Page 104 of The Vampire's Redemption

“Might is not good enough,” Felix snarled.

“Ask him. He knows.” Jiaren jerked his chin toward Alistair.

“Is it true?” she asked. Alistair had stayed silent during the exchange. “Can that thing heal them?”

“I’ll have to see them first.” Alistair picked up the crystal. The ball flashed white for a second before the light extinguished. “Where are these vampires?”

“At Haven,” she said.

“Let’s go. We’re done here.”

“What about them?” Felix gestured to the fallen witches.

Guilt squirmed inside Gabby as she swept her gaze over the prone witches on the ground. She knelt beside one and sighed with relief when the woman’s chest rose and fell. They were unconscious, but not dead. She hadn’t known what breaking the spell with the crystal ball would do to them, but it had been a necessary risk.

“They are alive,” she muttered. “We should not leave them here.”

Alistair’s words reverberated with impatience. “Do you want to save your friends? I have other matters to attend to.”

Pierre, who looked as battle weary as they were, appeared. He was alive. Good. Hopefully, the others were as well.

“We have the vampires and shifters subdued. What should we do with them?” Pierre asked.

Gabby hesitated. Should she ask Alistair to use the crystal on their captives here? No, Maria came first. Again, shameful guilt ate at her, but if Alistair could heal Maria, then he could heal the rest.

“Keep them sedated. We will deal with them later,” she said.

A shrill sound pierced the night air. When she swung her gaze in that direction, she saw swirling red and blue lights above cars rapidly coming toward them. Some big. Some small.

“Come.”

At Alistair’s summons, Gabby and Felix gripped his offered hand. His other hand had a tight grip on Jiaren’s shoulder.

Let the police and the EMTs take the witches. Keep an eye on them,came Felix’s rushed instructions to Pierre.

Everything turned black. Gabby had a strange sense of vertigo, like she was falling, but there was no wind, no other sounds, or smells. Just blackness and the feel of free fall.

When the world reappeared, they were in Haven’s main foyer. It was quiet. Too quiet. For a terrifying second Gabby thought she’d lost the House.

Nikolas?

You’re back.

He was alive. The pressure over her chest lessened.What happened?

Nikolas updated her on the status while she led Felix and Alistair to the basement. Alistair left Jiaren in the foyer after assuring them that Jiaren couldn’t break his bonds.

The blockades worked as intended, allowing Nikolas to trap and split their invaders to his advantage. Their attackers had left them no choice but to kill most of them. The rest had scattered into the forest. Nikolas was coordinating the small teams sent out to chase down the remaining crazed vampires. No one wanted them to run into any campers or other humans in the area.

“We’re here.”

Gabby opened the doors to where Maria and the others rested. Her friend looked paler than a day ago. Though she was sedated, her eyes moved restlessly under her lids as if she was struggling against the sedatives.

“Can you help them?” Gabby leaned back into Felix, who wrapped his arms around her. The healed mating bond flared bright for a second with his pleasure at her simple gesture. After fighting it for so long, she had to admit it was nice to accept the comfort and strength he offered.

“Let me see.”

Alistair dropped the crystal in Maria’s hand and cover it with his. He closed his eyes and muttered words that Gabby didn’t understand. The crystal glowed, but its light did not take over like it did with Gabby. Alistair grunted. His brows furrowed in concentration and beads of sweat dotted his forehead.