Page 18 of Deceived By a Warrior

Wham!A fist slammed into her cheek with so much power she flew to the ground, her shoulder slamming against the pavement with athud.

That’s what she got for not paying attention, wasn’t it?

In a dizzy haze she flipped onto her back and looked up. One of the vampires stood over her, his grin far too bold for her taste.

When he reached down to snatch her, she kicked her feet off the ground and kicked him in the stomach, causing him to stumble backwards.

One point for Eva!

“Up.Now.”Darius stood over her, his hand outstretched for her. Though she hated being told what to do, she knew she had to listen to him. There was no way she was going to remain on the ground and risk being taken by these vampires just to spite Darius, as tempting as it sounded.

She brought her hand to his, allowing him to swiftly pull her up off the ground. “Behind me. Now.” He shoved her behind his back before she even had a chance to respond. “Remember, they want you alive. If any of them get a good grip on you, you’re gone. Vampires are incredibly fast.”

“Vampires are fast?”She hoped he caught her sarcasm. Seriously, everyone knew vampires were fast. “Sorry, I don’t need a pointless lesson on vampires right now.”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he pulled out a sword that Eva didn’t realize he had been carrying and readied it before the stumbling vampire decided to charge forward.

A wicked grin spread across the cocky vampire’s face. He was ready for the challenge.

Eva didn’t even want to look.Four against one, four against one…Darius was about to die, and she was about to be taken captive by beings she knew intended to hurt her. In this moment, living a life with this man didn’t sound so bad…

The vampire charged forward. Before Eva could even comprehend what was happening, the vampire’s head was rolling on the ground.

She blinked her eyes and missed the entire battle between the two.

Judging by the shocked looks plastered on the other three vampire’s faces, they seemed to miss it too.

Sword still raised Darius called out, “Who else dares to challenge Darius Fischer of the Voivod?” He said his name as if it wasknown.

Judging by the shocked expressions on the faces of the three vampires, she realized itwasknown. The three stopped in their tracks and exchanged weary glances between each other.

Darius’ name stuck fear in their hearts.

“You didn’t tell us Darius was protecting her,” one vampire hissed to another.

“I didn’t know!”The three of them took a step back in unison. “We’ll be back,” they warned Darius. Then, in a blur, the vampires were gone, leaving Darius and Eva completely alone in the alleyway.

Eva relaxed, if only slightly.

Darius placed his sword back in his sheath and turned to Eva. “They’ll be back. With reinforcements. We can’t stay in Miami for long.”

“Who are you?” Eva asked the magnificent warrior who stood in front of her, raw masculinity radiating off his skin.

He is known.If unnatural beings much stronger than her couldn’t beat him, how did she ever thinkshecould escape him?

“Someone who is going to keep you safe. Now are you going to come with me willingly, or am I going to have to force you?”

Given her current circumstances, traveling with Darius was probably her best bet. For now. Even if she tried to run away, she wouldn’t be able to. It only took one more glance at the severed head on the ground for her to come up with an answer. “Willingly.Definitelywillingly.”

Chapter Ten

Eva Maas

“One backpack.That’s it,”Darius shouted to Eva from the other room. Also known as theonlyother room in her one bedroom apartment, which was located in the slums of Miami.

Unnatural beings were notorious for making money and living opulent lifestyles. How could onenotbe rich after living for so long?

Eva couldn’t. She was notorious for spending the little money she made. If she failed at anything in life, it was at being an unnatural being.Why can’t I just be human?She sighed. Life would’ve been so much easier if she had the opportunity to grow old with those around her. Then she might have had the chance to grow meaningful relationships.

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