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faster pace. The King followed behind, hastening his pace to keep up with the large vampire. They moved through the bricked tunnel, and it wasn't until they turned several times, that the pitch of the floor started to rise. They would come out inside the palace soon.

The King remained at Celticad's heels, until they stopped at the end of the hall. The passage was bricked over. The King was furious. He howled, not caring if Kahli heard him, "It's sealed! You idiot, how could you know this was here and not realized it was sealed off from the rest of the palace!" The King's furry flashed in his golden eyes.

Celticad shook his head, "It's not enough to stop us." Celticad ignored the King's tirade and pulled his fist back. When he launched it forward, Celticad's massive hand punched the brick so hard that it crumbled like dust. The wall shook and smashed brick fell to the floor like sand.

The King fell silent as the massive vampire drew back his fist again and let it fly. The wall shook on contact, and more bricks turned to ash, disintegrating on impact.

The King folded his arms across his chest, and smiled as the wall began to crumble.

Chapter 35

Cole was at the end of the hall when he heard a loud crack. The wall next to him shook violently, like something was about to come through. Cole stopped and stared at it, his eyes wide. Another smash and plaster fell from the wall onto the carpet. Heart hammering hard, Cole looked up and down the hall before darting into the adjacent doorway. He pressed his back to the wall, and reached behind him for the door knob. It was locked. Cursing under his breath, Cole watched as the wall fell apart and pieces of plaster and wood went flying in every direction. He closed his eyes, willing his heart to steady. Whatever the Queen thought was coming for her on the front lawn wasn't there. It was smashing through the wall in the back of her palace.

A final bang resounded and Cole peered around the door jam. A massive hand came through the wall. Before Cole could blink, the hand reach around and tore off the surrounding plaster. Bricks and dust poured into the palace, turning the blue carpet white. The air filled with white dust. It was like a massive cloud was trapped inside the hallway. Cole held his breath and pressed his back against the door.

Two figures appeared. One was huge. It was the largest vampire he'd ever seen. Taking him down wasn't even an option. The vamp would snap him like a twig before Cole was within reach to stab him with his knife. When the second vampire came through the dust and rubble, Cole understood. It was the King. He stepped through the hole looking dignified. He shook some of the dust from his dark hair and looked up and down the hall quickly.

"Good job, Celticad. I know exactly where we are. Let's find my precious wife, shall we?"

The large vampire nodded and resumed the lead. They walked up the hall, the way Cole had come. Their voices drifted back, allowing Cole to catch pieces of the conversation. "And, then what?"

"I'll take care of her. You take the rest. And as for the girl, let her find us. By the time she realizes what happened, it'll be too late. The Queen will be dead." The King's voice trailed off and Cole couldn't hear him anymore.

Peeling himself off the wall, Cole looked at the hole a few feet from him. It was a way out, a way that the Queen didn't know about. If Cole backtracked through that tunnel, it would spit him out somewhere beyond the palace grounds. He was certain of it. Glancing up and down the hall, Cole moved swiftly to the opening.

Chapter 36

Kahli's heart hammered harder. A prickling sensation covered her skin, making her feel colder. The King was in this tunnel. She stalked him slowly, keeping her distance, not sure how to kill him when they stood face to face.

Following their tracks in the dust, Kahli rounded a corner. It was silent for a moment and then she heard a massive crack. The sound echoed back down the tunnel, making her press her hands to her ears. Looking wildly around, she moved to take cover, but there was nowhere to go. The crack came again. The tunnel shook, and debris rained down on her