Page 229 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
And he knew exactly who.
Adrenaline and instinct were the only things driving him now. He’d deal with the ones who drugged him later. Right now, all he could focus on was finding Kat. The edges of his vision were tinged with red as he followed her scent. He had a feeling he already knew where she was. The only place Bree would take her.
He really should have checked a clock before he left. How long had he been out? Hours? Days? This godsdamn Underground. He had no idea if it was day or night. How long had they had her? Was she still bleeding?
He prowled across the Underground, moving quickly and quietly. He didn’t see the people moving to the other side of the street as he went. Missed those who averted their eyes or slipped down side streets to avoid him. The bloodlust he was feeling now had nothing to do with hunger or need; this was pure vengeance and wrath.
Time was lost to him, all of his focus on moving forward and staying on his feet. The scent of her blood was getting stronger, more prevalent. She’d bled the whole way there, and each step had him giving more and more over to the monster his father had turned him into. This is what Bree had wanted after all, right? May as well deliver.
It could have been minutes or hours before he stalked across the bridge that led to the House of Four.
“Hey, stop!” a vampyre called out.
He didn’t even slow, one shirastone knife flying from his hand a second later.
The male cursed as he sank to his knees. Axel grabbed the knife as he passed, yanking it from his chest and fisting it as another vampyre came running from the security post.
“You can’t?—”
Axel paused, slowly turning to look at him. “My wife is here. Where is she?”
The vampyre held up his hands, taking a step back. “I don’t?—”
He didn’t get to finish. Axel lunged, his fangs sinking into the vampire’s throat and tearing as he shoved the same knife into his stomach, slicing wide.
Dragging his forearm across his mouth, he felt the warm blood smear, but he kept moving. It was the first time he’d truly descended into his new vampyre being, and a dark part of him wondered why he’d waited so long. The speed was everything, even against beings of the same. He met them blow for blow, the strength behind his hits fiercer than they’d ever been. It was a song he’d been listening to his entire life, only now he’d learned how to dance to it.
Flipping a dagger in his hand, he let it fly, grabbing another and dropping to a crouch as more vampyres descended. His hand snapped out, snagging a female by the arm. She hissed, baring her fangs, and then she was screaming as he snapped her forearm in half with a quick move. Another knife was in her chest a moment later.
An arm wrapped around his throat from behind, and Axel smiled. Leaning back, he used his newfound strength to flip the male over his head. He grabbed his skull with two hands, twisting hard to one side. The male stilled, but Axel still sank a blade into his chest. None of the fuckers would move again. They wanted to serve Bree? Then they could face the same fate she would.
A mess of bodies and blood was left in his wake. Hewantedthe bitch to know he was coming. He’d warned her this would happen if she came near Kat and his child again. He was, after all, a male of his word.
Veering to the left, he avoided the lift and opted for the stairwell, still following the scent of Kat’s blood. It was growing stronger, and there was a lot of it. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
The stairwell was narrow, but it was perfect for fighting his way up. Before he’d turned, he thought that vampyres were savage beings, but he understood now. Understood thepowerthat came from sinking fangs into flesh and inflicting agony and death. He didn’t need his shadows. Didn’t need magic whenhewas the weapon.
Kicking off the wall, he propelled himself over the next vampyre to meet him. A knife was in his back before he shoved him down the stairs, hearing the pained howls as he went. Blood was everywhere now, smeared on his hands, his face. His shirt was torn, and his shoes left red prints.
He didn’t know how many floors he climbed when the scent had him pausing. He inhaled deeply, smelling and tasting. A female came through the doorway, and he grabbed her by the throat, slamming her against the wall. His forearm pressed on her airway, and her eyes went wide, fangs snapping.
“Where is my wife?” Axel demanded in a low, cold tone that was nothing but death.
She shook her head, and he slammed her into the wall again. She coughed as the air was forced from her lungs, and then she was gasping as he pressed on her throat more. He didn’t ask again. Only held her stare, knowing he could be the face of Arius himself when needed.
“You are too late,” the female hissed around gasping breaths. “The babe is almost here, and then?—”
Her words morphed into a scream as he dug a knife into her chest, dragging it down. No, this wasn’t going directly into her heart. She wanted to be the one to deliver the news he was too late? Then she would pay the price for saying the words.
The knife sank in again, dragging once more. Carving through flesh and bone, his vampyre strength cut through everything with ease until he could reach a hand in and wrap his fingers around her heart.
“Tell me again I’m too late,” he said with deadly calm. “Or tell me where the fuck my wife is.”
“Down the hall,” the Night Child cried, tears of red streaming down her face. “On the left.”
He yanked his hand back, taking her heart with it, and letting her collapse in a heap on the ground. His knife still in his other hand, he sank it into the muscle, feeling it die in his palm.
Letting the organ drop onto the still body, he stalked down the hall. The smell of her blood getting stronger as a scream reached his ears. Then he was running, another cry piercing the air as he threw open a door.
