Craig stepped out of Eliza’s embrace, and looked around. “Are they hiding in the trees?”
“Don’t be an idiot. The town is that way,” she said. “I wasn’t going to plop us in the middle of street. Sheesh.”
“Wait. What is that?”
Eliza tilted her head and listened. “It sounds like hissing.”
The ground beneath their feet shook, and the next thing Eliza saw was a building-sized serpent crash through the pines. Before she knew what was happening, the huge triangular head dove at them.
The serpent snapped Craig up with its powerful jaws. Eliza heard the sickening crunch of bones and then the shifter was swallowed. In horror, she watched the lump that used to be Craig worked its way down the creature’s throat.
She turned and ran. Panic clouded her thoughts and slowed her limbs. She had never felt this terrified in her life. She raised her arms and lifted into the air, intending to fly as far away as she could.
Too little, too late. The snake caught her by the legs and threw her to the ground. The last thing Eliza saw was the huge curved fangs, dripping with Craig’s blood, descend upon her.
Chapter Four
Just as Cyn hit the “You’re Now Leaving Hellion Hill” sign, the mini-van went kaput. She slammed on the brakes and shifted into park. “What the fuck?”
“The last thing we need is broken-down car,” said Kane as he and Aris jumped out. Cyn popped the hood. Worry beat in her undead heart. Angela had not looked good. Her skin was ashen—and the pain in her expression struck fear into Cyn. Surely Angela wouldn’t die. I won’t let that happen.
“There’s nothing wrong,” called out Kane.
“Come out here, Cyn,” yelled Aris.
Cyn exited the car. At this altitude, the night air felt chilly. The stars were pinpricks in the sky’s dark tapestry. If she wasn’t in the middle of a crisis, she might actually enjoy the scenery. Kane and Aris stood in the middle of the road.
“Watch this.” Aris stepped forward, and he immediately stumbled back as though he’d hit a trampoline. Kane tried next with the same bouncy results. Cyn walked forward and felt like she’d run into invisible gelatin.
“What is this?” she asked.
“It’s a magical border.” Kane shook his head. “Damn it.” He turned to Cyn. “We can’t leave.”
“Well, that’s just fucking great!” A loud hissing erupted. Cyn went to the minivan and kicked the tire. “Fuck you, you fucking fucker.”
“It’s not the car.” Aris pointed toward the dense woods to the left of the road.
Cyn paused, tilting her head. Her vampire senses were still fairly new to her, so she wasn’t yet relying on them too heavily. She concentrated on the odd noise and realized the loud rasping was definitely coming from the nearby forest. The trees wobbled and limbs cracked as whatever was hissing made its way toward them.
The next thing she saw was the biggest goddamned snake she’d ever laid eyes on. The serpent was a brilliant red with a triangular head as a big as Volvo, and its scaly body as wide as a freeway. Its yellow eyes with diamond irises examined them coldly.
“I hate snakes,” said Aris.
“I’m not too fond of them, either,” said Cyn. “But I think we’re looking at the thing that killed everyone in town.”
The serpent’s tail appeared and whipped down onto the minivan, flattening it so hard the tires blew out.
“Holy shit,” cried Cyn. She backed away, her gaze on the swaying monster as it lifted its tail once more.
“Angela’s too vulnerable right now. We have to lead it away from town,” yelled Kane. “C’mon.” He turned and ran into the woods on the opposite side of the road. Aris and Cyn followed.
And so did the snake from hell.
* * *
Angela screamed. Her hand gripped Gareth’s so tightly, he thought she might cut off the circulation. It had been fifteen minutes, and other than her agony visibly growing stronger with every contraction, she hadn’t progressed very much.
His mate went limp against the pillows. She’d been passing out between contractions. He was certain that wasn’t normal.
“Shouldn’t the baby at least be crowning now?” Gareth asked.
“I don’t know.” Thomas looked worriedly at Angela. “It was stupid to bring her here.”
“We weren’t planning on staying that long. And we couldn’t risk her life or our child’s by getting caught. With Eliza and Craig working together, we’re barely staying ahead of them.”
“You’re right. It’s just … her heartbeat is erratic. But the baby’s heartbeat is even and strong.”
Angela awoke. Gareth helped her sit up as another ribbon of pain squeezed her belly. He hated that he could not alleviate her agony.
“This sucks,” she said in a hoarse whisper. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she went limp once more.
“Help her,” said Gareth.
“I don’t know what to do. The books didn’t prepare us for this.”
“Alleviate her pain, Thomas.”
He shook his head. “I promised her.” Gareth could feel his friend’s helplessness—he felt exactly the same.
They heard tires skid across gravel. Relief cascaded through Gareth. The return of his friends surely meant they’d found help. At the very least, Cyn could offer womanly advice about the situation.
“Thank the goddess,” said Thomas.
Doors opened and feet stomped on the plank sidewalk. Gareth rushed to the door and yelled downstairs, “Hurry up, damn it!”
He returned to Angela just in time for her to awaken and begin screaming.
“What the hell is going?” asked an unfamiliar male voice.
Gareth looked up to find Reese, his mate Abby, an elderly woman, and five huge men crowded in the doorway. “Reese? What are you doing here?”
“I’m here—wait a minute. Why are y’all here?”
“Oh, my God. Who cares?” The grandmother hurried into the room. “Abby, help me.”
“She needs to be in a
