“Fuck! No!”
“Maybe they’re dead in the fire,” Benchley said hopefully.
Aimee and Cassandra joined the group of people crowding around to watch the news report on the fire.
“It’s not unusual for vampires to burn their abandoned havens,” Cassandra remarked. “It makes it harder to find out where they’ve gone.”
“Nothing left for a tracking spell,” Aimee muttered.
“Maybe they’re dead. In the fire.” Benchley tapped Cian on the shoulder. “Right? Maybe it was an accident and they all burned? Right?”
Cian shook his head. “No. No. This is what Cassandra surmised. The Summoner and his people abandoned it last night and had someone burn it down during the daylight hours.”
“I’m sorry, Amaliya,” Samantha said, patting her on the shoulder.
“Fuck this shit!” Amaliya shouted, storming away from the looks of sympathy and pity. She launched herself out onto the balcony, her fingers closing around the rail. The scream that erupted out of her was torn away by the hot night wind. Grabbing fistfuls of her hair, she buckled over, weeping. When Cian took her in his arms, she sank against him.
“I’m sorry, Liya.”
“I want him dead,” she sobbed. “I want that fucker dead!”
“I know. I know.” Cian kissed her brow and held her firmly against his body.
“It’s not fuckin’ fair that he killed her. It’s not fuckin’ fair! She was trying to save Bianca!”
“Innocente was a very good person,” Cian agreed.
“I want to fuckin’ rip his fuckin’ head off!”
“And you will.”
Clinging to Cian as her rage dissolved into despair, Amaliya shuddered. It was as if her body couldn’t fully contain the strong emotions roaring through her.
“Liya, Jeff is going to research the rings that The Summoner wanted so desperately. Once we find out what The Summoner is planning, we’ll find him and stop him. You’ll take his head. You will avenge Innocente and Pete. I know it.”
Lifting her head, she stared out over the Austin skyline toward the south. “Do you think he’s still in San Antonio?”
“I have a feeling he picked that city for a reason. So, yes, I do think he’s still there.” Cian pressed his lips against her forehead, his hands rubbing her back to soothe her.
In all her life, only Cian could calm her when she felt like this. Only he felt like a safe harbor from her dark emotions. When she was at her weakest, he always made her feel strong.
“You are strong,” Cian whispered against her cheek. “You’re amazing. You will get your revenge. I swear it.”
Nodding, she wiped her tears away with irritation. “I will.”
“But we need to go now. Not to San Antonio, but my secondary haven. The Summoner is in hiding and we should be, too.”
“It’s all falling apart,” Amaliya moaned. She had tried so hard to adapt to her new life and just when she was finally settling into it The Summoner had once again wrecked it.
“No, no. Not falling ap
art, Liya. Just changing.”
Amaliya knew he was right, but all the recent changes were filled with blood, pain and death. The only way to stop it would be through blood, pain, and the death of The Summoner.
Chapter 2
Two Weeks Later