Amaliya’s long black hair flowed unfettered to her waist, garnering a few admiring looks. She’d considered chopping it off, but it had always been a sort of security blanket throughout her life. One tilt of her head, and it formed a shield between her and the world. It was also really good at hiding her face when she was severely pissed off and wanted to rip someone’s head off. It had saved her on more than one occasion when it came to her difficult family.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I thought we’d wander a bit before we meet Baptiste at the bookstore later,” Cian answered.
“I’m still hungry.”
“We’ll take care of that,” he promised.
The taste of blood was still fresh on her tongue and she was ready for another victim. Cian and she had fed on a few college students earlier, but her hunger was not yet sated. It was more work to find appropriate victims since the vampire couple no longer lived in the high rise apartment Cian owned where victims had been plentiful and easily accessible. Relocating had been necessary, though disruptive. The Summoner would try to find her and reclaim her.
Amaliya didn’t like letting her hunger grow too strong. It made her lose a grip of her humanity as the predator inside took over. She felt close to that edge now. All the pretty people in their impeccable clothes and sweet smelling perfume were prey in Amaliya’s eyes. Delicious, succulent prey.
Cian jerked his head to one side, indicating a group of young women giggling as they prowled up the street toward the swankier pubs. Their glittery high heels and short skirts were awkward on their youthful bodies. Amaliya suspected that the group was carrying fake IDs. Cian drew Amaliya across the street, avoiding the oncoming traffic. Moving as a small herd, the four girls nervously prattled on, briefly glancing at the two vampires dropping in behind them.
Drawing her hand to his lips, Cian kissed Amaliya’s fingers lightly. His lips were cold, the need for blood growing in him, too. It would be easy to split the girls apart once Cian made his move and lured them away for a quick bite. Already two of the women were sneaking looks at Cian, their heavily made up eyes drinking in his vampire allure.
As they crossed an intersection, Amaliya cast a look over her shoulder at the building that had been her home. It rose above her, filling the sky. The automatic lights inside had flicked on and she could see the balcony where she had often taken a smoke break. She missed the old place, but Cian had been right about relocating for safety reasons. Maybe one day they’d be able to move back.
The explosion that ripped through the apartment shattered the glass windows and plumed into the warm night air. Amaliya gasped, her fingers digging into Cian’s hand. Car alarms and screams rent the air. Black smoke poured out of the inferno filling the loft apartment to slither across the sky. A second blast sent people cowering into doorways and behind cars. Amaliya stood transfixed beside Cian watching their former home engulfed in fire.
The braver souls lifted cellphones as they ventured into the middle of the road, recording the disaster unfolding before them. Sirens sounded in the distance. The flames licked along the top of the roof of the building.
Amaliya registered Cian’s phone ringing a second before he lifted it to his ear. “Yes? I see it. Is the building being evacuated?” His arm snaked around her waist, holding her close to him as he talked. Stay close, she heard his voice in her mind.
Though she wasn’t at full strength, Amaliya uncoiled her necromantic power, letting it seep out into the night. It spread out like a net, seeking among the humans watching in awe as the building burned. She didn’t sense any dead in the crowds. If The Summoner had sent dead minions to set a bomb, they were long gone. Then it occurred to her that The Summoner could have used human hands to set the charges.
Cian pocketed his cellphone. “We need to go.”
“What about the others?” Amaliya asked while he guided her down the street, his arm firmly wrapped around her shoulders.
“I want to get us away from here before we worry about the rest of our cabal.”
“I don’t sense any vampires or zombies.”
“That doesn’t discount demons, black witches, or humans, Liya,” Cian said in a short tone. “I want to get you somewhere safe.”
“I can take care of myself,” Amaliya grumbled.
Guiding her through the crowd of people cluttering the sidewalks, Cian shook his head in aggravation. “It’s not about you taking care of yourself, but me protecting the woman I love.”
“Well, as long as you know I can kick your ass...”
With a chuckle, Cian dragged her around a corner. “And if someone was after me?”
“I’d rip their fuckin’ head off,” Amaliya answered.
“So let me worry about you, okay?”
“Fine!”
Amaliya had to admit he had a point. They were both very protective of one another. It was just that for so long she had floundered through life, constantly scrutinized and mocked by others for her perceived failures, but now that she was powerful she wanted some respect. She had to remember that Cian actually did acknowledge her abilities and not lash out at him for other people diminishing her in the past.
Finally, they reached the parking lot where Cian’s new car waited. He had sold all the models he owned earlier and replaced them in an effort to hide from The Summoner. The car beeped as he unlocked it.
“Did you see that?” the parking lot attendant asked from where he sat near the entrance.
“Yeah, we did,” Cian answered.