Page 144 of The Vampire's Thirst
Jace heard a couple snorts, followed by a cough. “Good boy,” said Indigo.
When she returned, the dark-haired witch’s clothes were askew, her cheeks smudged with dirt, and her boots unlaced. “Oskar didn’t want to let go. Stubborn beast.” Tossing the keys to Jace, she grabbed for Lizette—whose knees gave out, nearly sending her to the floor. “Not to worry. In the ruckus earlier, the guard stabbed her. I got her.” With the injured woman settled in a chair, Indigo ripped a swath of fabric from the bottom of her shirt. With the makeshift bandage, she stemmed the flow of Lizette’s blood. “Better?”
“Hardly a scratch,” replied Jarek’s mate.
Jace fumbled with the keys. Finally, one fit. The door opened with a groan. She switched on a dim overhead light in the stairwell. When she proceeded down the steps, the worn timber creaked under her weight.
The cellar floor was packed dirt, the smell earthy, musty. A good home for mushrooms. Not for Celene. More doors. Two were unlocked, the rooms empty. The third required a key.
Jace held her breath as she twisted it in the door and crept inside. When she heard the rustle of fabric against fabric, she twisted her head toward the whisper of noise.
Flattened against the wall, with a thick book clasped overhead, Celene was about to crown her friend. When she saw Jace, though, her mouth fell open while the reading material crashed to the ground.
Tears streamed down Celene’s cheeks as she yelped, racing into her friend’s welcoming arms. “What took you so long, roomie? I thought I was going to have to break out on my own.”
Chapter Thirty-One
As a good-faith effort, the Firebrands released Matty Garcia two days ago, sending him back to his command post to prepare for the peace talks. Now, Dax tumbled through the Whorl and exited the portal to find his friend waiting in Missoula along with thirty armed soldiers.
The vampire’s mouth cracked into a grin.Friend? Yeah.How shocking was that admission? “You didn’t tell me I’d be met by a welcoming committee.”
“What can I say. You’re a popular guy.” Matty motioned for Dax to follow him out of the parking garage. “Let us through, men. He’s with me. I’ll take it from here.”
His weapon locked on Dax, an officer stepped forward. “We’ve been ordered to secure the otherworlders at all times. Sorry, sir.”
“Understood. Come on, vampire. You aren’t gonna let a few humans with guns trained on your black heart stop you, are you?”
“Hell no. Those pop pistols will do nothing but piss me off. Have you told them it would take more than AK-47s and an entire battalion to stop me?”
Matty smiled. “No. I wanted to surprise them. Lead the way, soldiers.”
Half of the Americans stayed behind at the portal to wait for the other arrivals.
After Dax followed the colonel into a large warehouse, he surveyed the locale. All looked legit. He addressed General Lipton. “In another few minutes, four more males are going to pop out of the gateway. For fuck’s sake, don’t shoot them.”
The general said, “As long as they’re the men we agreed to in our conversation.”
Dax dipped his chin as he tapped his D-chip.
“Okay,” said Lipton into a mouthpiece. “Stand alert but don’t fire.”
Moments later, Kole lumbered into the warehouse with an armed escort, the air around him charged with electricity. Dax chuckled, enjoying the general’s expression when he spotted the mountain of intimidating muscle with fire sparking off his digits.
Cadmon was right behind him in a crisp dress uniform.
Nace dropped into a crouch when he saw the soldiers lined up in the warehouse, a growl rumbling from his gut before he straightened. “If they keep pointing those pistols at me, I may have to shove them up their tiny asses.”
Jarek strolled in, his face a stoic canvas as he looked around the room. “Gentlemen.”
His throat bobbling when he swallowed, General Lipton motioned the newly arrived males to seats.
The soldiers retreated to positions around the edge of the room, their weapons remaining at the ready. Nace grinned, undoubtedly at so many humans about to shit their pants, as he pulled out the chair beside Kole.
Seated across from General Lipton, High Commander Cadmon cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, introductions first, I think.”
The warrior ylve identified his Firebrands. Afterward, General Lipton introduced the Joint Op’s Operation Frankenstein command, first his West Bank Special Mission leaders followed by his counterparts in the Central and East Bank Special Mission Units. Each leader was a decorated general.
Formalities over and important protocols reviewed, the two sides got down to business with Cadmon jumping into the deep water first. “We have a common enemy.”
