“Filthy buggers,” she grumbled, pausing just outside the door. Wolves filed out around her, spreading out but not following the vampires.
A bone-shaking roar ripped through the hotel, followed by a different, but no less heart-stopping, cry.
“The lion, the yeti, and the dingy hotel suite,” Charity said as Devon ran right. “One wonders why that never became a beloved children’s book.”
Doors opened down the hall. A curious man, a confused woman, and a delighted kid all poked their heads out of their respective rooms.
“The wildlife exhibit has run amok,” Charity yelled, belatedly realizing that excuse wouldn’t explain her sword. “Just kidding…it’s cosplay! These are dogs!”
Andy growled at her side.
She laughed as they turned the corner, closing in on the stairs.
“You guys would be screwed if you didn’t have someone around with opposable thumbs, huh?” Charity ran through the sudden parting in the furry crowd and ripped the stairwell door open. They caught a flash of their prey’s back as he headed down the steps.
Considering the speed at which vampires could run, it was clear this one had waited for them. He wanted to keep the pack right on his heels.
Charity gritted her teeth as they thundered down the stairs, nearly barreling into a random woman who’d picked an unfortunate time for her trip to the ice machine. She screamed as she ducked out of the stairwell, her eyes riveted on the wolves.
“Call the pound,” Charity yelled, hoping the woman wouldn’t call the cops.
At the bottom of the stairwell, not even winded, Charity stopped with her hand on the newly shut door. The vampire had just run through. There was no telling what waited for them outside.
Devon yipped, and Charity had a feeling he was trying to express something to her. Wolves filed in around her, their large bodies stuffed into the small space. The rest waited on the stairs, Steve with his huge body and bushy mane in front of an even larger form, the snowy-white yeti. As a human, Cole was faintly ridiculous, but as a yeti he was fearsome, arms pushed out to the sides and wicked fangs dripping drool.
“I would not want to be the enemy,” Charity said as she felt Devon’s nose on her thigh, shoving.
Time to go.
She yanked open the door and then staggered and nearly fell as the wolves pushed out ahead of her. They’d spread out into a circle around her by the time she was able to get through the door into the warm, humid night.
Few cars sat in the spaces, leaving the battlefield mostly bare. Bare, except for the enemy vampire host emerging from the surrounding trees and hedges. There were only a handful, but they ran over with easy, liquid grace, denoting their age and therefore their dangerousness.
“Could be worse—”
A smoldering humanoid form walked from around the corner of the property, its eyes pits of fire, its arms too long, and its chest covered in molting, burned skin.
“The fae will come with us,” one of the nearest vampires said.
“Maybe not,” Charity said.Chapter NineCharity’s power throbbed within her, hot and ready. Sweet and light. Music, on key this time, curled within the breeze.
The door behind them opened. Yasmine and Rod ran out of the hotel, each laden with bags. Devon launched himself toward the vampire who had spoken. The others were right behind him. More demons poured from around the corner up ahead, all of them burned-looking, and one with actual flames dancing from its arms.
Charity’s sword glowed from her magic. She wasn’t sure if she should slash and run, light up the parking lot and run, or go after the demons…
Steve answered the question for her. He loped forward, each movement telegraphing the incredible strength and power of his massive body. He slammed into the closest demon, crunching his teeth into its neck before shaking his head. He ripped the neck right out of the creature. The head tore off and flew away. The body slumped to the ground.
Cole was right behind him, running with an arm-swinging lumber that was no less powerful for its awkwardness. When he reached the next demon, he batted it in the face with one great arm. The blow threw it to the ground, its head flopping loosely.
“Holy—” Charity danced after them, light on her feet and fueled with adrenaline. The song of battle blazed through her blood, quickening her heart and bringing a smile to her face. She’d almost forgotten her magic could feel good. That using it could feel as joyful as playing with fuzzy puppies.
She slashed into a spindly sort of demon, opening up a gaping hole in its chest. Fire danced down its arms and fumed from its mouth.
Charity rolled away, sliding her magic across its front. Her magic electrified the air and the demon’s body, counteracting the fire spewing from its mouth, but not totally stopping it.