Page 63 of Guardians for the Vamp
When we emerge on the street, bullets fly.
We fall behind the crashed SUV for protection. I pick up a bullet that fell to the ground after hitting a light pole next to me.
Woodenbullets.
That means whoever is attacking us knows Layla is a vampire. They’re trying to assassinate her.
I vaguely register a sharp pain in my side as I grab Layla by the waist.
“Vara, up,” I growl, catapulting us into the air.
I fly us above the high-rises, and it takes less than a minute to arrive on the wraparound balcony of Layla’s penthouse.
Word of the attack has already reached the security team, and they’re outside waiting.
“Lock down the building. Make sure no one enters or leaves. Call William and Finna to help.”
Finna is a witch and a new member of the team. She can create a memory spell to help with the human residents in Layla’s building who might question what’s happening. William is a vampire who can also compel them.
Erebos lands ahead of us.
“Report,” I bark.
“Two guards dead, two more injured.”
I nod. “Call in a supernatural cleanup team to the street where the SUV explosion and shootout happened so they can help with witnesses and the human first responders.”
I turn to another guard, a vampire, waiting for instructions.
“Set up a perimeter two blocks in each direction. Question everyone who tries to cross. This is all hands on deck. Someone was shooting at us using wooden bullets. Everyone needs to wear their armor and activate the protection shields Finna cast.”
The vampire nods and leaves.
“Thorne,” Layla sobs. “You’re bleeding.”
One side of Layla’s dress is covered in blood where I had her flush against me as I flew us to safety.
I palm her cheek. “I’m fine, Bunny. It will be healed by morning.”
I glance behind me, and my stomach drops.
“Where the fuck is Vara?” I ask, panic filling my voice.
“I’m here,” she says, landing with a thud. She tosses an unconscious human to the ground. “I spotted the shooter on the roof of one of the buildings we flew over. Thought you’d want to question him.”
I approach Vara, and she takes a small step back. I can’t imagine the rage she must see exuding from me. If I didn’t need the shooter alive, I’d tear his heart from his chest right now.
When I reach the sphinx, I clutch her by the nape and claim her lips. The kiss is quick, possessive.
“You fucking scared us,” I growl, resting my forehead on hers.
“Did you forget that sphinxes are guardians too? We know how to fight.” She kicks the human on the ground. “This man threatened my mates. I wasn’t going to let him get away.”
“You think he's a hunter?”
“I assume.” Vara kicks him again. Since he’s unconscious, there’s no reaction.
I wave at one of the other vampire guards still on the balcony with us.
