Page 139 of The Vampire's Thirst
Once armed, the warriors took position. Thorn hit the wall switch to open the doors as Kole contacted Logan to drop the masking spell. The Firebrands streamed out.
When Kole signaled Sabine and Nico to herd the frightened citizens inside, the nymph took off into the crowd like an avenging angel come to save the righteous. Her blonde braids whipped around her head, and her double-bladed staff sliced and diced assholes while she gentled innocents inside, some adults and some children, all wide-eyed with fear.
Nico sheathed his haladie, the same type of blade Kole’s parents had used, to employ his gift. As an electro-magnetic field shimmered around him, metal weapons flew out of the hands of the attackers near him, clattering to the ground. The disarmed cowards ran from the Blood Coven warlock.
Arrows streamed in rapid succession from Chay’schu-ko-nuas he danced from side to side, taking aim, his long, dark hair whipping around, whoops popping out of his mouth each time he struck the enemy.
Rein was buried fangs-deep in the neck of a demon Arisen Dawn soldier.
Thorn, partially shifted for the fight, slashed long, sharp claws into the chest of a satyr who had made the bad decision to take on the wolf Firebrand.
Denim and Ram worked back-to-back, dead bodies at their feet. The Blood Coven witch parted a demon from his head with a swipe of her gladius. Her satyr mate smiled at her success before he sank his dirk into an Amazon’s chest.
Dax swung his bolos in a deadly figure eight, slicing through necks with cold precision. He battled with a passion Kole had never seen from the vampire.
When Sabine signaled the refugees were safe, Kole whistled retreat for his Firebrands. Theywould fight Arisen Dawn another day. Today, they had innocents to protect.
Once the last warrior stepped into the garage, Kole rushed through the roll-up door. He slammed a fist on the button on the wall, cutting a hunger demon in half when he attempted to slip inside. He tapped his wrist, calling Logan.Put the spell back in place.The stronghold disappeared and was impregnable again.
Leaning against the wall, his ax still in his fist but hanging at his side, Kole took a call on his D-chip. He grounded the zap of electricity flowing from his free hand. As the air around him sizzled with deadly energy, Rein and Thorn jumped aside in the nick of time.
The wolf shifter shook out his shaggy mane, most of it standing on end from the charge. “Comm, your eyes are on fire. Literally.”
“Bad news?” Rein licked a drop of blood from his lower lip as he sheathed his knives.
“That was Jarek. His stronghold and Nace’s were just hit. Similar circumstance. Refugees at the gate. Arisen Dawn assholes attacking. It’s a shit storm out there.”
Firebrands surrounded Kole, waiting for orders. He took a deep breath before he scrubbed a hand across his military-shorn hair and stared at the crowd huddled in the back of the garage where Skyler and other mates were calming them. “Dax, confab with Margo. She knows every inch of the stronghold since the remodel. She’ll know where to tuck people into beds. Thorn, since Fin was a caterer, get her ideas on food and shit.”
“On it,” said the shifter.
“Brak, contact Director Alarik. I want stronger wards around this place. Galena, you’re still in charge of the day-to-day operations. Pass out assignments. Tyr and Sabine are at your disposal. Consult with Ram on the recruits since he’s training them, but if you need them, use them. Chay, I want constant contact with Cadmon, Jarak, and Nace. Rein, my office.”
Chapter Thirty
Dax felt like a concierge at a fancy hotel as he went bunk-to-bunk with a clipboard. Margo had assigned each refugee to a bed in the second barracks since the first was filled with recruits.
His task was to check off names after verifying the guests were in their proper place and to see about their must-haves. With the latest newbies along with the refugees, they were filling fast.
Dax had grumbled and snarled about his task. Truth? It wasn’t so bad. The frightened sanctuary-seekers were grateful. Healers had been called in to see to those with wounds. When he passed by occupied bunks, females patted his hand, males shook, and kids high-fived.
He sauntered toward the bunk Margo had labeled number forty-nine. There, a satyr pillowed his head on his arms, eyes closed.
Dax poised the pen above the list on his clipboard. “Name?”
The male jerked upright, swinging his feet to the floor. “Arne.”
Dax checked him off the list. “Need anything?”
“Food would be great, though I’m not complaining. I’d like to earn my keep. I could be an extra hand in the kitchen? I know my way around one, though I’m a vintner by trade. Also a damn good amateur chef.”
Fin was managing the food biz. She and Jace were slapping sandwiches together while recruits legged the stuff to the refugees. Dax was no expert, but the stronghold needed more supplies, bagged blood, and a way to nourish a variety of breeds unless they had brought along their own sources. Help in the kitchen would be good, too. Maybe the evacuees could fill positions.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll get back to you.” Dax wrote a note beside the satyr’s name while he moved to the next bunk.
His last stop was the area where Chiara was tending to a young demon in a bed. Having shed his covers, she rested a palm on his knee, likely sending healing energy to his wounds. Finished, she glanced at Dax, a smile lighting her face. Then she blushed. Apparently, she was remembering their activity before the klaxon interrupted.
Recovering, she pulled him aside. “Dax,” she whispered in his ear, her breath a warm tickle. “That boy is hurting. I’m fixing him a little at a time. If I go too fast, I could cause more problems. Anyway, I think you need to listen to their story.”
