire Queen who had once found us entertaining now saw nothing but a threat to her Nest.
