Page 88 of Stubborn as a Shadow

“You think the vampire is here to help?” Nelson scoffed.

Carter’s eyes flashed, as if his shifted form was fighting to be free. Still, he didn’t growl this time. That was something. “I didn’t bring a vampire.”

“Yeah,” the wolf said. She was still inching back from the others, which brought her closer to me. “The vamp is dangerous. You should take him out before he hurts you like he hurt Godwin.”

I glanced at Keenan. He smirked at Judy but didn’t say anything. I understood what she was trying to do, and Isuspected he did too. If the wolf could turn the others against Keenan, she might escape. The vampire was the biggest threat, after all.

He didn’t appear worried.

“I’m only here to address my employees’ insubordination,” Keenan said. “Judy, come.”

His words rang with power. I knew alphas could sometimes compel their pack members, but could a vampire do that too? Judy shivered as she fought the command.

“Don’t kill her,” Nelson said. “We need answers.”

Keenan frowned. His gaze swung toward the deepest of the shadows, like he could sense where Nelson was. As soon as his eyes were focused elsewhere, the wolf spun and lunged through the cabin door, coming straight at me.

Instinct had me dipping my head. I braced, ready to use my horn against her.

Then, in a flash too fast to track, she was gone. Her body hit the kitchen counter with a thump. Her back leg twitched as she fell to the floor.

Inky black blood pooled around her body.

I blinked, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. The fireplace poker I’d set on the counter a few minutes earlier was now protruding from her chest. The vampire rushed to her side as if he meant to save her.

“Bloody hell,” Keenan muttered.

Yes. I agreed. It was bloody. Very bloody. But I couldn’t look away, even though the sight was making me queasy. He ripped the poker out of her body and cast it aside. Then he dragged his teeth along his own wrist and let his blood fill the wound.

“Come on, you mangy betraying mutt.”

But whatever he’d been hoping for obviously wasn’t happening. The wolf didn’t move. Blood no longer pumped out of the wound. Her heart had stopped. She was dead. Keenansighed, and I wondered if he was more bothered by her and the mage’s deaths than it had first appeared.

I knew I was bothered.

I staggered, feeling lightheaded. Two people had just died right in front of me. They’d been trying to abduct me, but still… I hadn’t wanted them dead. I’d just wanted them to stop.

My knees hit the hardwood floor as I collapsed. My horn clunked against the wall as I shook my head and tried to regain my bearings.

Nelson’s shadow flowed into the cabin. He shifted into his human form a moment later. He fell to his knees beside me, his hands brushing over me, as if assessing for injuries. I wished I could talk in this form like other shifters so I could assure him that, other than being a little lightheaded, I was fine. When he came to the same conclusion, he turned angry eyes to the vampire.

“You killed her.” Nelson’s accusation rang through the small room as he rushed toward the vampire.

I was surprised when the vampire didn’t retreat.

“She was destined to die from the moment she betrayed me,” Keenan said. “But I did try to postpone her death so you could get your answers. However, her injury was too severe.”

He was telling the truth.

Nelson looked at the poker and the blood on vampire’s wrist. Then he grunted, as if to acknowledge the veracity of Keenan’s words. “Your situation will prove to be fatal too if you betray us.”

Carter huffed from just outside the door. “Can we leave now? Or do you want to threaten him some more first? I want to get back to Willow Lake before someone else shows up here.”

I snorted. It came out like a neigh. Right. I’d forgotten I wasn’t in my human form. Carter’s gaze landed on me. His eyes widened in surprise.

“Fuck me,” he whispered. “I mean I knew he was a unicorn, but…”

The other guy, Eric, emerged from… wherever he’d hidden himself and grabbed Carter’s hand. He scowled at me.