Page 44 of Obsidian and Frost

In the next second, they were being hauled off the ground and levitated high in the air, held there by a shimmering film enveloping them.

And they were frozen, completely unable to move a muscle, or even blink—or open their poisonous mouths.

Before I could take in the insanity of it all, that same film came for me, sweeping around me and forcing me into the air, my arms and legs outstretched and held there forcibly against my will.

The urge to struggle slipped away quickly, though, as another sensation rolled over me—weightlessness. Not just physical, but something much deeper. I was being held still, but it didn’t hurt, it didn’t actually just feel restrictive. It took away the urge to inflict brutal violence, to rage, to let my bloodlust loose all fucking over.

It was… a form of peace.

Footsteps sounded and then Sylas Morgrave stepped out of the shadows, his hands up, palms flaming with his crimson power, one thrust toward the vampires, one toward me.

He twisted the one holding them and their necks snapped in unison.

The film dissipated and they all fell to the ground with thud after thud, unconscious.

And then he turned to me, striding up to me, then looking me over.

He seemed… worried about me, studying the blood I was drenched in.

“You’re unharmed.” He cursed under his breath. “Graverun King indeed.” He looked around at the body parts, the blood and flesh all over, the unconscious vampires, several half dead, and he shook his head in dismay.

He sighed, then released me from his magical hold.

I dropped to the grass in a low crouch. “What are you doing here?”

“Clearly preventing a massacre.”

I rose to my full height. “If you think I’m going to get down on my knees and applaud your effortsandthe fact that you ruined my fun—”

He stepped up to me and grasped my shoulder, using his magic to overpower me, his red glow threaded from his palm to me. “Quiet.”

He pulled his phone out, then dialed quickly. “Good, you’re still awake. What? No, I don’t want the details of your fuck-fest with your loves. Well, good, because I don’t want them anyway, Kai. Listen, I need your help. I have a situation. Seven vampires needing high-level healing immediately, along with minor memory wipes—Obliviscawill do. Yeah, exactly, I can’t… not right now. Uh-huh… rapid-fire necromantic holds for a handful. Several centuries between them. Of course normally it would be doable, easy even, but it’s clearly not now. So, can you bridge the gap for me? Yeah? All right, thanks. See you soon.”

He hung up and stowed his phone away.

“You’re calling in Kai Hunter, sorcerer extraordinaire? Don’t you have that covered yourself? Why can’tyouhandle it?”

“It’s not your concern. Saving your sweet little ass from the repercussions of this is.”

Before I could get another word out, an eruption of rose-gold power filled the area a moment before Kai Hunter materialized in all his glory, black trench coat and all.

He took in the scene quickly, noting the vampires, then eyeing Sylas holding me with his power. “All right there, brother?”

“I have this part handled.”

Kai smirked. “I see. Well, it’s about time you found a new… interest.”

I growled low in my throat.

“Ah,” Kai said, amused. “A fresh one? Really?You?”

“Kai,” Sylas bit back. “Can you get on with it?”

Kai smiled. “Get gone. I’ll handle it from here on out. There’s no need for you to stay. Besides, he clearly needs your attention.”

I didn’t get to react to that one, as Sylas gave a nod to Kai, then swept us both up in a swirl of teleportation.

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