Page 103 of The Vampire's Redemption

He grunted. It was as close to a yes as she’d get from him. Though their lives were on the line, her heart warmed at his agreement. They’d get through this and spend eternity making up for the six centuries of separation.

The thought gave renewed strength to her exhausted limbs. Gabby sped to the crystal and kicked it like a soccer ball to the nearest witch. Needling pain stabbed into her toes.

The crystal hit the shield, which flared a bright yellow-orange.

For a second, nothing happened. Gabby held her breath. Did it work?

White cracks traced across the shield.

Come on. Come on.Gabby’s gaze flittered between Felix and the slow forming cracks.

With another flash of light, the shield broke to a thousand pieces. Glitters of magic rained down around them. Before Gabby could kill the unprotected witch, the crystal rolled forward. The second it touched the blue glow surrounding the woman, another explosion of blinding light covered them.

Gabby dropped to one knee and crossed her arms in front of her face to protect it from the explosion’s backlash. Dirt, rocks, and other debris slashed at her. She heard the fall of a heavy stone and rolled out of the way.

A heartbeat later, the air filled with the immense weight of Alistair’s power. Gabby struggled against it to stand up. When the dust cleared, Alistair stood in front of Jiaren, who floated a foot above the ground, his hands tight against his thighs, though she saw nothing binding him.

With his wings spread wide in agitation, and the raw, primal power pulsing out of him, Alistair resembled a demon out of the Renaissance paintings.

“Now talk. Who told you?”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Gabby’sbrowsfurrowedatAlistair’s question. In the thick of battle, she hadn’t questioned how Alistair had appeared out of nowhere. He’d gone straight for Jiaren, for the crystal, as though he’d known about it beforehand.

What other secrets was he hiding from them?

Jiaren’s spiteful laugh grated on her nerves. Eyes red, his voice dropped an octave. “Your brother says hello, King Alistair.”

Alistair stumbled back a step, his face pale with shock. “No, that’s impossible.” Was he afraid? What could scare their implacable and fearsome King?

“Who else would know?” Jiaren smirked.

He has a brother? Did you know?Gabby shot a confused look at Felix.

No.

Was Jiaren lying? But why? If Alistair had a brother, how come they’d never heard anything or met him?

A question for another time. She had a more pressing question. “The vampires you experimented on. How do I turn them back?”

Jiaren’s smug grin made her want to dig his eyes out. “Why would I turn them back?”

The next second, Gabby buried her claws in Jiaren’s chest. “That is the only reason you are alive right now. You invaded my territory. You kidnapped my people. I have every right to destroy you.”

Jiaren blinked once. No signs her threat bothered him. “My life is forfeit anyway. Do what you wish.”

Damn it. What else? What else could she do to help Maria?

“Although…”

Hope was a poison inside her, because whatever solution Jiaren offered would not be good from the cunning glint in his eyes.

“I don’t know how to turn them back, but the crystal might help.”

“How? How do we use it?” The item in question rested on the ground several feet away. Her insides shrunk at the thought of ever touching it again.

“It might be able to purify the poison.”