Page 99 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

Ah. Right, he’s correct. X is Blood Mafia.

“You can have her if you give me Demi.” Nix leans her hip against the post of the rickety porch. “A life for a life. Right?”

Now that I have the full story, I know she intends to kill me. She’s still seeking her vengeance for what my real father did. Maria pushes past Evelyn and Zander, coming to stand at my side.

Nix stumbles back in surprise, then hisses and jumps from the porch, landing in a crouch. Her eyes are blown black. “Maria.”

“Nix.” Maria’s jaw ticks and she palms a knife. “Leave Demetria out of this. I will trade myself for the girl.”

The vampire scoffs. “He killed my child. It’s only fair I take her blood in return.”

Mateo shifts to stand in front of me, only to be shoved aside by me.

“I don’t need your protection from this.”

“Let me help you.” His face is pinched and his lips flatten.

“Trouble in paradise?” Nix snickers, skittering forward in her crouched position.

Maria takes a step toward her, earning a hiss.

“Demi is mine, Nix. If you kill her, you may as well kill me.”

I swing my head to him. If this were any other situation, I might swoon. Right now, I’m pissed.

“You will not die today.” I hold his eyes for a split second.

“If it is what must be done, then I am sorry for what I have to do.” Nix launches herself at Maria, who kicks her foot out, connecting with the vampire’s stomach.

Nix flies across the yard and her back thuds into the post. It doesn’t deter her attack. She runs forward again, this time coming for me instead. The weaker opponent.

I throw a knife, spin, and roundhouse kick her in the jaw. She gouges me with a dagger of her own, hitting me deep in the calf. Releasing a guttural cry, I drop to a squat.

An ominous horn sounds in the distance three times. Nix’s eyes widen and a delighted grin cuts across her face.

“My friends are here.” She cackles, her whole body shaking with the movement and I smack her, trying to shut her up.

When she stumbles back, I shove her to the ground and straddle her.

This is too easy.

Kerberos curses under his breath.

Whatever’s coming isn’t good news.

“To your left!” Nicole shouts, drawing my attention.

There at the edge of trees are misshapen figures wearing blood red cloaks. The hoods are pulled up so the only thing peeking out is elongated snouts with wicked sharp teeth.

“What the fuck is that?” Grayson asks, pulling out his gun and firing a shot.

Colt does the same.

The bullets slam into the creatures but other than slightly jerking back at the impact, they don’t react. They move forward as one.

Nix bucks me off of her and I roll from my back to my shoulder until I flip and rest on one knee.

Our group falls back, retreating toward Nix’s rundown house.

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