Roman kissed her on the lips and without another word, Isabella vanished, along with the guard. The prince flicked his gaze over at Ella. “Don’t look at me like that. After all, she’s hardly dressed for a fight, and the creatures have weapons that destroy our kind. You shouldn’t be here either, not in your condition, but I suspect you would protest as much as Isabella. Fortunately for you, I have no authority where you’re concerned. But tread carefully, my feroce guerriero.”
Ella heard his words, unsure what the last couple meant. She wanted to ask him, but he vanished. As the mist thinned, the scene of utter destruction swirled around in the wake of the creatures. Gone were the rows of neat chairs, which now lay ripped to pieces alongside trampled flowers mixed with bloodied victims moaning and groaning. Weaving her way through the ruins, she placed her hands on those needing help, using her healing energy to heal their wounds.
One lone monster limped toward her and Ella drew out her second knife secured on her left ankle. She ran at the decomposing woman whose gray skin peeled away from her body. Raw bunches of muscle and tissue lay exposed under her corroded armor. This time, Ella aimed at the head, but the overpowering stench distracted her, and Ella glanced away just as her attacker’s blade struck her side. Heat and pain swirled in her veins and she screamed, but she pushed on, forcing herself into action. Swinging around, she kicked at the monster, shoving the woman away. Ella charged, slicing at the creature’s arms and legs. The corpse twisted right and left before dropping to the ground, giving an ugly squawk. As lightning flashed across the sky, she grabbed hold of the woman’s head and twisted it like the vampire had done. The neck broke with a clear snap. Using her power, she decapitated her opponent, ending the fight. Heaving and panting, she clamped her hand on the wound on her side as a shadowy figure ran toward her. Too weak to fight, she slumped just as a pair of strong arms caught her.
“You’re hurt.” Marcus held her tight.
Relaxing into his side, Ella pushed away the pain, and examined his dirty face. Gone was the black tailored jacket, and blood covered his torn white shirt. Having difficulty focusing, she shook her head to stay awake. This battle might be over, but it wasn’t the end, not until the Morrigan lay dead. She was responsible for this attack—she was certain.
“Where’s Steel and the others?” Ella asked.
The cries from the injured and the monsters sounded less urgent now as her husband rushed with her in his arms. Her consciousness slipped in and out. The surroundings blurred to a hazy gray.
“Stop worrying about everyone else, Ella. Focus on yourself for once. You’re still bleeding!”
“Being pregnant, my powers are not the same. I’ll be fine. It’s just a scratch. I’ve been through worse.”
As Gwendoline and Lady Elizabeth Dempsey, she had suffered one torture after another. Now that they were mated, they were immortal, and her injuries would heal eventually. Drifting to the past, the boyish face of the vampire Gabriel surfaced again. She pushed Marcus, jerking forward to search the crowd.
“Where is he?”
“Ella, let me get you to the doctor. She needs to treat these cuts.”
Unable to simply wait, she wriggled to break free until eventually, he released her and let her stand, but kept his arm around her waist. She leaned into him, determined to seek the vampire out. “He’s here, Marcus. That blood-sucking traitor. The one who betrayed our kind.”
“Who?”
Ella clutched his arm because her strength would not last long as she eyed every shadowy figure, seeking the vampire. Discussing the past with Marcus had not been easy. The memories were too painful for either of them, but she knew as she stood here that the past was reaching out to her.
“Gabriel—he’s back.”
CHAPTER TWO
The wounded were being tended to by members from the coven in a makeshift hospital in the drawing room, their injuries, cuts and bruises. However, there were twenty fatalities. Most of the dead at this point were identified as witches. The number of vampires killed was unclear as the remains had long since been carried away with the breeze. As the battle commenced, the vampires not caught up in the fight fled, leaving Roman and his men alone.
Marcus paced around the elegant living room, running his hand through his hair, which stood up at odd angles. “How the fuck did these creatures get access to your estate? You assured us wards had been positioned to make this an impenetrable fortress!” Marcus barked at the witch, making her jump and scowl.
“Shouting will not help, Drayton. I’m as vexed as you are, and I’m fully aware the responsibility is laid at my feet. So, I checked the wards. After all, I had been the one to gather the necessary materials for the protection spell with Raine. For added protection, I placed guards at the four points on the island where the wards were placed. But it wasn’t enough. The guards at each place were dead. All of them murdered—by vampires. So, I have to ask in return, how is that possible?”
Roman shook his head. He pressed his fingers, digging them into his temple and frowning at him. The vampire held his hand up to silence his disgruntled guards, who hissed at the obvious implication. Lucius hissed and bared his teeth. Roman shoved the vampire back, only for him to flee to the farthest side of the room.
“There’s no way my family is involved in this massacre. That’s ridiculous. The vampires have no reason to strike at the witches. And in case you missed the piles of ash scattered on the ground, we lost
