Page 24 of Prince with a Chance of Darkness (Grimm Cove #7)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Vlad

Hannah touched Vlad’s arm lightly as they made it to the porch. “Um, can you put her down now? I’ll take her home. We snuck out. Our parents don’t know we’re here. I knew this was a really bad idea. Everyone is going to freak out when they realize we’re not where they left us.” She tensed. “And when they realize we stole another car.”

“For crying out loud, Hannah, we didn’t steal it. They leave the keys there on a big key thing. And they have more cars than a car rental lot. They won’t notice one is missing,” said Temperance, still over Vlad’s shoulder.

Vlad eyed Hannah. “You are of the Harker line of shifters?”

She gasped. “You know about…shifters?”

He snorted. “I do. Come. I will see you both home.”

Temperance struck his back with her fists. “I’m going to shove my foot up your…”

“Do not test me, young one. You will not like the results. I will ground you for eternity,” he said, unsure why he cared so much about her being here at all let long near young men. “And he had no idea why it was he’d threatened to ground her.”

“Ever heard of Stranger Danger? We don’t know you. We aren’t going anywhere with you, asshole!” she shouted.

His head started to hurt and he strongly suspected it was a teenager induced migraine.

The song changed to one about going “all the way.”

Radmila appeared at his side.

“See to it the DJ never plays this song again,” he said.

She inclined her head and vanished.

A second later there was blissful silence that was quickly filled with the sounds of screams.

He grinned and kept walking with Temperance over his shoulder, kicking her feet and striking his back with her fists. She reminded him greatly of a cat trying to avoid a bath.

Hannah raced along beside him. “Um, sir. She’s right. We don’t know you.”

“I know the head of your line,” he said quickly. “Very well.”

Temperance quit thrashing about. She put her elbows against his back. “Said every kidnapper ever. Come with me, little girls, I know your parents. Want to see my puppy? How about some candy?”

“You are tiring,” Vlad said rubbing his temple with his free hand.

Hannah smiled slightly. “He’s not wrong, Tempi. You are a lot at times.”

“You’re supposed to be on my side, Hannah,” protested Temperance as Vlad walked her down the front walk path toward the boulevard.

“This was a horrible idea,” said Hannah. “Our moms are going to freak and my dad will be so disappointed. Not to mention?—”

Temperance groaned. “Your dad has been a dad for two weeks. He is riddled with guilt for missing so much of you growing up. Bat your lashes. He’ll fold. He’s weak. All men are.”

Vlad huffed.

“Our moms won’t care how much we give them big, sad eyes,” Hannah said. “Yours will go through the roof. Plus?—”

“If you dare say Lucian will be upset, I’ll hurl. And if I puke it will be down the old dude’s back,” said Temperance with a snort. “It’s weird how much Lucian talks in your head and how he’s always around. Seriously, I’m with your dad on this. I mean, Lucian is hot, but still.”

At the mention of Lucian, Vlad drew to a fast stop. “Tell me of this Lucian. Now!”

“Kiss my ass,” said Temperance.

Knowing he’d get further with Hannah, Vlad focused on her. “Tell me of Lucian. Is he a shifter too?”

“Don’t talk, Hannah. This one has power tripper written all over him,” said Temperance. “Stand firm.”

Hannah looked torn as to what to do. She gave in and nodded at Vlad. “He is. But he’s not with the Harker pack. He’s a…”

“Lone wolf,” said Vlad, rage simmering below the surface.

She nodded again. “He’s not bad! And he’s not creepy. He’s my friend. He…protects me. He helped me understand my wolf.”

“Hannah, you suck at standing firm. Just because this over-grown ape sounds has the same accent as Lucian doesn’t mean he’s trustworthy.”

Vlad growled. It was his Lucian. He was sure of it now.

Katarina was suddenly next to him. Her eyes were wide. “Do you sense it?”

“Sense what?” he asked, his head throbbing from dealing with a teenage girl and from the burning desire to find Lucian and beat him within inches of his life for daring to steal Mina away from him all those years ago.

“Dark magik,” Katarina replied. “Danger. It feels like The Order, but worse. It’s like the night from eighteen years ago.”

The words had no sooner left her mouth than dread filled Vlad. Fear licked his insides, confusing him. He was never one to be afraid. Not for himself anyway. It hit him then—the young girl over his shoulder and her friend. He feared for their safety.

“Ohmygod, what in the hell are those freaks wearing?” Temperance hit his back, not in a way to harm him but to get his attention. She pointed to the right.

He looked and saw it then.

Foot soldiers of The Order of the Dragon. They weren’t alone. They had demons with them. A lot of demons.

Vlad set Temperance on her feet and put his hands on her shoulders. He expected her to punch him in the face. Oddly, she reminded him a great deal of Mina. “I am going to lead them away,” he said. “Go with my people. They will keep you both safe.”

She opened her mouth.

“Temperance, do not argue on this,” he said, cutting her off. “Go with Katarina.”

She stilled, her brows meeting. “What about you?”

“What about me?” he asked, glancing toward the oncoming army of bad guys.

“We can’t just leave you,” she said, her voice sounding small. “I can sense the evil on what’s coming.”

He hid his smile at her concern for him. It made something tighten in his chest and his demon even took notice. “I will be fine. Go.”

She shook her head. “We can help. We can fight.”

“We can?” asked Hannah, her eyes wide. “I can’t connect with Lucian on our mental path. Whatever is happening… It’s blocking my connection to the pack and to him.”

Vlad looked to Katarina. “See them to safety. Kill any threat to them.”

“Of course,” she said.

Radmila appeared next to them. She hissed and extended her arms, staring down the army of Order foot soldiers and demons coming at them. She had no fear. She never did.

“Radmila, go with Katarina. Protect the girls,” he commanded.

Temperance squared her shoulders and swallowed hard. “We’re not leaving you to face all that alone. Not happening. Come with us or we’re staying.”

“Young lady, do not speak back to me. Go! Now!” he said.

She crossed her arms over her chest giving him a look much like he suspected he’d given her in the house when he’d ordered her off the chair. “No.”

In the blink of an eye, a huge black panther came leaping out of the bushes near them, going straight at Hannah.

Vlad swept her up and out of the way as he slashed out at the shifter. Its jaw caught his upper arm. He made sure Hannah was safe before releasing her and punching the shifter in the eye. It released him. He shook off the injury and it healed over rapidly. It hurt, but he didn’t care. He was only worried about the girls. He glanced back to find their eyes were wide and they were locked arm in arm.

Temperance leaned against Hannah. “Did he just face punch a giant friggin’ panther and then heal like that?” she asked, clicking her fingers.

Hannah nodded. “He did. I didn’t think anyone healed as fast as my dad.”

There was more growling from the tree line. Vlad couldn’t worry about that. He had the swarm of Order soldiers and demons to contend with first.

Radmila caught a tiger as it came leaping out of the tree line. She ripped its throat out with one hand, her signature battle cry following the act.

Katarina began corralling Hannah and Temperance, putting herself between them on the oncoming threat.

Vlad extended his arms and chanced a fast glance at the girls. “Close your eyes. Now.”

Hannah tugged on Temperance’s arm. “Do it!”

Temperance did it along with Hannah.

Vlad called upon his dark magik—powers his enemies claimed he’d been born with—from being Satan’s spawn. He heard the rats before he saw them. They answered his call, coming in waves, going at the enemy, thinning the herd.

He reached out again, pushing his dark magik to the edge of its limits, calling all the wolves in the area—shifter or regular. He cared not. Any would do to help in the battle.

He felt it then, a connection to someone that shocked him by answering.

Lucian.

Vlad narrowed his gaze on the enemy. They picked the wrong vampire to fuck with.

“Ohmygod, are those rats eating the demons?” Temperance asked, sounding like she might vomit.

Vlad cringed.