Bite of Vengeance (Shadows of War #3)

39. Kali

Chapter 39

Kali

I could feel Zan’s eyes on me, and even if neither of us had spoken a word to each other yet, knowing he was at my side was enough to ease my pounding heart a fraction. I kept the gun aimed at Keeva as the fighting around us continued. Rain started falling harder, and it dripped from my hair as I stared at my twin.

“We shouldn’t be fighting each other,” I gritted out. “Vampires are our enemy. Not other Shadows.”

“I know that ,” she replied, her gaze dropping to the gun for a moment. “But you don’t. Or did you change your mind and choose the right side?”

“PARA isn’t our friend either,” I hissed. “Rowan is using you?—”

“You know nothing about him,” she cut me off sharply. “He’s saving us.”

“You’ve lived in the dark your whole life,” I nearly screamed, wanting her to see reason. “He’s just as bad as Amaros. He wants us for our powers. He doesn’t love you.”

“Just because I’m not bonded, doesn’t mean I don’t know what love means,” she snarled, her eyes flashing with anger.

“You might know what it means, but Rowan doesn’t love you,” Zan murmured. “He wants to kill the vampires and rule the Shadows. You can create them. You’re his perfect weapon.” He paused for a moment, frowning. “Both of you are.”

“I’m not living in the dark,” Keeva spat out, her eyes finding mine. “You are. Look who’s at your side.”

“I’m a Shadow,” Zan moved closer to me, his shoulder brushing mine. “If anything, that means I belong with you more than vampires.”

“You’re a Kane.” Disgust laced her voice as her gaze cut to Zan. “Your bloodline is so old that you don’t follow us like other Shadows. Your allegiance is to your father.”

“No,” Zan growled. “My allegiance is to Kali. Nobody else.”

“You’re using her.” Keeva’s words did nothing for me. I knew where Zan stood—which was with me. It didn’t matter what Keeva believed, I knew the truth when it came to him.

The fighting was slowing, and I spared a glance behind Keeva to see the Shadows were studying each other more than anything. My heart tugged painfully. This wasn’t right. We were all supposed to be united. Not looking at each other with distrust.

I spotted Viggo and Pax behind Keeva and made a split-second decision. Lowering the gun, I grabbed Keeva’s arm, dragging her with me. She tensed, pulling against my hold.

“Kali, where are you going?” Zan moved in my way.

“Trust me,” I said quietly. “She can’t kill me. And we need to fix this.”

“Fix what?”

I smiled. “Just stay by your brothers.”

“What the hell are you doing?” Keeva snapped, attempting to yank away from me.

“You want to go after Amaros?” I dropped my hand from her once we reached the front of the vehicle. “Then we can’t stand here and fight with each other.”

I began climbing on the hood of the massive truck, only to halt in my tracks when a deafening explosion shook the ground. I snapped my head up, seeing flames while the walls of the city began crumbling. Smoke billowed in the air as an alarm began blaring. The rain was coming down in sheets now, making it difficult to see farther away. This was exactly how Amaros took over the city before I’d found out I was a Shadow.

I quickly hauled myself to the top of the vehicle, walking toward the back where I could see the Shadows. Fast footsteps proved that Keeva was following me like I expected. I scanned the ground below me, my stomach knotting tightly. Most of the Shadows were looking up at me, both the ones who came with me and those who were in PARA uniforms that only knew Keeva. Sucking in a deep breath, I spoke loud enough for them all to hear.

“Look around,” I said, waving my arm. “This isn’t how it should be. Fighting with each other. We are one . Shadows.” I glanced at Keeva for a moment. “You all follow us. We should not be divided. Not when our enemy is right there, destroying the world.”

“What are you doing?” Keeva asked in a harsh whisper.

“Bringing us together.” I stared at her. “You want Amaros? Then we have to work together. He’s too powerful for me or you to go after him alone.”

Her jaw clenched as we looked at each other in silence. Raindrops rolled down her face as I saw her internal struggle. Whatever Rowan had told her over the years was making it nearly impossible for her to trust me…but maybe our connection was just enough for her to see clarity.

Finally, she nodded tightly. “Amaros needs to be stopped.”

I grinned, swallowing my nerves. Even if she agreed with me, I couldn’t let her all the way in. At least not yet. It was impossible not to see how she looked at Zan. She hated him, along with all the Kanes. She’d been taught that I was the enemy. It would take more than just tonight for us to understand each other.

Even with the pouring rain, screams and noises of fighting drifted through the air from inside the city. Amaros’s vampires must have gotten here.

“There is a building there that houses all the Shadows. Most of them are still in there right now,” Keeva informed me, unease in her voice. “And it’s where your blood is stored. If he finds it…”

She trailed off as ice flowed through my veins. If he found my blood, he could use it against the Shadows.

“No going after PARA,” she continued sharply. “We’re also going to get Rowan, and you and the Kane you’re in love with won’t fucking touch him.”

I bit down on my tongue. There was no way Rowan was going to walk away after what he did to Zan and me. But we didn’t have to worry about that tonight. Right now, Amaros was the target.

“Let’s go.” I spoke loudly, turning my attention back to the Shadows. “Amaros Kane and his vampires are the enemy. We are stronger together. It’s what we were born to do. To keep the balance. A balance that the vampires are threatening.”

Murmurs in agreement ran through the Shadows as Zan and his brothers stared at me and Keeva. My heart thrashed when I met Zan’s eyes. This was it. He’d made it clear over and over that he would choose me over his father. So had his brothers. But Viggo could still be under entrancement, which would make things difficult. Who knew what Amaros did to Zan in the last ten hours since he’d been brought to his father.

But between the Shadows who came with me and the Shadows with Keeva, I wasn’t worried. Amaros would fall.

Tonight.