Blood Choice (Deathless Night Series Book 6) Read online

Mammot came closer. “Your father told us you were lying. He told us he was the only one who knew the spell to reunite us with our original blood.”

  “My father is a djinn. It is common knowledge they will say or do anything to get whatever it is they crave. If you haven’t figured it out by now, he had an ulterior motive, other than saving his own skin.”

  “Perhaps that he’d misjudged the threat you pose.”

  Jesse shrugged. “Perhaps he shouldn’t underestimate me.” He paused. “And perhaps neither should you.”

  The demons caught the veiled threat, and moving forward as a group, they surrounded their leader. Thirty demons. In such close proximity to each other, they fed from each other’s energy until the air began to hum with their combined energy.

  Jesse waited to see what they would do.

  “We have the blood,” Mammot finally told him. “The real blood. Not the fake shit we gave your vampire whore. Let’s get on with the spell.”

  The mention of Shea gave him pause for a moment, but Jesse quickly recovered. “You betrayed me to my father, and yet you assume I will still do this spell.” All eyes turned to him. “What if I’ve changed my mind?”

  Mammot marched up to the edge of the circle. Sticking one bony finger at Jesse, he growled, “You will do it, warlock. We had a deal.”

  “A deal you broke by involving my father in all of this.” He didn’t bother to state the obvious, that his father should not have known about them at all. “If you let my father in on this, he won’t rest until he destroys me. You see, I am the only true threat to him that exists. And once I am gone, he will suck the energy from you until you are weak, at which time he will enslave you. You will be his own personal hosts for his parasitic ways.”

  “He came to us—” Mammot began.

  “And told you I was just like him, too caught up in my lust for power. He told you I didn’t mean anything I promised, and that once I had what I wanted from you, I would break our deal and send you back to where I found you. Or something similar?” They didn’t deny it, and Jesse threw back his head and laughed. “You, Mammot, of all creatures should know when you’re being fucked around. It is a specialty of yours. Is it not?”

  One of the others glanced nervously at his leader. “How do you know this?” he asked Jesse.

  Mammot growled at the one who had spoken. “Do not respond to this one’s ramblings. He’s only trying to save his own ass.”

  Ignoring him, Jesse responded to the question. “Because he is djinn. It is what we do.”

  “If that is what you do,” Mammot reasoned. “Then who’s to say you wouldn’t do the same thing to us? The way I see it, is we need to get rid of both of you as soon as possible.”

  Jesse wasn’t so easily fooled. He’d known all along these things couldn’t be trusted, and had been expecting some such twist in the game. “Was this not your plan to begin with?”

  Mammot made a sound that resembled a snort, but didn’t come out quite right. “If you’re so smart, warlock, then why did you bring us here?”

  Jesse told him the truth. “Because between thirty demons and my father, you are the lessor of the two evils to release upon this world.”

  “Ah. The sentiment warms my heart.” Mammot put his hands on his hips and scowled up to the sky, where Cruthú continued to keep a watchful eye on things. “Unfortunately, you were correct in your assumption that we planned to get rid of you. We did. We also planned to get rid of your father. By betraying you and bringing him into the deal, we were hoping to have you both right where we wanted you. We won’t share this world with a djinn, or even a half-blood. However, it seems your father is the more intelligent of the two of you.” He looked around dramatically. “He was smart enough not to show up.”

  Jesse cocked his head to the side, trying to understand the logic of the demon by confessing his treachery, rather than just playing along with the original plan upon seeing Jesse was the only one there. Perhaps he thought they were safe, now that things had progressed this far. Perhaps he thought Jesse would have no qualms about going back to the original deal since he was the one who appeared to be holding to his end of the bargain. He was genuinely curious now, and couldn’t resist asking, “You admit all of this straight to my face, while you stand here waiting for me to perform the ritual that will allow you to become yourselves again. Are you not concerned at all that I will refuse to do it and chain your souls back to the altar instead?”

  One side of Mammot’s mouth turned up in a morbid semblance of a smile. That feeling of unease again rippled down Jesse’s spine. “Maybe it is you who should not underestimate us, warlock.”

  Jesse should have known by the gloating look that came over the demons’ rotten faces. He should have suspected by the way the rest of the group snickered like schoolgirls.

  Raising his hand, Mammot quieted the others. “I don’t think you’ll be giving us any problems, warlock. Your vampire whore is on her way to upset your plans as we speak, and I would think you would like her to arrive in one piece. Am I correct? I left a few friends behind to escort her here. You know, so she doesn’t get lost.”

  Jesse became perfectly still. He felt strangely calm, even as his gut churned with the urge to let loose his sorcery and take the entire group out where they stood. “You lay one rotting finger on her, and I will send you all back to the altar and bury it under hundreds of miles of earth. You won’t be able to stop me.”

  That gruesome smile returned. “It’s a good thing there is another who knows the spell then. If you don’t want to do it, I can guarantee that she will.”

  Chapter 30

  Shea pulled the SUV around the mountain and parked beside Jesse’s vehicle. Telling the witches to stay where they were, she got out and rushed inside, calling for Jesse.

  She returned a few minutes later. “He’s not here,” she told them. “I would know if he was here.”

  “He was here. We saw it,” Laney told her.

  “Where else would he be? Any idea?” Emma asked.

  Another SUV pulled up, full of pissed off vampires. It stopped with its headlights pointed at the side of their vehicle, but no one got out. True to Laney’s prediction, the girls didn’t even make it out of the parking garage before their males were loading up into the other vehicle and following them north.

  “See? I told you they’d follow us,” Laney said.

  “Of course they did,” Keira agreed. “Gods forbid us poor helpless females go out into the world to take on evil by ourselves. We might break a nail or some other such horrifying thing.”

  Even Ryan laughed at that. An uncomfortable truce had been made between her and Shea, but even so, she’d been quiet for much of the drive. When everyone had calmed down, she spoke up from the back seat. “I can see if I can find out where Jesse is.”

  But Shea was looking up at the sky, listening. “No need,” she told her. “I think I hear Cruthú.”

  “Cru-who?” Grace asked.

  “Cruthú. His raven. She never leaves him.” Running out to a break in the trees, she searched the dark sky, but she saw nothing but clouds. A light drizzle began to fall as she stood there. Heading back to the vehicle, she told the other females, “I can’t see her, but she sounds upset. Which means Jesse is in trouble. I’m going.”

  “I don’t hear anything,” Laney said.

  “Because you don’t have super crazy vampire hearing,” Emma told her.

  “We’re coming with you,” Keira said.

  Their eyes met—Shea’s grateful; Keira’s chilly but determined.

  “I’m doing this for you,” she told Shea. “Not him.”

  Shea nodded. “I know. But thank you anyway.”

  “Should we let the guys know what we’re doing?” Laney asked.

  Shea didn’t even spare the other vehicle a glance. “Nope. They’ll follow us, or not.”

  “Oh, they’ll follow us,” Emma said as she looked around Shea from the passenger seat. “I can feel Nik’s fury from
here.” She smiled and waved into the bright headlights.

  “I wonder why they’re not trying to stop us?” Ryan asked.

  “Pfft.” Grace waved also. “Because they know they only get away with being so overbearing because we let them. This is serious shit, dude. If they tried to stop us, Em would just freeze their asses and then they couldn’t help us if we actually needed it.”

  Emma laughed. “I so would, though. It would teach them right.”

  Shea got back in and shut the door. “All right. I’m going to drive in Cruthú’s direction, getting us as close as I can. Then I’ll stop and check out the situation before you all come anywhere near there. If anything happened to any of you, it would be the end of me. And I really don’t want to go through all this for nothing.”

  None of the others bothered disagreeing. They all knew it was true. Vampires were extremely attached to their mates. And not just for the amazing sex.

  She turned around and looked at each of them in turn. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

  “No,” Ryan answered. “But I’m doing it, anyway.”

  Shea locked eyes with her. Out of all the witches, she hadn’t taken to Ryan like she did the others. She hadn’t known why at the time. But now, she did. Maybe it was time to make more of an effort. “Thank you,” Shea told her earnestly. “And I’m sorry I called you a slutty hooker when I first met you.”

  Ryan grinned. “I was a slutty hooker when you first met me.”

  Shea smiled back, then looked around the car again. “So, we’re good?”

  “Oh, for gods’ sake, Shea.” Keira rolled her eyes. “Just go. We have demons to send back to hell.”

  Shea backed out and took off in the direction she’d heard the raven. She had filled the girls in on her history on the drive north, and even told them about her sister. When she finished with her story, they were all quiet for a while as they took it all in. A few questions had been asked and answered, and Keira had even wondered aloud if Shea and Laney came from the same ancestors somewhere down the line, both being “Protectors.”

  Shea had never thought about it, but now she wondered if the “holy” bloodline was really a magical one. She would have to research that once things settled down again.

  They’d gone over and over different ways to attack what they had to do, and finally came to the conclusion that the witches would stick to their original plan. Only, instead of sending the demon’s souls back to being chained to the altar, Shea and her holy blood would send them back to hell. Blood and all.

  They were about seventeen miles away from Jesse’s home when Shea leaned forward over the steering wheel and pointed toward the sky. “There! There she is!”

  Emma looked in the direction she was pointing. “How are we going to get over there?”

  “We’ll have to go on foot.” Shea pulled off the road and threw the vehicle into park. “Stay here for a minute while I check things out.”

  But Ryan spoke up before she jumped out. “Wait.” She stared at Shea, but she knew she wasn’t really seeing her. “There are guards. They’ll see you.” Then she shrugged. “At least, that’s what they’re telling me.”

  No one had to ask who “they” were. It was hard for Shea to trust the word of spirits, but decided it was better to be safe than sorry. “I’ll be careful.” Closing the door, she glanced over at the guys, who had pulled up right behind her, and gave the hand signal telling them she was checking things out and would be right back.

  A minute later, she discovered Ryan had been right. There were three possessed vampires guarding the path off the road. Retreating quickly but silently, she hurried back to the cars.

  She opened the door, but didn’t get in. “The spirits speak the truth. There are three of them blocking the path. So, here’s what we’re going to do.” Leaning back so they would see her, she waved at the guys to come and join them.

  Five large vampires got out and surrounded her. They didn’t say anything, but Shea could feel their displeasure, and downright fury from Luukas and Dante. She didn’t bother speaking to them. They didn’t have time to argue right now.

  “Okay, I’m going to distract the three that are guarding the path. Once I lead them away, you all circle around and find Jesse and the demons. But don’t let him know you’re there until I get there. Got it?” She turned to Keira. “Can you fill the guys in on the plan? Oh! And can you cloak everyone?”

  She nodded. “Piece of cake.”

  “No.” The word was growled out between clenched teeth. “I will go.”

  Everyone turned to look at Dante. It was the first time he had spoken to Shea since she’d returned. She blinked hard, pushing down the emotions that were threatening to rise and distract her from her goal. She shook her head at him. “No, Dante. I will go. This is my fight. You need to let me do it my way.”

  He stared at her a moment, then crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Don’t be stupid. You’re the only one I like out of this entire crew.”

  Shea didn’t know what to say, but finally managed to nod.

  “I resent that, commander,” Aiden told him.

  Dante just gave her a look that clearly said: and this is why.

  Luukas spoke from behind her. His voice was low and controlled, but she could hear the underlying anger. “What do you plan to do, Shea?”

  She turned to look at her maker, the only one who knew who she really was. “With the girls’ help, I’m going to send them back to hell permanently—Keira will fill you in—and perhaps we can save who we can once they are out of the bodies.” She gave him a small smile. “Saving you in the process.”

  “I’m not the one who will need saving when all of this is over.” His eyes flicked over to Keira, who gave him her most innocent expression.

  “I’m glad you guys came,” Shea told them. “It will help to have you there.”

  “You didn’t give us a choice.” Nik glared at Emma as he said this.

  She smiled sweetly back at him.

  “We will discuss all of this later,” Luukas told her. “Right now, let’s concentrate on what needs to be done. But know this, Shea”—he paused until he had her full attention—“I am only here to protect my very stubborn witch, and to help send these fucking things back to where they belong.”

  He didn’t need to say he wasn’t there for her, or for Jesse. The implications were more than clear. “I understand,” she said. “And I appreciate it anyway.”

  The witches got out of the SUV, and gave Shea encouraging smiles and words. Keira gave her a quick hug. “We’ll see you in a minute.”

  Shea hugged her back. “Be safe.” With a quick nod at the guys, she jogged around the vehicle and entered the trees.

  It didn’t take her long to find the possessed vampires. As she crouched behind the underbrush watching them, she let the call of Jesse’s blood calm her. It was much stronger here, even though his thoughts were still blocking her.

  He was still alive, and that was all she could ask for.

  Keeping one eye on the demons, she let her instincts take over. Her mate was in trouble, and nothing would keep her from him. Especially not a few half-rotten demons. Her tongue ran over her fangs, long and sharp and ready to rip apart any who dared try to keep her from Jesse.

  When she had ascertained there were only three guards, she stepped out from the shelter of the underbrush. Not bothering to conceal her footsteps, she ran past them, smiling to herself as the alarm was raised.

  And the chase was on.

  She glanced back once to make sure all three were following her. After she confirmed that none had stayed behind to catch her friends, Shea dug in and kicked it into high speed. Dodging trees and leaping over fallen branches, she cut a direct path to her male, following the call of his blood, knowing the witches would follow her with the guys’ help as they followed her scent.

  Soon she smelled the strong scent of burning wood and knew she was getting close. Baring her fangs on a hiss, she jump
ed a fallen tree and kept going. Something touched the back of her neck, and she was glad she’d braided her hair and tucked it up before they’d left her apartment. A second later she felt a rush of warm air on her skin and smelled acrid breath. Her entire body shuttered in disgust, and Shea pumped her arms harder and dug in her toes, pushing herself as hard as she could go.

  She led them in a circle around the spot where she knew Jesse to be, giving the witches time to get in place without being sensed. Cruthú called from high above her, and she sounded happy and worried at the same time. Shea didn’t spare her a glance, concentrating on outrunning the vampires who used to be her friends and a part of Luukas’s colony, but were now controlled by the demons inside of them.

  Hopefully, there was enough of them left in there to be saved.

  When she thought enough time had passed, Shea cut sharply to the left and headed straight toward Jesse. She leaped a small creek, and nearly stumbled as she landed on the other side when Jesse’s voice suddenly appeared in her head.

  Shea, get the FUCK out of here.

  Chapter 31

  Jesse quickly shut down his rising emotions.

  He’d felt her shortly after Steven had told him she would be coming, and he bit back a curse. Taking a deep breath, he remained calm, knowing the slightest change in his pulse would alert them. They possessed vampire bodies for a reason.

  Though he kept his emotions at bay, his mind raced. He needed to warn her. Or better yet, keep her away entirely. But there was only way to do it: he would have to lower his shields and speak directly to her thoughts. And once one defense was down, others would soon follow if he wasn’t very careful.

  Ever since he’d left the hotel room, he’d refused to let her into his head, knowing it would distract him from what he had to do. He couldn’t be worried about her, or listening to her try to argue her way out of what she’d done. But he also didn’t want her in danger.

  So, he waited. Waited until the demons were speaking amongst themselves. As soon as it was as safe as it was going to get, he lowered his shields and told her to get away, then raised them again before she could respond. He had a feeling it would do no good. She was stubborn, and her vampire instincts would tell her to protect him. But he had to try.