Page 48 of Halfblood Deceived

Zeydan cursed, sharing a look with Andreas.

They were all wearing gas masks and as many weapons as they could carry. Lex and Evan had forsaken shifting, knowing they wouldn’t be able to use their jaws with the masks. Werewolves aren’t as strong as vampires when they aren’t shifted. But they’d be vulnerable to poison in their wolf forms.

Back to back, the four males waited for the first wave of gargoyles, and they didn’t have to wait long.

The window exploded with a loud crash and in came two stony beasts clad in their leathers, swords drawn. The gargoyles growled, producing that bizarre, metallic sound that triggered every killing instinct Zeydan possessed.

Zeydan and the others fired, taking down the gargoyles before they could get closer, but two more came in, bringing poisoned grenades with them.

The explosion did little to the gargoyles, but sent Lex and Evan off their feet. They quickly recovered, thank the goddess, but the gargoyles got closer in a flash.

Zeydan and Andreas dodged the gargoyles’ cursed silver blades and fired.

Four more came, and Aella had been right—there was more than one unit. Gargoyles usually attacked in groups of seven. Zeydan and the others had killed two and were fighting six. So there had to be at least two units.

The magic-imbued, tungsten-tipped rounds cut through the gargoyle’s thick hides, but it took several well-aimed shots to destroy their hearts or spines, and the bastards were fast despite their massive bulks.

Four explosions detonated consecutively inside the mansion. Those were Andreas’ traps.

Zeydan felt some grief over destroying the place they’d called home over the last few years. But the satisfaction of imagining several gargoyles with missing pieces was far greater.

Andreas blocked a blast of offensive magic with this gun. The metal melted, and he cursed. Unsheathing his sword and roaring, he shifted into his beastly form. He sliced into ribbons the gargoyle that had been a second away from impaling Lex.

Lex threw his sword at a gargoyle, impaling the male’s chest. The werewolf quickly removed his blade from the writhing gargoyle and cut the stony bastard’s head off.

Another gargoyle growled and lifted his sword to slice at Lex’s back.

Zeydan wrapped his telekinesis around the neck of the gargoyle and squeezed, making him lose momentum.

It granted Lex the precious few seconds he needed to turn and knock the cursed blade out of the gargoyle’s hand with his sword.

Zeydan dodged an attempt at decapitation and shot at the gargoyle attacking him. But that wasn’t be enough to stop the very determined male who blasted a ball of electric red magic at Zeydan. He blocked it with his telekinesis, but the energy damaged his weapon. Tossing the machine gun to the floor, Zeydan crouched to avoid a slice, unsheathed his sword, and sliced at the gargoyle’s middle in the same movement. The gargoyle roared with pain, and the second of distraction was enough for Zeydan to cut his head off.

Movement caught Zeydan’s eye. Evan was fighting one of the largest, ugliest brutes of a gargoyle Zeydan had ever seen in his life. Spittle flew from the gargoyle’s mouth as he wielded a massive halberd, getting dangerously close to cutting Evan in half.

With a hiss, Zeydan zoomed to Evan’s side, helping his friend fend off the massive beast.

“Fucking Hell,” Evan cursed as he dodged another slice of the gargoyle’s halberd. “What are they feeding these fuckers lately?”

“No idea,” Zeydan growled, holding the gargoyle’s massive arm at bay with the strongest blast of telekinesis he could manage. It gave Evan room to unsheathe his longsword and cut the bastard’s arm.

The gargoyle shrieked and threw a punch with his remaining arm that took Evan off his feet.

Zeydan cut the male’s remaining arm, and then his head. It rolled on the floor, still shifted and then the body landed with a loud thump. Blood poured out from the severed neck.

Evan stood, cradling his jaw with one hand. “Ouch.”

Worried about Andreas and Lex, Zeydan turned to help them, but there was no need. Lex had dispatched his opponent and was staring at Andreas. Zeydan couldn’t blame Lex for gaping. Andreas was breathing hard, manic glee bright in his azure, shifted eyes as he decapitated his already dismembered opponent.

There was stillness at last.

“Shall we go chop up the wounded ones?” Lex asked.

Zeydan nodded.

There was a ripple in the air and then came a massive explosion that seemed to detonate all around them.

It threw them off their feet and made them land on their backs.

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