Page 35 of Bitter End
Serenity straightened, little black veins creeping under the skin near her eyes. She was getting ready to shift, too. Any minute now, and she’d be feral.
“We never saw them, but I can give you one guess,” she said with a growl under her voice. “She stepped outside for a split second, and then she was gone. There’s blood in the snow, and she’s just gone!”
I grabbed my cousin and pulled her toward me as tears continued to fall from her eyes. Fear froze me in place as I started to shake with rage. Rage, and maybe even guilt. Guilt for not hearing the commotion and saving Loxley. Guilt because I already knew who took her. We all did.
“We're going to find that witch, Ren. We find her, and we fucking end her. No more hiding.”
Serenity peered up at me, wiping her tears away as she straightened her shoulders. She nodded curtly as the guys closed in around us. “No more fucking hiding.”
Epilogue
LOXLEY NOCTURNE
I cameto with a bag still draped over my head. I was disoriented, getting jostled as whatever car I’d been shoved into sped down a bumpy road. I breathed in deeply and scented that there were four people in the car with me. Two men and two women, all vampires, and a witch.
My hands were bound behind my back, and my wrists chafed. I couldn’t move, couldn’t see, and I couldn’t talk because there was a gag in my mouth.
I focused my attention on the sound of their low voices, trying to listen in on what they were saying. The pitch-black darkness was suffocating, but I knew the importance of keeping a clear head. This wasn’t my first kidnapping, and I couldn't afford to panic.
Suddenly, the car came to an abrupt halt, throwing meforward against the back seat. I heard a door open and then close. The sound of footsteps approached the car.
Cool air hit my face as I was dragged out of the car.
"Loxley Nocturne," came a familiar voice. It was deep and masculine, lilting with a slight Spanish accent. My heart went to my stomach. “I wondered when I’d be seeing you again, gorgeous.” Angel said.
Angel. the vampire with an angelic smile and devilish eyes. The man who made sure I stayed put behind those iron bars the last time I was taken.
I tugged on my bindings as the bag was ripped off my head and blinding light glared into my eyes. We were in a completely white underground garage that was empty save for the SUV we’d come in.
They didn’t take the gag out of my mouth, making it hard for me to breathe.
Angel moved in closer, standing nearly seven feet tall. His brown hair was long enough to graze his shoulder now, half pulled back in a bun. His beard had thickened, and his brown eyes were as cunning and wicked as ever.
Angel had the oddest fascination with me, somehow singling me out from the dozens of darklings they’d locked away in cages. He was relentless with his attention.
To my horror, the witch matriarch, Estelle Nightingale, stood next to him, her dark skin glowing with health and magic, her red hair wild and curly. I hated that she was so stunning.
”Welcome, Loxley. It’s been a while.” Her grin was wide and eager, and it made my stomach roll. “Don’t worry, my dear Angel, here, has agreed to be your personal chaperone during your stay with us.” She must have seen the glint of horror in my eyes because she tsked and patted my head. “No more cages for you this time. I have something else in mind.”
I struggled against the bindings, knowing it wouldn’t do me any good. She shook her head, then nodded for Angel to grab hold of me. His hands wrapped around my wrists from behind, keeping me still. His large body pressed in against my back. Too close for comfort. He was a dangerous vampire. He was one of Estelle’s most trusted guards, and I knew he could kill me with the flick of his wrist if he wanted to.
“The less you resist, the easier this will be for you, I promise.” I cursed at her around the gag, my words so muffled that they were unintelligible, but I was sure she got the gist. She smiled that eager smile again. “Good. Keep that rage, girl. You’re going to need it.”
