Page 33 of Wolf Trap
“What? But…”
A strange feeling washed through me, a thrumming that seemed to start at my feet, snaking its way up and piercing my brain like a needle. A sudden faintness. My legs weakened. In a flash, Anthony grabbed me, his cold fingers wrapped around my wrists.
“Elsa?I can hear your heart. What’s happening?”
My pulse was racing. I leaned into him, trying to think straight.
“Just breathe, that’s right. Here.” He wrapped his arm around me and my body steadied.
Lycaon growled.
What the hell was up with him? Was it the magic, or was he really an alpha-hole pretending to be a nice guy? My head spun faster, puffing, the energy slowed. I could hear a faint humming. It seemed to come from beneath us.
Slowly I edged back. “Thanks. It’s down there, beneath us.”
Ensuring I was steady on my feet, Anthony crouched down, brushing the debris away on the floor.
At first, we couldn’t see anything, but Anthony, versed in the dark arts, held his palm flat and mumbled an incantation.
I flinched at his words. As he spoke, casting a spell, I fell into a trance, a vision…
A strange sound echoed in my ears and a flash of a premonition, immortals falling, screams and still a melodic thumping as if my heart had a speaker wired to it.
But slowly, with his chanting and holding his hand still, a weak outline appeared in the stone. He tilted his head, studying it.
Gasping, Lycaon peered over me, staring at the floor.
Anthony held his hand over the space. As he did, a latch appeared. Without thinking, he hooked it between his fingers, pulled open the slab and darted back, spluttering as dust filtered out. Grimacing, he wiped his palm on his jeans, then glanced about.
“Typical. Nowhere to wash my hands. Tsk! Still…”
We all peered into the hidden chamber.
“Looks like we’ll have to go in, ladies first?” Anthony laughed.
I stepped forward, but he held me back. “God’s sake, I was only kidding!”
I frowned at Anthony. “I’ve noticed vampires can be a little old-fashioned. When were you-”
“Ah, when was I taken to the dark side?” He grinned mischievously. “About three years ago. Chivalry shouldn’t die, I believe. Not because you can’t handle yourself. I may be a vampire, but I’m also a man. We love to help. Look at your man. He wouldn’t dream of letting you go first. We’ll sulk if we can’t show you how strong and brave we are, simple creatures such as we are. Besides, you can’t kill what’s not alive.”
“No, I’ll go. This is my mission. And youcandie, Anthony. Your head and your body need to stay attached. I’m sick if I’m honest with everyone, acting like I’m precious. It’s my fault this has spun out of control. If I’d stayed home that Saturday night, none of this would have happened.”
Flashing a look of despair at me, Lycaon tensed. “You regret it?”
I splayed my hands. “Things may not have spiralled out of control, is all I’m saying, if I had stayed home that Saturday night. I used blood magic to protect me, and… we know it had consequences. After being possessed, you attempted to kill me. I don't regret meeting all of you, but it appears that things aren’t improving. And I know, Lycaon, that you were a king, a bazillion years ago, but I don’t kneel. I believe in equality.”
Anthony giggled. “You sound French. I like it. Now, I’ll go first.”
I avoided Lycaon’s burning gaze. Honestly, as much as I didn’t want to be without him, his on-off attitude and, oh, yes, his possessed attack still left me scarred.
Or maybe I was stressed?
Before I could protest, Anthony was halfway down, then I saw a light appear in his hand. Slowly, bending down, I dropped my legs. Unlike him, I climbed down, facing the steps. His phone torch was on. He flashed it around.
“Well,you have your guns… and this!”
He strode over to a wall, which had an array of shelving and boxes of ammunition. Pulling out a single bullet, its clear case revealed liquid silver and what looked like blood. Putting it to his nose he said, “What I thought. Angel’s blood and silver.”