Better Off Undead - Cynthia Eden Page 0,16

was coming…then he is. “You need to get your ass out of here.”

“You’ll need me, Jane. When he turns on you, I’ll be the one to help you.”

“Aidan won’t turn on me.”

“Yes, he will.” Vincent sounded so absolutely certain of that fact. “It’s his nature. The beast lives to destroy us.”

“There is no ‘us’ here. I’m not like you.” She was still talking to him for one reason—to buy time. Because if Aidan was coming, she wanted to keep the vampire there with her. Together, she and Aidan could stop him. “I’m not a vampire.”

“Not yet.”

“Not ever.”

He laughed. “You sure about that? If you want to know what your future holds, then perhaps you should pay a visit to the voodoo queen in town.”

He’s talking about Annette Benoit. Because when it came to voodoo in New Orleans, Annette was the real power. Everyone else was just a sideshow for the tourists.

“Ask her to scry and see what the future holds.” His voice turned into a whisper. “Though I don’t think you’ll like what you find.”

“Jane!” Her name was a roar that seemed to shake the street.

“And here’s the lover, rushing to the rescue…” Vincent didn’t seem at all worried.

He should have been.

She looked to the right and saw Aidan rushing toward them. He was little more than a blur, so fast, so—

He hit the vampire. Just slammed his body into Vincent’s. They both went hurtling to the ground. Aidan lifted his claws, aiming them for the vampire’s throat. He’s going to take Vincent’s head.

But…the vampire wasn’t fighting back. And he hadn’t hurt me. He hadn’t killed Garrison or her other guard, even though he’d had the chance. Garrison was rising slowly to his feet right then. The other guard was groaning.

And the vamp isn’t fighting. Something was very wrong with that scene.

“Aidan, stop!’ Jane yelled.

His claws sliced toward the vampire’s throat. Blood spilled. The vampire still didn’t fight back.

Jane grabbed Aidan’s arm, yanking as hard as she could. “Don’t kill him!”

Aidan’s head turned. His gaze met hers, and Jane had to swallow down her fear. He was still in the form of a man. He was her Aidan, but his gaze—that bright blue stare was pure beast. So much rage and hate blazed in his eyes.

“He’s not fighting back,” she said.

Aidan’s expression didn’t alter.

“He doesn’t care,” Vincent snarled, still on the ground. “I came to this town to help you. He doesn’t care. Take a long hard look at him, Mary Jane. This is what he is. He’s the killer. He’s the beast. And soon enough, you’ll just be his prey.”

A snarl broke from Aidan. She felt the rush of power in his body. His muscles jerked beneath her touch. His bones snapped.

He’s transforming. Right here. Right now.

“Get…away…Jane…” Aidan ordered, each word a dark rumble. “Get…”

Fur burst from his skin. His body seemed to double in size.

She stumbled back.

“See…him…” The vampire blasted at her as he rose. Blood dripped from his throat. “See what he really is.”

Aidan was on all fours now. Transforming fully.

Garrison grabbed her arm. “You need to get away from them.”

Aidan was going to kill the vampire. “Why aren’t you defending yourself?” Jane asked Vincent, truly confused. He was strong, they all knew it.

Vincent gave her a sad smile. He acted as if his blood wasn’t currently soaking his shirt. “Because you need to see that we aren’t all evil. We aren’t what he says. You aren’t.”

She shook her head.

Garrison wrapped his arms around her stomach and lifted her up. “Come on, Jane!”

Aidan wasn’t a man any longer. His shift was complete. A giant wolf had taken the place of the man. He tossed back his head and howled.

“No.” This was wrong. Something just didn’t fit. The vampire wasn’t trying to save himself. He was just standing there. Defenseless.

She broke from Garrison’s arms. “Aidan, stop!”

He froze, just inches from the vampire. Froze for the briefest of seconds, and then he leapt forward, slicing out with his powerful claws.

But the vampire vanished before those claws could rip into him.

The wolf howled. Frustration and fury fueled the long, echoing cry.

Like even the people in New Orleans can ignore that cry. She glanced around the street, but it was still empty. Thankfully.

Garrison grabbed Jane once more. He sure was grabby that night. He pushed her behind his back, putting his body between her and Aidan.

The wolf pawed at the ground before Garrison.

“Aidan.” Garrison’s voice broke a bit. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Tell me that you have control