Chapter 40
FORTY
SLOAN
Sloan adjusted her stance to provide herself a view of the main force of vampires in front of her, as well as whoever was walking up the road behind her. When Sloan caught sight of the approaching figure, she had to do a double take.
Through the darkness, Ashley Brookhaven’s familiar form came into view. The undead woman’s two-handed sword dragged in the dirt road behind her as she approached. The blade of her weapon cut deep, leaving a waving line in her wake.
“Thought you might want a hand.” Ashley hefted the heavy sword over her shoulder, looking from Sloan to the group of enemies in front of them. “It just didn’t seem right to leave you alone.”
“But, Aareth?” Sloan did her best to put into words what she was feeling. A surprising amount of relief had come when she realized she would not be fighting alone. At the same time, a deep feeling of sadness penetrated through to her heart. “You two were supposed to be going to Azra.”
Ashley shrugged. “He’s a big boy. He made his decision; I made mine.”
While the women spoke, the leader of the vampire soldiers moved his unit closer. They now stood on one end of The Shifter; Sloan and Ashley stood at the other end.
“Commander Ashley Brookhaven, I presume.” The leader of the vampire soldiers looked her up and down. “My name is Captain Hunt. You are ordered to lower your weapons and turn yourself in to the crown for your crimes against the queen.”
He was close enough now that Sloan could see his face.
He was middle-aged and wore the same black-and-grey uniform that all of the queen’s soldiers did, with two alterations: his uniform came with a deep-set hood to cover his head during the day, as well as thick, black gloves.
This was true for all of the vampire soldiers.
It seemed they were prepared for the rise of the sun while traveling in the Outland.
Before Ashley could answer the captain, the swinging bar doors of The Shifter creaked open. Everyone was caught off guard. Sloan, Ashley, and the entire vampire contingent pivoted to brace for an attack.
Kade walked out into the cool of the night. His orange eyes looked like tiny lamps glowing in the reflection of the bright night sky.
No one was more surprised than Sloan to see the shifter. She was so sure he had gone with the others to Azra for the time being, she had blocked his face from her memory. Seeing him here now, and smiling at her, sent her heart racing. She couldn’t help smiling, herself.
“Hey, beautiful.” Kade walked down the three short steps of The Shifter.
He made his way to stand by Sloan’s side, opposite Ashley.
“I feel like I owe you an apology. People are allowed to change. If the woman I’ve gotten to know over the last few days is the real you, then I’d like to get to know her better. ”
In that moment, Sloan felt like she could have taken on an entire army of vampire soldiers. More than anything, she wanted to lean over and kiss Kade, but their precarious position made that all but impossible. She managed a nod, and that was it.
“Well, if you don’t have anyone else joining you”—the vampire captain rolled his red eyes—“then let’s get this over with.”
Kade winked at Sloan before beginning his shifting process.
He fell to all fours as his clothes and skin turned into short, golden fur.
His body elongated; his teeth grew along with his mouth.
The ears on the sides of his head transformed into short, perky triangles at the top of his head.
A long, swishing tail grew out of his tight butt.
In the space of a few seconds, a giant saber-toothed tiger took form beside her.
His head came up to her breasts; he was the size of a small horse.
Only one thing remained the same during Kade’s transformation: his eyes.
The same orange orbs looked at her, and then to the gathered vampires.
A low growl rumbled from his chest. Two giant fangs curved down from the top of his mouth, passing his lower lips and ending at two sharp points.
“Well, you don’t see that every day.” Ashley shrugged at the massive saber-toothed tiger.
“Second squad!” Captain Hunt shouted. It seemed the vampire leader had seen enough. “Prepare to attack!”
All around the trio of Term defenders, black shadows separated from the dark. They emerged from behind them in the street, in alleys to either side of the main road, even on the tops of the surrounding buildings.
Sloan’s heart sank. Not only were there dozens in front of them now, there were also at least as many to their right, left, and rear.
Sloan gripped her mage saber tighter.
Ashley switched on her own mage weapon, holding her broad sword with both hands. She assumed a position with elbows locked, both hands on the pommel, blade in front of her body. The blue light emanating from her weapon bathed her expressionless face in a dull glow.
Where Sloan’s blade was meant for parlaying and quick, easy, maneuvering, Ashley’s weapon was designed for brute force and strength.
“First Squad!” Captain Hunt barked orders to the vampires he had walked into Term with. “Present weapons!”
The sound of swords being unsheathed peppered the air. The vampires around the captain flipped on their own mage weapons. Each blade was bathed in a faint white light.
“Stay away from the ones with swords as much as possible,” Sloan whispered to Kade. “Let Ashley and me deal with those. You take the others behind us.”
Kade bobbed his feline head. His body quivered with anticipation. His chest and stomach were low to the ground as he prepared to pounce. The muscles between his shoulder blades bulged.
“Kill the other two if you have to.” Captain Hunt raised his own sword and flipped the switch at the handle, bathing his pale face in white light. “Take Sloan alive.”
In one smooth motion, he lowered his sword, signaling the attack. What followed could only be described as bloody chaos.