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“Dammit. Get it together, girl,” Liam snapped. “You don’t, Armond will bleed out.”

“I… I…” The panicked faerie stared at him with a blank look on her face. The twit had checked out.

“Now!” Liam roared loud enough that Dove snapped out of whatever spell she was under. She fell to her knees, fumbling to pull Armond’s belt free.

Behind Liam, the dazed hellhound he’d shot recovered its equilibrium and lunged, slamming into the gate. The doors bowed, hinges screaming in protest. It wasn’t going to hold.

A second hound joined the first, the force of its body exploding against the iron bars. Liam threw his shoulder into the gate. Teeth snapped, inches from his face, the creature’s breath rancid. Before it could take a chunk out of him, Liam plugged his last three shots up the beast’s nose.

That done, he turned back to Dove, relieved to see she’d managed the tourniquet. “Hey! Thought you were some kind of necromancer. Can’t you get a handle on these things?”

Though he didn’t think it possible, the girl grew even paler. She peered at the gate and the frothing beasts. “I just… I can’t… I’ve never... They’re so big and vicious.” Tears pooled in her terror-stricken eyes.

“Forget it.” The girl was useless. Last thing he needed was her fainting on him. “Find Gilbert and get Armond into the car before he blacks out. Tell the old man to take off. Don’t wait for us.”

“What about Vivian?” Dove asked.

He glanced in Viv’s direction. One of Tiberius’ guards held her by the hand, dragging her in his wake.

“She’s fine. Tiberius has her. Now go.” In the magister’s hands, at least Vivian would be protected from the hellhounds. Howsafeshe would be was another matter. He didn’t like the possessive way the male handled her.

One problem at a time.First, he’d worry about getting her to safety. Then, if he lived long enough, he’d collect her from the magister.

Dove helped Armond to his feet, snugged her shoulder under his uninjured arm, and dragged him away.

Scrabbling claws sounded over Liam’s head. The hellhounds attempted to climb over, only to fall back. One more hit and the gate would be dust. Once the creatures broke through, Liam would be hellhound kibble. He just needed to hold them off long enough for the others to escape.

Vivian resistedthe guard’s efforts to drag her away. In the distance, she spied Dove hustling Armond to the sedan. Gilbert motioned to them frantically. Thank the Goddess, they were safe.

“Wait. What about Liam?” Every fiber of her being objected to leaving him.

“Magister Steele gave me orders to retrieve you,” the guard said.

“Where is the magister?” There was a slim chance he might help Liam if she asked.

“Secured and waiting for you to join him. Now move.” He jerked her arm, pulling her close. “Those gates won’t hold much longer.”

“No, they won’t. And once they give out, those monsters will tear Liam apart.” The holster on the guard’s hip jabbed into her ribs. She shoved an elbow into his side, gaining inches. “You and the other men have to help him.”

“Not a chance,” he said, dragging her along in his wake. “Our only responsibility is to protect the magister.”

Tiberius’ dark sedan loomed ahead. The tinted windows revealed nothing about the occupants. Dread washed over her. The heaviness weighing on her warned if she got in that car, it would be the end of her hard-won independence.

Since she’d escaped Alistair, she’d spent years furthering her education. In an effort to protect herself, she’d learned a great deal about self-defense and firearms. Like Dove with her painting, Vivian was a natural.

She stole the gun from the guard’s hip, twisted her forearm and snapped her wrist free.

The vampire spun on her, snarling. She pointed the weapon at his head, baring fangs. “Return to your master.”

He held up his hands, his expression condescending. “You want to stay here and be a hellhound’s chew toy, that’s on you.”

“Shut up and give me your extra magazine.” When the guard complied, she flicked the gun, commanding, “Now go.”

Her pulse thundered in her ears, and she raced to Liam’s side. The sight that greeted her lodged her heart in her throat. Liam struggled to hold the gates closed. His muscled body quivered, braced against the doors. The hellhounds pounded the iron bars. With every hit, his feet skidded, losing ground.

“Liam!”

He cast her a look over his shoulder and blanched. “Dammit, woman, what the hell are you doing here?”