Then why not attack the minute we appeared? They would have had the advantage. Because until they did attack, he couldn’t. Reaper rules and all that rubbish.
I don’t know.
Neither do I. I drew Amaya and said, “Come on, guys, six vamps against one werewolf—that’s a little unfair, don’t you think?”
“Not if our actual aim was to draw you out,” the tallest of the six said, his voice urbane and rather pleasant. He stepped forward and gave a small, formal bow. “Risa Jones, the high council has overturned their previous position on you. Therefore, I’m afraid, you are now slated to die.”
“And they sent only six to do that?” I tsked. “Not very smart of the council.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Who said there were only six of us?”
The words had barely left his mouth when Azriel swore, spun, and pulled me roughly to one side. The knives that would have buried themselves in the middle of my back swung past my shoulder and hammered hilt deep in the middle of the nearest wall.
There were three of them behind us, three who for some unknown reason neither Azriel nor I had sensed.
Three who would have taken us out the coward’s way.
Rage exploded, rage that was both mine and Amaya’s. Damn it, I was fucking sick of everyone threatening me, my family, and my friends, and it would end now. I wasn’t helpless. I could fight and protect myself better than most, and it was time people started realizing that.
Take the three cowards out, I said to Azriel. I’ll keep the others occupied.
I called to the Aedh and disappeared. My actions didn’t seem to faze the vampire who’d spoken. In fact, he seemed oddly pleased by them. Unease slithered through me, but I shoved it aside and arrowed toward the group of six.
And saw, too late, the small device in the leader’s hand.
He pressed it, even as they all stepped aside to reveal a large, barrel-shaped container. I had no idea what it was or what it contained, and I definitely had no desire to find out.
But as I swerved away, the thing exploded.
A black cloud of molten ash plumed through the air, sparkling oddly. The thick cloud surrounded me, clung to me, its touch foul and heated.
The five vampires pulled weapons out and aimed them in my direction. I realized in that instant what they’d done—what the cloud was. It made the invisible visible. And while I had no idea whether bullets could harm me in this form, I wasn’t about to take the chance. If they knew enough about Aedh to make me visible, then it was highly probable they also knew what would kill me.
Amaya, shield!
Can’t! she all but screamed. Need flesh. Steel.
I swore and shifted shape, even as they fired the guns. Lilac flames spun around me, but not quite fast enough. One bullet got through, hitting my arm. Pain exploded even as a cold, deep fire began to burn in my flesh. The bastards were armed with silver bullets.
As the remaining bullets bounced off Amaya’s shield, I surged to my feet and rushed at them.
Kill, Amaya screamed. Eat must!
Go for it, I growled, and flung her, as hard as I could, at the tall vamp who’d been the spokesman. She cut through the air, her scream high-pitched and as scary as hell, her flames flaring wide, as if trying to devour all six at the same time.
The vampires scattered. I dove for the nearest one, hitting him at knee height and driving him down. He crashed to the floor with a grunt but nevertheless twisted and started throwing punches. I became Aedh, allowed several blows to pass through my particles, then shoved my fist inside his chest and re-formed enough to grab his heart. Then I squeezed. Hard.
He screamed, twisted, fought.
But there was no fighting my grip. No escape from death.
He collapsed and died, pain etched into his expression and his eyes wide with shock. There was no reaper waiting for him, only an eternity as one of the lost ones.
I shoved away the sliver of remorse, spun around, and re-formed again. I raised a hand and a second later Amaya hit it, her steel heavier but anger still burning in her heart.
There were four of the original six left. As I reappeared, they raised their weapons and fired again. Amaya shielded instantly and the bullets zinged off to various parts of the room, most of them smashing harmlessly into walls but at least one shattering the kitchen window behind me. I flung Amaya again, then became Aedh and darted sideways, coming in at the vampires from the left as Amaya came in from the right.
They scattered, firing randomly. One bullet zipped across the edge of my particles, and red heat spun through me, a warning that silver did affect me, even in this form.