33. Kieran

Tristan throws my phone against the wall when he's done with the call. Sam flinches behind me, but Tristan turns back with a wide grin. "I suppose now we just wait."

I drop my head forward. Sam's managed to unfasten the knot around my wrists, but I'm still working on his. We have one shot at this. It's bad enough that Sam's here, but the others, too? They're not prepared to go up against Nora. I'm sure of that.

"She's not kidding, you know," I say, lifting my head again.

Tristan snorts. "What are you talking about?"

Nora crosses over to the door. She's got more of her attention on Sam than on me, but even that's distracted as she leans back against it, clearly listening for anyone entering the building. Sam's wards… Are they down? Has she raised her own?

"Elle. You're not getting out of here. You think she'll let Lucien come alone?"

Tristan's expression twists, just for a second, and he looks over at Nora. For the first time all night, she looks uncertain, too. She shakes her head and I realise Tristan's eyes are glowing with hunger.

"No," she says, voice low.

"Nora…" Tristan grins, keeping his own voice level, almost charming. I work harder at Sam's knot as Tristan turns fully towards her. "I only need a little. One last time."

Her hands clench into fists at her sides. "It's never one last time with you fuckers! I only came with you because Adelaide was keeping me as a blood bag."

"You came with me because you want your own revenge," Tristan snarls. He's suddenly in her face, but I feel her magic flare, and he stops like he's hit an invisible wall. "I need it. He's right. Lucien won't come alone. I need to be powerful to kill them all."

"And what about me, huh? You keep taking that much from me, I won't be able to do anything either." She gestures in Sam's direction. "You're acting like we've caught some little witch, not a Selkirk."

Sam goes entirely still. I squeeze his fingers. I have no idea what the name means, but it doesn't matter. Nothing matters if we don't survive this.

"He's already tied up. Already weak." Tristan leans closer, putting one hand on the door next to Nora's head. "You don't need all that power for him."

"I already told you—"

She doesn't finish the sentence. I've got Sam's ropes unfastened and as soon as his hands are free, I roll off my chair and grab it, then throw it in their direction. Tristan leaps aside and Nora raises her hands, magic stopping the chair before she smashes it against the wall.

Tristan appears before me, but I'm expecting that. What I'm not expecting is the leftover sluggishness in my system; I punch him in the side, but he gets me twice, sending me sprawling across the floor. Tristan grabs me by the front of my T-shirt and drags me up. I kick him in the thigh hard enough that he hisses through his teeth, and when I do it again, he lets go.

I'm breathing hard already, but so is Tristan, face contorted with fury. Magic rises and falls around us. I stand, ready to throw myself at him again, but when I do, a spell shudders through me, setting every nerve ending aflame.

I clench my hands into fists. I can't move. Tristan smirks as he comes closer.

Sam swears and there's a moment where the air is too heavy, my throat too tight, and then the spell is gone. I leap aside as Tristan launches himself at me, crashing into a lamp and knocking it over.

"What the fu—" Nora exclaims. Her magic meets Sam's in a wave.

I get to my feet. Tristan is already on his, eyes glowing as he surges forward, closing the distance between us. All the lightbulbs in the room explode, and I turn, absorbing the blow to my ribs as I hit out with my own.

The punch connects with Tristan's shoulder. He growls. I bite back a sound of frustration. The moon is waxing, but it's not full, and even with the streetlights glowing through the window, we're fighting mostly in the dark. I need to get closer. Tristan is too fast, but if I can take him—

"Down!" Sam shouts. I drop flat to the floor, a chill rolling down my spine as a spell flies over my head. Fuck.

Tristan takes advantage of my position to deliver a swift kick to my side that sends me sprawling. I roll away when he tries to give me another, then turn back and grab his leg, yanking it out from under him. He lands hard, all the breath knocked out of him.

We wrestle and I flinch back from Tristan's teeth before I punch him in the chest. Nora lets out an annoyed screech. Something else smashes to pieces. Tristan growls as I grapple with him, shoving him onto his back and trying to keep him still.

"Oh, fuck this!" Sam shouts.

I've never felt anything like it before. Nora's magic filled the room before, but now Sam's reach expands, the air suddenly syrupy-thick, and I list to one side, my grip on Tristan loosening. Light floods the room, that usual prickle turning to pins and needles all over my body.

I let out a pained noise. Tristan laughs. Nora's cry sounds terrified.

Tristan grabs me by the back of the neck, and I hardly feel the fist to my stomach, too overwhelmed by the magic that's suffocating me.

For a second, it's like we're all suspended, even Tristan, who doesn't seem to be able to feel the magic at all. I've closed my eyes, but light still floods them; magic rushes in my ears like a wave, and when Tristan hits me again, I can't hear the sound I make over what's threatening to drag me under and drown me.

All at once, it moves. I open my eyes and look at Sam. His hands sweep through the air, lips moving, and the magic pours into him, through him, hitting Nora in the chest. She crashes into the wall and lands on the floor, unmoving.

My ears ring. I push up onto my knees, but Tristan shoves a hand in my hair, yanking my head back. Sam whirls around, magic already crackling at his fingertips.

This is gonna suck.

Tristan snarls and his fangs tear into my skin. Pain slices through me, almost burning with each pull he takes of my blood. When I grab at his arm, he growls, tightening his grip around my chest, giving me no way to escape.

No way to escape that doesn't involve him tearing my throat out, at least. I won't survive that.

Sam's face pales. He can't attack Tristan without taking that risk, either. I try to shake my head, to tell him it's okay.

There are sounds on the stairs and—Lucien. I hear Lucien's voice, the bond flaring with his fear and desire to get in here and save me.

I can't risk it. Tristan should have keeled over already, but he's still drinking, and my head is beginning to swim.

"Don't—Ward the door," I manage.

Sam hesitates.

"Ward the door," I say again. There's something in my voice this time—or maybe in my expression—but Sam pulls magic to him and throws a ward up just as it swings open, trapping Lucien, Adam, and Elle in the doorway.

Sam darts back, sending a concerned look my way.

"No!" Lucien growls, slamming a fist against the ward. "Let us in!"

I suck in a breath, trying to tighten my grip on Tristan's arm. He lifts his head. He has to have taken enough, right? At the very least, it'll weaken him.

"Shame you couldn't join us earlier, Lucien," Tristan says. Blood slides down the side of my throat and over my collarbone. It has painted his lips crimson. "I guess I'll have to drain the little witch before I deal with you, though."

Sam gives him a fierce look. Yeah, I don't think it'll be that simple. Lucien presses up against the ward, now begging Sam to let him in. I force my eyes open. When did I close them?

"You're not looking too good," Sam says, but when I look at him, his eyes are on Tristan. He darts a glance at me, then back again.

Tristan bares his teeth, but his grip loosens. I push away with all my strength and Tristan growls, tipping forward and catching himself on his hands. Colour rapidly drains from his face.

He tries to follow as I back up to the overturned sofa, but he can't. He coughs, a wet, vicious sound. Sam moves back towards the door, his eyes wide.

Tristan snarls. The sound isn't as intimidating as it was earlier. "What have you—"

It takes some effort, but I get to my feet. The room spins. I take a few careful steps forward, gratified when Tristan's eyes widen, and he tries to jerk back.

He doesn't have long. He's trying to suck in breaths, and the blood staining his mouth looks even more red against the now chalk-white of his skin. My pulse hammers in my throat. He's taken a lot—maybe too much—but at least it's finally over.

"You should've listened to your master," I say, pitching my voice low. "He might've told you how to survive this."

"You—"

Tristan sputters and coughs again, blood spattering his lips and across the carpet.

His insides are breaking down. I lower myself back down by the sofa and I'm not surprised when Sam moves closer, magic still at the ready.

I don't know how long it takes for Tristan to die. Die again, I guess. His body goes still all at once, and whatever magic it is that keeps vampires moving is gone.

I let out a heavy breath and my eyes slide shut.

It's done.

We're safe.

"Kieran." Sam's voice is close. "Fuck, stay awake, you—"

"Kieran!"

Magic tingles, but it feels far away. Lucien is there when I open my eyes, and his hands are startlingly warm when he cups my face. The bond hums between us, quietly content now that we're together.

I smile and let the darkness drag me under.