Page 95 of Bite of Passage
The manticore cast him an agitated glower.“All is not what it seems.VanFliet said to tell you ‘blood brothers to the end.’”
“He said that?”Skarde glanced at Cade, confused.
When they had fought together as humans, their side never lost.VanFliet had been the strategist of their mercenary band, a brilliant tactician, crafty and efficient.
“It’s a trick,” Cade whispered.“VanFliet has gone insane and wants both of us dead.”
“There was something off when VanFliet threw me over the cliff.If he’d wanted me dead, he would’ve cut off my head after poisoning me.”
“VanFliet is definitely not on the right side of anything,” Lees said.
“Petra must be controlling him.”Skarde asked the manticore, “How?”
The manticore tapped a paw over its chest.
Skarde smacked his forehead.“Why didn’t I think of that?That’s why he’s been behaving so weird.”
“The only way you’ll win is if you help him get free first.”The manticore took a huge inhale of the cigar.
Great.Another person needing Skarde to come to the rescue.
“Thatsounds like something the VanFliet I know would’ve said,” Skarde muttered.“If we don’t die, I’ll be sure he gets back what he lost.Stupid of him to trust a witch to begin with.”
“She misled him.Gemma, though…she said she can help him.He believes her.”
Skarde smiled and shook his head.She’d done her thing again.Soothed the beast by helping him.She was brilliant.“If she says she can, then it’s true.What’s wrong?”
The manticore grimaced, but it might have been a sort of smile.“His eyes.She gave him hope he might be able to see again.”
Nothing more powerful than hope.“If there’s anyone who could figure out how to help him, it’s her.”Skarde eyed the tunnel, wondering if there were more creatures lurking.“We could use your help.”
“Petra ordered him to keep me away from her.So long as she controls him, I cannot help.Once you free him…eh.”It shrugged.“Maybe I will.Maybe I won’t.I’m not big on crowds.”It tilted its head.“You’ve got a few minutes.”
ChapterThirty-Nine
They slidinto the back of the cavernous meeting hall.It was darker than expected, although Skarde recognized the observation came from the fact that he’d had no clue what to expect and reflexively thought illumination might put him in a better defensive position.Witches were usually obsessed with candles, which is why the lack of light was strange.They’d likely be lit as the summoning came to its climax.Based on the buzz inside his head, it wouldn’t be much longer.
The shifting of humans consumed with uneasy energy echoed in the hall.As Skarde led his companions around the back toward a position with a better view, the scent of recently spilled human blood rose above the odor of humans.
He pointed to the right and the Hunters slid along the wall, their job to control any humans and fledgling vampires.
A man eyeballed them.Just as his eyes flew wide, mouth opening to unleash a warning, Cade unsheathed a dagger, covered the man’s mouth, and slit his throat.
Maybe the human didn’t have to die.That stray thought was all Gemma, making Skarde question his usual feelings toward the situation.Cade’s actions had been efficient and likely cut down someone they’d be fighting later.But what if… Maybe the humans were under Petra’s control, like VanFliet.Perhaps, they weren’t here by choice and would choose to run if given the chance.
No use dwelling on mercy at the moment.The reality was the guy could’ve sounded the alarm, triggering an acceleration of the summoning or a full battle with the hundred or more people in this place.
He detected two vampires other than his brother—Gemma and VanFliet.He wasn’t one hundred percent sure about VanFliet’s loyalties.He might be here by choice.He could’ve manipulated them into helping him.
“Up front.To the right,” Cade whispered.
Skarde craned around a few people to see Gemma on the floor, out cold, but breathing.Metal bindings encircled her wrists and ankles.Petra planned to use her for whatever came through the doorway from another dimension, or hell, or wherever the demons came from.The doorway was almost open.
Was she meant to be the vessel for a demon’s possession?
He’d considered this, but now that he was here…seeing her up there, bound like a sacrifice…
His focus narrowed to his need to get Gemma away from this place.A growl worked its way up his throat and his body tensed to move, Cade slammed him against the wall with a hand over his mouth.
