Dark Gold. Christine Feehan. Dark Series – book 3

Behind you, Aidan. The danger is behind you. There is another. Get out of there! She screamed the warning to him in her mind but was sure it was too late. She felt the impact as he was struck, the blow meant to kill, raking his throat, his stomach, his thigh. But Aidan had turned at her frantic call, so that the second attacker could not deliver the mortal blow he expected.

Alexandria could feel the pain slicing through Aidan, but he remained calm and cool under the onslaught. His own speed was incredible, and he used it almost blindly, slashing at his assailant as he turned to face him. His blow was delivered with deadly precision. Even as the vampire fell away from him, flopping to the ground screaming, the first attacker took to the air, clutching his own wounds as he retreated.

“Stefan!” Alexandria called out with surprising authority. “Get the car—now! Bring it around to the front. I can find him.”

“Aidan does not want you leaving the house,” Stefan said as he approached her, but his hand was already going to the keys in his pocket.

“Well, that’s just too bad. His majesty is hurt and unable to make his way home. He can yell at both of us later, but we can’t leave him out there to bleed to death. Which, by the way, is what he’s doing.” Alexandria gave Aidan’s man her coolest stare. “I’m going after him with or without you.”

Stefan nodded. “Of course I will come with you. But he’ll be very angry with us.”

Alexandria flashed a smile of camaraderie. “I can take it if you can.”

Hear me, cara. I cannot make it home this night. Go to the chamber, and I will attempt to come to you tomorrow night. He was trying to hide his pain from her, to cover the fact that he was dragging himself to shelter, trying to find a piece of ground he could safely open to crawl into.

Just stay put, Aidan. I’m coming for you.

Do not! There is great danger to you. Stay in the house!

Give it up. I’ve never been very good at minding anyone. In case my little brother neglected to inform you, I’ve been the boss for years. Stefan is with me, and we’re already on our way, so just stay put and wait for us.

She followed Stefan to the driveway, her eyes jumping to the gun in his hand. He was searching the sky, clearly half expecting an attack from that direction.

“I don’t feel any of them close by, but the air is thickening around Aidan. We have to hurry. One of them is dead or dying, but the other is returning to finish the job.”

“How weak is Aidan?” Stefan did not question her connection to his boss or how she was attaining her knowledge of Aidan’s situation as he drove.

“He’s trying to hide it from me, but I’m not certain he can sustain another attack. He acts confident, but he feels the approach of the other one.” She laughed softly to herself, helping to suppress her own fear. “He’s warning me of. In fact, he’s actually angry. I’ve never heard him anything but cool and collected. That’s so annoying, don’t you think? Always being so in control? If I wasn’t terrified, this would be comical. Go left here. I know this is the way.”

Stefan slowed the car in hesitation. “Let me go by myself. The other doesn’t want me. But if something were to happen to you, we would lose Aidan.”

“You’ll never find him on your own. We don’t have time for this. Come on, Stefan. He’s out there alone.” She didn’t stop to think why it was so important, but she would do anything to save Aidan Savage.

You do not understand, cara. You cannot come here. This one is stronger than Yohenstria, and I am weak. I do not know if I can protect you from him.

You will protect me where you would not protect yourself. He comes now. He is close to you.

You do not even trust me. You still do not know if 1 am vampire. Why are you placing yourself in danger? He was frustrated with her disobedience; she could feel his impotent rage at not controlling her. But he could not expend the energy it would take and still protect himself and fight the rapidly approaching vampire.