Page 74 of The Vampire's Redemption

“Stay back.” Felix blocked her.

These vampires weren’t sane, but they weren’t the Fallen either. The Fallen, while consumed by bloodlust and hunger, were still sane. They could plan and think and control themselves if needed, even if everything they did was for more violence and bloodshed and torture.

The vampire he had kicked emerged again.

“Let me go.” Gabby pushed him away. Joey rushed at them, his fangs bared and claws extended.

Gabby had the good sense and reflex to dodge the swipe. Before Felix could reach her, Alfred and another vampire blocked him. The other vampire also looked familiar. Someone else from Eden, maybe.

Felix kicked Alfred. His nose twitched at the rotten eggs smell. His claws lengthened, and he sliced at the second vampire’s throat. It jumped back, Felix’s claws only grazing it.

Fast bastard.

Thick blood, smelling off, trickled down the vampire’s collar before the wounds closed. Again, faster than they should on such a desiccated vampire.

“Joey, stop!” Gabby ducked left and right away from Joey’s lightning swipes.

Fight back,he snarled.

Do not tell me what to do.She kicked Joey’s chest, sending him flying.

Pain exploded in Felix’s shoulder. He launched away from Alfred, who’d scored the hit. He shut off the pain instantly.

Alfred, stop.He reached into Alfred’s mind and lost his breath when a whirling black tornado grasped at him.

Kill. Kill. Kill.

The twisted desire attempted to seize Felix. He exited Alfred’s mind before the violent emotions grabbed hold of him. He’d seen his share of ugly things throughout the centuries, killed plenty of the Fallen, but the malicious, perverted hunger within Alfred was new.

Different.

Something wrong that shouldn’t exist. That raised the hairs on the back of his neck.

“Don’t go in their heads,” he warned the others.

The second vampire dashed forward, his fangs snapping. Felix darted behind him, grabbed his attacker’s throat, and squeezed.

“Don’t kill them!” Gabby shouted.

He hesitated, and it cost him. The vampire twisted. His claws sliced into Felix’s chest. Pain flared for a second before he tuned it out.

Gabby grunted. The scent of her blood. Mate. In danger. Red colored his vision. Felix was next to Gabby in a blink and kicked the vampire above her. He kept slashing and punching, pushing the attacker back, but the vampire didn’t stop. Gabby drew her sabers and fought with her back to him.

She was lighting fast, the sabers a whirl in her hands as she fended off two vampires on her own.

We have to kill them,he sent the thought to Gabby and the others.

No. There must be another way,Gabby said.

Felix didn’t see how. Short of killing them, their opponents seemed unstoppable. They were not slowing down even after suffering numerous wounds.

“Ahmed, the chains.” Nikolas’ shout broke through the chaos of the battle.

Out of the corner of his eye, Felix saw Ahmed run to the back of the jeep. Nikolas stopped Ahmed’s opponent from giving chase and swept it off its feet. That was all Felix saw before he focused on his own fight.

Normally, Felix considered five against three good odds, but these vampires, despite their ragged appearances, were deceptively strong. Other than Alfred, no one else gave off the aura of being older than three centuries, but their strength and speed and persistence spoke otherwise.

It would be easier to kill them, but he hesitated. Alfred had served him for centuries. He hated to admit it, but Gabby was right. If there was a chance of saving them, then they had to try.