Fashionably Dead and Loving It (Hot Damned #14) - Robyn Peterman Page 0,47

chosen. Although, the Count said it with far more respect than I did.

“You can call me Levi,” he said sheepishly.

Vinnie nodded and clasped his hands to his heart. “Such a sad waste of life—evil and barbaric. They must be beheaded.”

“Who, the Zombies or the Vamps who created them?” I asked flatly.

“Both,” Anastasia said emotionlessly.

“Very difficult to do from the stories of old I vaguely remember,” Vinnie said. “Only one who was very old and skilled could stop drinking at the right moment to create a Zombie.”

The information was horrifying. If Vamps were half-turning humans into Zombies, the human authorities would soon be involved. If the number of living dead continued to grow, there wouldn’t be enough mind wiping to save us.

“Do you recall anything else?” Anastasia inquired as her fangs dropped and her eyes began to glow dangerously.

She was fabulously scary. And it was a very good question.

“Female,” Vinnie said. “The venom of a female Vampyre is the key to turning a human into a Zombie.”

“Well, that knocks out at least half of the North American Vamps,” I said, beginning to pace. Movement helped me think.

“You think it’s one of your own?” Anastasia questioned, joining me.

“Ethan doesn’t think so, but Satan had a cryptic message from the Keeper of Fate. He said that the enemy was within and the goal was large,” I told her.

As I began to jog the track to clear my head and try to decipher what Satan had said, I was joined by Levi, Anastasia, and even Vinnie.

“Where are we going?” Vinnie asked, doing his best to keep up.

“Nowhere fast if we don’t stop the Zombies and the Vamp responsible. It looks like we might be going to Hell,” I said, picking up my speed.

“Literally?” Anastasia asked as she sped in front and halted me.

“Yep. I might need Satan to clear this shit up. Cryptic messages are not working for me.”

“He won’t… he can’t,” Levi said. “He has given you all he’s allowed to give. I despise him, but I can tell when he’s lying. The rules are set, Astrid. It’s how it works in our world.”

“That’s just stupid,” I snapped, motioning for everyone to back up. With a wave of my hand, I blew out the entire back wall of the training center. The sound of the explosion was glorious. The rubble would take a week to be removed and then the center would have to be rebuilt. There was too much damage for me to reverse it without using up strength that I needed right now.

Anastasia squeaked. Levi laughed. Vinnie applauded.

“Impressive,” my sister-in-law said dryly. “Remind me to never piss you off.”

“Will do,” I said, grabbing my crown and plopping it on my head.

I was fully aware I looked ridiculous. I had healed, but my fatigues were covered in dried blood. For a brief moment, I considered snapping my fingers and changing into something not covered in crusty red goo.

“Stay as you are,” Anastasia said. “It’s very badass. The crown is the pièce de résistance. Trust me. If I didn’t know you, I’d run like hell if I saw you headed my way.”

Giving her a lopsided grin and a thumbs up, I didn’t change a thing. I was a badass. I may as well look the part.

Chapter Fourteen

The Situation Room was busy. There were Vamps on phones and computers. Everyone was armed to within an inch of their undead lives. The tension was high as information was exchanged with the West Coast Vamps.

A few of the Cressida House Vampyres could scry, and they were intensely focused on a bowl of water. Ethan was in a terse conversation with David, Jax and Matthew.

While Vinnie had retired to his suite, Anastasia and Levi stayed with me.

“Ethan,” Anastasia said. “With your permission, I would like to be of assistance. If you want me to leave, I will understand and do so.”

Ethan turned and gave his sister a tight but appreciative smile. “I would like you to stay. Are you up to speed?”

“For the most part, yes,” she said.

He nodded curtly then took in my bloody disarray with a smile that reached his beautiful gold eyes. “Are you good?”

“Perfect,” I replied. “We’ll need a construction crew for the training center.”

“I thought I heard an explosion,” he said with a raised brow.

“You did,” Levi said, shaking his head. “Your mate is very destructive.”

“Just the way I like her,” Ethan replied giving me a quick but thorough kiss on the lips. “I need you to make the call I didn’t