His fangs descended. Adrenaline flooded his veins. And he attacked.
Swearing, the vampires scrambled to fight him off and avoid his blades.
But Cliff struck with vicious intensity.
It could have been Emma. It could have been Emma. The mantra continued in his head, egging him on.
Thanks to Bastien’s training, the vampires proved no match for him. Cliff drew blood with his first swings. Then drew some more. And more, toying with them like a cat with mice. Hoarse screams poured forth from the vampires’ lips as they swung their own weapons wildly.
He’d seen what vampires did to female victims. He knew these two wouldn’t have stopped at taking blood.
It could have been Emma.
Satisfaction filled him as he hurt those bastards.
One vampire collapsed to the ground, already starting to shrivel up.
Cliff grabbed the other by the hair, yanked his head to one side, and started to sink his fangs into the dying vamp’s neck. Let’s see how you like it, motherfucker.
Bastien shot forward and stopped him before he could, inserting his arm between Cliff and the vampire. “Don’t.”
Cliff glared up at him and tried to shove him away.
But Bastien didn’t budge. “Don’t,” he repeated.
“Why?” he snarled. “They were draining those women. Why not give them a taste of their own medicine?”
“Because Melanie is worried that drinking the blood of another vampire will increase your viral load.” He frowned. “Or is it viral count?” Frustration rippled across his features before he shook his head. “I can’t remember. I just know she’s afraid that it will make the brain damage and madness progress faster.”
Cliff blinked. His viral count? Melanie had said that?
Or was it his viral load?
Like Bastien, he’d heard Melanie mention something along those lines before but couldn’t remember the specifics.
Dragging in a deep breath, Cliff realized the voices had receded, taking the rage with them. He dropped the vampire. “He’ll be dead soon anyway.”
Bastien clapped him on the back. “Good. How do you feel?”
Cliff thought about it as the vampire at their feet drew his last breath and began to deteriorate. “Juiced. Relaxed. Relieved that I didn’t lose it completely and try to bail on you or something.”
“I knew you’d keep it together.”
“Yeah, but I really wanted to bite that guy. I mean, I wanted to rip his throat out.”
“Don’t let it disturb you. I feel the same way every night. I’m not exactly what one would call even-tempered.”
Cliff laughed. “I think you would bore Melanie if you were.”
Bastien knelt before the women.
Cliff sank onto his haunches beside him. “Are they going to be okay?” he asked softly.
Both women had lost consciousness during the battle, but his acute hearing told him each had a strong pulse.
“They’ll be fine.” Bastien drew his cell phone out and dialed.
Cliff was glad neither woman would remember the attack, let alone be haunted by it.
Glancing around, he grimaced. Or be horrified by the ferocity with which he’d dealt with their attackers.
“Reordon,” a male answered faintly.
Oh shit. Did Reordon even know Bastien had taken Cliff hunting? Because if he didn’t and Seth hadn’t given him a heads-up—
“It’s Bastien. Cliff and I found a couple of vampires feeding on two human women. Can you send a cleanup crew out here to see them home?”
“Sure. Where are you?” Evidently he did know.
Bastien gave him their location.
“How do you like hunting, Cliff?” Chris asked.
His eyebrows flew up. “It’s weird,” he responded, loud enough for his voice to carry to the human.
Chris laughed. “I know, right? Jack will be there in ten to take care of the women.”
The line went dead.
“That was weird, too,” Cliff commented as Bastien tucked away his phone.
“What was?”
“Reordon’s asking me what I thought about hunting instead of asking you if I’d lost my shit.”
Bastien shrugged. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I’m actually starting to like that asshole.”
“Chris?”
“Yes.”
“Reordon’s a good guy,” Cliff said slowly. “He’s been really nice to me ever since the mercenaries got their hands on me.”
“Good. He should be. You saved a lot of lives that night.”
Cliff smiled.
“So,” Bastien said, “once the cleanup crew arrives, do you want to call it a night? Or are you up for more hunting?”
“More hunting,” he said quickly. This was the best night ever.
Chapter Ten
Emma smiled as she watched Cliff banter with Todd.
Something had changed in recent weeks. Cliff had seemed more relaxed lately, less on edge. She didn’t like to think about it, but for a while there…
Well. The madness that was destined to consume him had appeared