Page 105 of Be Still My Unbeating Heart

As one, the Obliterati lunged for his neck. Bastian braced himself for the pain of their teeth in his flesh, but in that instant, a thunderous bang jolted him nearly off the bench.

“What the—” he began, but then he was lifted into the air. His shoulder struck the side of the van, pain vibrating through his collarbone. He tumbled over onto the ceiling, vaguely aware that the vampire council were also being tossed around like undead dolls. The van was rolling. Why was the van rolling?

Bastian crashed down to the other wall with a groan, and the van stopped moving.

Finally, the world stilled.

Bastian lay face down against cold metal, his shoulders twinging. His hands were still cuffed behind his back, the silver burning like twin, white-hot lassos around his wrists.

Light spilled in, and he saw the back door of the van was open. A figure jumped inside, taking a second to assess what they found before grabbing hold of Bastian and pulling him toward the light.

Bastian would know that touch blindfolded.

“De Luca,” he said.

“Can you move your legs?” De Luca asked, that mix of silk andsteel in his tone making Bastian shiver with delight. But no. De Luca couldn’t be here.

“Darling, you have to get out of here,” Bastian said.

“No time, tesoro.”

De Luca propelled him through the door, into blinding daylight. A police car sat a few feet away, engine running. Through the back window, a furry face watched with worry.Whitby.Bastian’s gut seized with relief. His vision darkened a fraction, and he realized that De Luca had put a pair of sunglasses on him. It helped to dim the glare but still Bastian’s worry burned bright.

“You’re going to get in trouble—” he began, but then a voice spoke over him.

“That was unexpected,” Jared drawled from the back of the van.

The Obliterati remained in the shadows of the vehicle, hovering in midair. Their faces had returned to their usual placid states, and they stared out at De Luca with interest. Bastian suspected they couldn’t leave the van without burning up. He felt the sun heating his own unprotected skin, and knew he had to get under cover soon.

“Inspector,” Ling said, eyes flashing at De Luca.

“This is wholly ill-advised,” Emmeline added.

“Stay back!” De Luca warned, brandishing a large, ornate crucifix. Colorful jewels winked in the sunlight, set into sculpted bronze. The council members hissed and threw hands before their eyes, blocking out the sight of the religious artifact.

“Old-school,” De Luca said, flashing a smile at Bastian. “Figured they would be.”

“What are youdoing?” Bastian demanded.

“I thought it was obvious,” De Luca said. “Get into the car. Now.”

“Not without you—”

De Luca growled with irritation, then bent to pick up a white bucket that sloshed with water.

“Twice blessed at the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch,” he said, loud enough for the council to hear.

“Now let’s—” Emmeline began.

“Be civil about this,” Jared said.

De Luca drew the bucket back and grunted, “I’m done being civil.”

He hurled the holy water at the monsters floating in the van.

The Obliterati screamed. They hissed and cursed and shrieked with fury. Bastian watched with a mixture of horror and glee as their skin wept red, then slid from their faces, revealing dead gray flesh and charred yellow bone. Rancid smoke belched and coiled around them. They retreated into the shadows of the van, howling and screeching in rage.

“What was that about conquering anger, dears?” Bastian called.