Page 51 of Taming His Vampire Mate

Diana’s warning look cut him off. His mouth snapped shut, and he cast us a dark glance before disappearing into the last door on the right.

“You said several dozen,” Thierry said. “Maybe a hundred. But the town had a thousand people, and we’ve seen no bodies.”

“Most fled,” Diana replied, eyes widening slightly—maybe at the tension in his voice, which suggested the answer actually mattered to him. After all, it implied he cared about the survivors. She added, “This started five nights ago. First, it was three people. The police thought it was an animal attack. Wolves, maybe. Or coyotes.”

“But they rose.”

She nodded. “The second night was bad. Most left in a hurry. The ones who didn’t…” She exhaled. “They’re the ones who keep coming.”

“They haven’t left Rookwood?” Thierry pressed.

She shrugged. “Guess not.”

“You don’t think it strange that dozens of newborns haven’t gone looking for easier prey?”

I gave him a sharp look. “What are you saying?”

Thierry ignored me. “How single-minded are they?”

“If I’m interrupted, we’ll all die,” Diana said with a mirthless smile. “So… pretty single-minded.”

“As though under a hypnotic compulsion,” Thierry said.

Diana went pale. “You think someone’s forcing them to stay?”

“Do you know who started this? Who turned the first few?”

She shook her head, eyes wide. “A vampire would have to be extremely old and powerful to control dozens of newborns.”

“Yes,” Thierry muttered darkly. “He would.”

Silence fell until Diana said, “I need to begin.”

“A warlock in my pack knows how to bind barriers until sunrise,” I offered. “He ties them to the setting sun. It would hold until then.”

“How nice for him.” Her lips thinned. “Will he, who isn’t here, be able to teach me how to do this in the next two minutes?”

I grimaced. “Right. No.”

Her smile was all ice. “Then keep me from being interrupted. My barrier will protect the property. But if one breaks through—”

“Is that likely?” Thierry cut in.

“It almost happened last night.”

“Then I’ll make sure they don’t get into the home if your spell falters,” Thierry said flatly. His tone softened. “This is the last night you’ll cast this spell, Diana. I’ve reported what’s happened. The vampire king and witch queen of Seattle are sending teams. They’ll arrive at daybreak.”

Relief swept her expression. She nodded sharply, turned away, and began an abbreviated version of the spell I’d heard Daniel cast a dozen times.

A shimmering wave of power rolled over me.

Thierry’s mouth was tight. “Stay put,” he said, pausing to listen. His expression darkened. “The vampires have arrived.”

He strode out the front door.

I hesitated only a moment before following.

Dozens of vampires crowded the sidewalk, halted by an invisible wall along the chain-link fence. Their lips peeled back in snarls, revealing fangs that gleamed in the moonlight.