“Stop!”
Caster refused to release his hold on Mark.
He would die before he let him go. Without the protection spell that had been around his house, the Prime Alpha’s residence had no chance.
The draft of cold air on his back in the moment before Riley’s protective shield had gone up was an indication that the walls were all but gone.
Mark growled, his body shaking in his grip with the beginnings of a transformation he seemed unable to prevent.
The shaking stilled, Mark’s growls faded into a whine, the wolf readying to confront its nemesis, returning to its depths.
He felt the Prime Alpha’s stare and realized he’d spoken the command out loud. Whatever questions he had would have to wait until they’d dealt with the witch.
“Get ready to fight,” Riley said, never once looking away from Ethel.
He released his hold on Mark, his desire to keep him safe overriding every instinct. But previous experience and memory of the witch’s attack a decade ago had proven Mark’s prowess in battle.
“Now!” Riley yelled, and the protective barrier lifted, as the creatures that made up Ethel’s army raced across the front lawn towards them.
But whatever they were, they would never match a Born-Vampire’s speed.
Caster had two in his grip in a flash, tearing their heads from their writhing bodies before they could cover too much ground.
He reached for the next two, who all but launched themselves at him and tore them in half. Similar movement from the periphery of his vision caught his attention as he dispatched the next two, and he saw Damien, Marcus, and Julian clearing a path toward Ethel with beautiful efficiency.
Mark was right behind him, unable to move as fast as he could.
His precision was once again on display as he too joined the battle, the Prime Alpha and James, the only one in wolf-form by his side.
Together, they made quick work of the dead creatures who didn’t fight back, once again content to just die.
Ethel remained in the same spot, unbothered by the death of her army. She raised her hands as she had before, and her army grew twice as large, a darkness, the same darkness in Mark’s memory, blackening the pristine beauty of the wilderness that was the Prime Alpha’s backyard.
Growls that couldn’t have come from the twice-dead army pierced the darkness, and red eyes broke through.
The threatening growls celebrated the resurrection of the twice-dead army as each one rose from the ashes.
Their deafening screeches synced with the growling creatures of the dark, the sound so loud it tore at his eardrums.
Ethel’s laughter joined the chorus of celebration. She held up her hand, and the sound died down. She caught Caster’s eye. “You’re alive?” She smiled. “That’s interesting.” She glanced at Mark before returning her attention to Caster. “Give me what I want, and I’ll spare the world.”
“Not happening,” Marcus answered, moving to stand with him in front of Mark. The Prime Alpha did the same. Caster reached behind him to grasp Mark’s arm, tightening his hold.
Their protective stance amused Ethel further. “I won’t stop.” She indicated the army and the darkness surrounding them. “There is so much more where this came from.” She focused on Damien. “Your brother has been a great big help. As has your father.”
Marcus reacted faster than Damien could think, grabbing him mid-lunge, halting his instinctual reaction. “That’s just what she wants.” Damien was wise enough to obey the command hidden in the casual statement.
Riley moved to complete the wall in front of Mark, and Ethel shrank back, her movement almost involuntary. But when he blasted her with enough power to tear her army to shreds, its enormous energy bounced off the invisible shield around her.
Riley roared his frustration, the witch smiled, and Caster’s heart thudded in his chest. It was the only time he’d seen Riley’s power fail him.
She still couldn’t harm any of them; Riley’s protection spells would see to that, but what about the world she threatened to destroy?
What of the humans who had no hope of fighting her off?
“It will not be so easy this time, male witch.” Her words, like the toxic darkness closing in on them, infected the wilderness.
She moved closer, as did her darkness, the creatures it concealed growling their sinister ascension to full power.
“I have a gift for you, my wolf.” She leaned closer, and they all closed ranks, surrounding Mark. Caster tightened his hold.