Chapter 48
Forty-Eight
VAUGHN
Saxon went overboard packing steel. We both have swords strapped to our backs—concealed by magic thanks to Aurora—plus I have daggers strapped to both my ankles and flying stars in my jacket pockets.
When Saxon wasn’t looking, I slipped Igor a hunting knife.
I don’t doubt his fists are lethal weapons, but I feel better that he has a sharp blade on him.
Sophie and Aurora both have a plethora of energized crystals at their disposal, plus flying stars and knives.
We’re dressed for war; I just hope we don’t have to actually engage in battle.
The Nightshade Market isn’t exactly the best place to fight anyone.
The walkways are narrow and crowded, and there are too many individuals with magic at their fingertips.
It could get ugly in the blink of an eye.
“All right, gang. Let’s stick together. No wandering off on your own,” Saxon tells us before we enter the market.
I scan our surroundings, but I don’t see anyone suspicious, and my Spidey senses aren’t picking up anything either.
Aurora walks ahead, Sophie is sandwiched between Igor and me holding Tish, and Saxon brings up the rear.
He made it clear that he trusts Igor as far as he can throw him.
They obviously have a past, and I’m dying to know what Saxon’s beef with the male is—besides the fact that he was Jacques Tellier’s enforcer.
Being a baby vampire, I feel out of my depth most of the time. I lack the history and knowledge they all have. Life was definitely much simpler when I was human.
“Do you know where you’re going?” I ask Aurora.
“There’s a vendor who sometimes carry one of the ingredients we’re looking for.”
She speed-walks ahead, weaving through the crowd.
We can’t move as fast walking side by side like we are, and soon Igor has to fall back and follow us.
I put my hand on Sophie’s back so I don’t lose her.
Unfortunately, a group of people enters our lane from an intersection, and I lose sight of Aurora.
Someone bumps into me, forcing me to stagger back.
“Is it me, or is it getting very busy all of a sudden?” I ask.
“Hey! Watch it,” Igor yells at someone.
“Bite me, bloodsucker.”
“That’s not something to say to a vampire unless you truly want them to bite you,” Tish pipes up.
“I don’t see Aurora anymore,” Sophie says.
“Come on, let’s quicken the pace. I’m sure she’s just ahead of us,” I say.
We sprint, and I don’t look back to see if Igor and Saxon are close behind us. That quickly proves to be a great error on my part. A weird fog materializes, spreading through the market at an abnormal speed.
“What’s going on?” Tish asks.
The smalls hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and my stomach coils. “I don’t like this.”
“This feels like dark magic,” Sophie says.
A second layer, a loud piercing sound blares, hurting my ears. I let go of Sophie to cover them and try to block the sound, but it’s little help. “What the hell!”
The noise persists, causing confusion all around us. This is probably a trap. I look for Sophie, ready to drag her out of here, but she’s not next to me.
“Sophie!” I yell through the cacophony.
Something hits the back of my head hard, sending me to my knees. Bodies collide with me as people try to flee the market in a panic. If I don’t get back on my feet, I’ll be trampled on. By a miracle, I manage to stand up, then look for Sophie.
The noise ceases suddenly, and the fog dissipates. Aurora appears in front of me, holding a crystal in her hand. A crescent moon glows on her forehead, and her eyes are also glowing.
“Rora!” Saxon rushes past me, reaching his mate in two quick strides. “Are you okay?”
Her eyes return to normal, and the crescent moon disappears. “I’m fine.” She then looks at me. “Where are Sophie and Tish?”
I pivot on the spot. The walkway is empty now, and there’s no sign of Sophie anywhere. But a little ahead, I see Igor on the ground, leaning against a stall with his hand covering his abdomen. He looks hurt.
“Igor!” I run to him, dropping into a crouch. “What happened?”
“They came for her. I tried to stop them.” He grimaces.
Aurora kneels next to him and pulls his arm from the wound. It’s bleeding profusely. “Who did this to you?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see his face. He was wearing a mask. My guess is he was a hired mercenary.”
Her eyes widen. “Hired help that uses dark magic?”
“So rogue mages,” I conclude.
Igor shakes his head. “Worse. Rogue warlocks.”
Aurora and Saxon trade a glance. “I didn’t know that was a thing,” he says.
“Me neither. Ryker won’t share much with me until I start my training.”
“Why would they kidnap Sophie?”
“For Jacques. He hired them,” Igor replies.
“What does he want with Sophie? I can’t imagine that son of a bitch is a doting father,” Saxon grumbles.
“He wants to use Sophie to free Madeleine Boucher,” I say. “That was the mission he had given her.”
Aurora looks at me. “We can’t allow that to happen. If Madeleine is set free, a river of blood will flow through Salem.”