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Before Vivian could join in the festivities, a spine-chilling howl rang out. She froze, eyes locked on the mansion. Dark shadows spilled out of the rubble, streaking across the lawn. Her mind refused to process the sight.No. It can’t be.

Behind her, an alarmed voice shouted, “Over there, by the mansion. What is that?”

The boisterous voices of the crowd turned to gasps of horror. Liam bolted to her side, wrapping his arm around her waist. Still, she couldn’t look away.

Four pairs of glowing red eyes glared back at them. Deadly canines gleamed in the creatures’ gaping maws. Muscled bodies powered straight for them, churning ground beneath their claws.

It was a pack of rabid hellhounds.

She gripped Liam’s forearm and whispered, “Pumpernickel.”

Ten

“Close the gates,”Liam roared, thrusting Vivian behind him.

The panicked crowd scattered, screams ringing out. He seized the iron bars and heaved. The gate groaned in protest, moving inches. Minutes ago, Vivian had shoved them open with little effort. Why wouldn’t it move?

“I’ve got it,” Armond grabbed the opposite side and pulled, having similar success. “Something’s holding it back. I can’t move it.”

“Put some muscle into it, or we’re hellhound chow,” Liam shouted. He dug in his heels, throwing everything he had into it. His arms shook from the strain. Muscles burned along his back.

The gate moved slowly as though some unseen force resisted him. From across the overgrown lawn, four hellhounds bore down on them.

When he’d envisioned all the ways Vivian could be harmed here, hellhounds never made the list. Years ago, his friend Jericho had somehow managed to tame one of the nasty beasts and turned it into a pet. Now, instead of being a throat-ripping predator, Titan was an overfed couch potato. The creatures bearing down on them were nothing like Titan and twice the runt’s size. Hunger blazed in their glowing eyes, their snarling maws eager to tear flesh.

“Almost,” Liam grunted. “Come on, you piece of shit.” Metal clinked. “Got it.”

With his side closed, he joined Armond, ordering, “Pull, you scrawny bastard.”

“I am,” Armond bellowed.

Together, they heaved. “Closer,” Liam huffed. “Almost there.” Just as the gates swung into place, one of the hounds nailed it like a charging bull. The locking mechanism sheered right off. The gate bowed outward. “Fuck!” Liam threw his shoulder into the iron bars.

Armond screamed, his arm trapped in the beast’s mouth. “It’s got me,” he screeched.

While pinning the gate closed, Liam whipped his revolver from the small of his back and fired three rounds into the beast’s massive skull.

Armond stumbled free and fell back on his ass, grasping his bleeding arm. The hellhound stumbled as well, hitting its haunches. It shook its damaged head and regained its feet.

“What the heck?” Armond gasped, skittering backward. “Even one of those shots should have ended the beast.”

The thing staggered around as though drunk. Rotted flesh hung from its flanks, and a putrid smell hit Liam’s nostrils. Just what they needed, zombie hellhounds. “Can’t kill something that’s already dead.” These were unnatural creatures. Things of darkness resurrected to serve a master. No wonder they were so vicious.

Farther down, a fresh round of screams erupted. One of the beasts had managed to scale the fence. It hit the ground, bared its massive canines, and unleashed an unholy roar. Terrified people scattered in all directions. The creature gave chase.

Even with the vampires’ otherworldly speed, the hound was faster. It grabbed a petite blonde, sank its teeth into her shoulder and shook. Flesh tore, and the woman’s scream ended with a gurgle.

Liam’s stomach rolled. And that was just one of the unholy bastards. Once the entire pack was loose, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Where’s Vivian? We have to get out of here.” With his back shoved against the gate, Liam swung his head around, spotting her a short distance away. She’d been swept up in the panicked crowd and was helping an elderly man onto his feet. Fuck, he needed her clear of this shit show. She’d picked a hell of a time to play Good Samaritan.

“Armond!” Dove sprinted to his side, kneeling next to the fallen male. “By the Goddess, your arm.” Blood spurted from beneath his hand.

Armond groaned, “Must have hit an artery.”

“Grab his belt and make a tourniquet,” Liam ordered.

Dove staggered to her feet and stumbled back, her face parchment white. “I… I can’t. Oh, that’s a lot of blood.” She pressed her hand to her forehead, swaying.