Chapter 11

Eleven

"Have I mentioned that living on the streets was actually safer than this new life I have found myself in? Not that I'm complaining. I mean, there was zero chance of me meeting a man like Finn in my previous life. Not to mention all these other people who have quickly become friends I care about. But now, there's a real chance it could all be taken away. This fight could be the one that ends my life. I've decided that I won't leave this compound until Cain is dead. Even if I have to die trying." ~Lizzy

T he air crackled with raw power as Disir and Dain weaved a protection spell around the group, shielding them from the possibility of Cain's supernatural beings overhearing their plans. Lizzy and the rest of the group remained completely still and silent, not daring to disrupt the spell.

Lizzy's eyes wandered to the compound. The minimal lighting made sense, considering everyone working with Cain could see perfectly in the dark. Her heart thudded painfully as memories of her time as a foolish, willing test subject flooded back. How gullible she had been.

"Cut yourself some slack, love." Finn's voice came through their bond. She felt his hand on the back of her neck, and even though it wasn't physically there, it seemed so real. " Anyone would have jumped at the opportunity to get off the streets. Especially a female. You were vulnerable, and he preyed on that."

"Doesn't make me any less pissed off." She huffed. As they waited for the fae to finish their spell, Lizzy's thoughts drifted back to her time at the compound. At first, she hadn't been scared. But when she came face to face with her new reality, terror set in. Then Finn happened. The first time she heard his voice in her mind, she thought she was going crazy. It wouldn't have been surprising—many homeless people did go that route. But he quickly dismissed that idea by telling her she was his true mate. He promised she would never be alone again, and since their bond had connected, she hadn't been without Finn. If he wasn't physically with her, which was rare, he was there through the mate bond. So this compound they were about to destroy was a place of both sadness and joy—allowing Cain to take her had also led her to Finn.

"I'm still going to kill him," Lizzy told her mate.

He ran a hand up her back, wrapping it around her neck and giving a gentle squeeze. "I'll hold him down while you rip his heart out."

She smiled up at him. "Just another reason I love you. Helping me murder my enemies."

"That's what true love does," he teased.

"The spell is done." Disir drew Lizzy's attention back to the group.

Fane stepped forward, positioning himself in the center of their circle. "We're going to hit them hard and fast," he announced, his eyes glowing with the wolf inside him. Lizzy had to admit, the dude was terrifying. "Thad"—he looked at the djinn—"do as much damage as you can without killing the rest of us."

Thad ducked his head. "I'll do my best." He glanced around the group. "When in doubt, hit the deck."

"That's not exactly reassuring," Jacque said dryly.

Fane continued, "I want Costin, Wadim, Zara, and Finn in your wolf forms. You'll fight better as your beasts—it's instinctual." He directed his gaze at Zara. "Finn, stick close to Lizzy. Keep her safe but let her fight. I'm curious to see what strength she has as a hybrid. Dain and Disir, do what you do best—use your magic to take out any fae before they can throw weapons at us, especially if they're made by elves."

"Why does that matter?" Lizzy shifted restlessly.

"Elves can make weapons imbued with magic that guarantees they hit their mark," Jacque explained. "It's great if you're the one with the enchanted sharp objects, but when you're facing them, it sucks."

"Okay, so stay low and avoid getting hit by sharp things." Lizzy nodded. "Got it."

"Heather, you are not to leave Kale's side. Drake"—Fane pointed at the male—"you will protect her other side." He looked at Heather. "Use your magic but stay with those who can protect you."

Heather saluted the alpha. "I promise not to wander off like a blind squirrel in search of a nut."

Myanin snorted.

Lizzy smiled at the healer's sense of humor. She was a breath of fresh air.

"Jacque, Nick, Myanin, Gerick, and I will follow behind Disir and Dain," Fane explained. "The objective is to take down this compound and everyone in it. Cain dies tonight."

Lizzy cleared her throat. "Um… I'd really like to be the one to … um … rip out his heart." She felt eyes on her, but she focused on Fane. Lizzy squared her shoulders. "I saw what he did to Alice. I know what he did to Finn, and I experienced his ruthlessness. This kill is mine. Sir ," she quickly added.

Fane stared at her, his gaze steady as her eyes remained on his shoulder. Several seconds passed and no one spoke. He didn't know if he was about to laugh or call her a foolish little girl. After what felt like an eternity, he nodded. "Fine. Whoever captures Cain, subdue him so Lizzy may have her justice."

Lizzy bowed her head in thanks.

"Alpha," Finn spoke up, snapping her eyes to him. "Can you give me three minutes with my mate?"

Lizzy's face heated as she realized why Finn was asking for this moment.

"Of course, but hurry."

Finn took her hand and pulled her away from the group. Lizzy glanced around him, relieved to see everyone had turned their backs, giving them some semblance of privacy.

"I can feel your energy waning." Finn placed two fingers under her chin and lifted her face to look at him. "You can't go into this fight at anything less than a hundred percent."

Lizzy's stomach flipped and twisted simultaneously. The feelings she had about feeding from her mate were far from settled. The vampire blood coursing through her veins cried out for his life-force so loudly that it was almost audible in her head. Lizzy hated the constant gnawing hunger that made her feel like a parasite. But the wolf in her loved the intimacy, something that could only be shared between them. Lizzy knew how Finn's wolf felt about it—the possessive fur ball loved that she had to depend upon him alone for her needs.

Regardless of whether the act was intimate or repulsive, Finn was right. She would certainly need all her strength for the battle ahead. "You want me to bite you here?" Lizzy whispered, her face heating even more. "With them right there and all of them with supernatural hearing?"

"I don't care where or when you need to bite me," he told her, still holding her chin. "Your needs come before everything. And right now, I can feel that you need me."

"Stupid bond," she muttered before sighing. "Okay, you're right. I'm feeling sort of weak."

"It's okay to need me, love." His fingertips ran softly across her cheeks.

She glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching, and Finn moved to completely block her from view. "Let's get this done," Lizzy mumbled.

Her body was already reacting to his close proximity. Finn was a dangerous combination of protective, considerate, possessive, and hot. Throw a compulsive need to suck on his neck into the mix, and no, Lizzy couldn't help getting all hot and bothered. She shook her head and chastised herself. "Focus, Liz." She leaned in, drawn by the intoxicating pulse throbbing beneath his jaw.

Finn chuckled, the sound a low rumble in his chest that vibrated through her. He tilted his head, offering her better access, his gaze never leaving hers.

Lizzy hesitated for a heartbeat, her wolf battling with the primal hunger clawing at her senses. Then, with a growl deep in her chest, she sank her fangs into the warm flesh of his neck.

The world exploded in a rush of sensation. Finn's blood, hot and sweet, flooded her mouth, sending a jolt of pure pleasure through her veins. The vampire in her reveled in the taste, the sheer power coursing through her with every drop. But it was the wolf, possessive and fiercely protective, that sighed with contentment, its need fulfilled on a level that transcended the physical.

Lizzy drank deeply, her body trembling with the effort of holding back, of not taking more than she needed. Finn, ever the steadfast anchor, simply held her, his fingers threading through her hair, grounding her in the moment.

When the initial rush subsided, Lizzy forced herself to pull back, her fangs scraping reluctantly against his skin. She touched her tongue to the wound, sealing it with a hiss of air, her gaze never leaving Finn's.

His eyes, usually the warm brown of melted chocolate, were nearly black, pupils blown wide with a mixture of pain and something else—something raw and possessive that sent a shiver down her spine. "Better?" he rasped, his voice rough.

Lizzy nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. It wasn't just the blood, though that did make her feel invincible, like she could tear down mountains with her bare hands. It was the intimacy, the raw need that passed between them, a silent language spoken with bared fangs and pounding hearts.

"Come on, love," Finn murmured, his hand cupping her cheek, his thumb gently stroking her bottom lip. "Let's go paint this compound red."

With a wicked grin that mirrored his own, Lizzy headed back to the group, ready to unleash hell.

Dain and Disir moved forward, balls of light forming in their hands. "In about ten feet, we'll be out of the sound barrier we created, so be ready," Dain said.

"Let your wolf come forward, Lizzy," Finn told her as he phased into his beast. "Phase enough to have claws out and use them ruthlessly."

Lizzy thought about how Finn had taught her to call on her wolf and to let the beast know what she needed. A second later, instead of normal human nails, she bore sharp claws that would shred a human's flesh like a knife through butter. Her teeth elongated into fangs that could rip a throat out. Finn's blood coursed through her, giving her strength. As they picked up the pace and began to run at full speed, Lizzy realized that she was running faster than everyone else. She had to slow down to keep from leaving Finn behind. "That's interesting," she told him.

"Don't get cocky, Lizzy." Finn growled, letting his worry for her safety invade their bond.

"I just found you. I will not jeopardize that," she assured him. "So don't let me die, and I won't let you die." She heard his chuckle in her mind, and the warmth of his love came through the bond.

Suddenly, a swarm of fae and vampire guards burst forth from the compound to meet their advance. They came at a run, the fae occasionally illuminated by balls of light they were conjuring. Lizzy let her fury fuel her as she tore into them, fangs and claws shredding any who dared cross her path. She had vengeance to reap. All around her, Lizzy heard the cries and shouts of battle. She smelled the stench of blood and fear, thick and cloying, clinging to the night air—a testament to the horrors Cain had unleashed upon the world. Lizzy, a maelstrom of fury and grief, let out a guttural roar, a promise of retribution for every innocent life lost to the monstrous hybrids. She didn't give herself time to worry about all the hybrids that had managed to flee the compound and were terrorizing innocents around the country.

Finn shoved her to the side, and she watched as he lunged at a fae who'd been about to impale her while she'd been focused on a hybrid. The strength of the hybrids was as deadly as the magic of the fae. Lizzy took a quick glance around to see how everyone else fared. She trusted Finn to keep her safe.

Lizzy saw Fane, a whirlwind of claws and fangs, carve a path through the throng of vampires and rogue fae guarding the compound. Jacque, right beside her mate, fought with a grace and ferocity that made Lizzy's chest swell with pride. To her left, Dillon tore through the enemy ranks like a force of nature, his every blow echoing with righteous fury.

Costin, Wadim, and Zara moved as one in their wolf forms. Their actions were a brutal ballet of gnashing teeth and swiping razor-sharp claws. One would dart in and take out a knee, while another would pounce from behind, and then the third would rip out the throat. It was gruesome and beautiful all at the same time.

Kale stood beside his blind mate while she worked some sort of gypsy magic. Much like the fae, she could send out bolts of power that knocked the enemy down long enough for one of their pack to dispatch it. Kale could get most of them, though Drake was there guarding her other side and taking out any who got within his reach.

Lizzy whipped around and ducked, just missing the claws of a werewolf. "I got him," Finn told her through the bond. She continued to check and make sure none of theirs had been injured. Lizzy might have only been a part of this pack for a very short time, but she already cared for them.

She caught sight of Nick across the battlefield close to the gates. Lizzy was impressed with the way he fought and prayed that he would remain uninjured. He was going to be a dad. And if something happened to him, then Lizzy would lose Kara again. That was unacceptable. Nick fought with a controlled savagery that spoke of years of training and proper battles under his belt. He moved like a predator and was ruthless in his kills.

Her attention turned to Myanin, the crazy-ass djinn. Her magic was gone from what Lizzy had learned, yet her spirit appeared unbroken. She fought with a warrior's heart beside her mate Gerick. His warlock magic flickered like an inferno against the night. Disir and Dain, the two high Fae, were precise with every strike of their magic as their hands shot out flashes of light, incinerating vampires and knocking fae off their feet, none of which stood back up. Lizzy thought they actually had more than a snowball's chance in hell of taking Cain and this whole compound down. They were winning and steadily gaining ground.

Lizzy, fueled by this realization and a potent cocktail of werewolf strength and vampire speed, became a blur of motion, her senses heightened, every strike precise and deadly. She felt Finn's presence beside her, a steady heartbeat in the chaos, his strength a counterpoint to her own. They moved as one, their bond made even stronger by the blood he freely gave to her, an unbreakable tether in the heart of the storm.

They finally breached the gates and were less than twenty feet from the double doors that would lead them inside. The compound, once a place of twisted experiments, became a battleground, the air thick with the scent of blood and magic. Lizzy, her vision tinged red, fought her way toward the doors, drawn by the insidious pull of Cain's dark power. She could feel it like a thrumming in her veins.

After getting through the glass doors, they were met with an onslaught of fae magic.

"Hit the deck!" Thad yelled.

Without hesitation, Lizzy was on the ground as flat as she could make herself. She watched in fascination as the fae flew back, slamming into the floor with resounding thuds. They didn't get up. Whatever magic Thad wielded, it was a type you didn't come back from. As she stood up, she glanced behind her to see the djinn leaning against Jezebel, his mate. His face was strained.

"Is he okay?" Lizzy called out.

Jezebel looked up and nodded. "Controlling his power for this long is exhausting. It would take less effort for him to just level this place, but then that would mean all of us would be included in that destruction."

"Gotcha." Lizzy gave her a thumbs-up. "Great job not frying us, Thad. You totally deserve props for that."

Finn nudged her leg, and she turned her attention back to the now empty corridor. She could hear voices coming from deeper inside.

"Let us go first." Dain and Disir walked up beside them.

Their bodies and robes glowed with radiance, and the power that emanated from them felt like little bolts of static electricity. The curious part of Lizzy wanted to reach out and put a finger on their skin just to see if it would shock her like touching something after walking around on carpet with socks. But she managed to keep her hands to herself.

"Thanks for that," Finn said dryly. "I'd prefer you not touch other males out of curiosity."

"What reason can I touch other males?" She knew the answer, but poking him was sort of fun, and it distracted her from the fact that they were now going to be in an enclosed space with the leftover hybrids and anything else Cain had to protect himself with.

"A child would be the only male you may ever touch besides me."

Lizzy chuckled. "So possessive." Did she like it? Yes. Would she ever verbally admit that to him? Nope.

They followed the two high fae, and Lizzy noticed more of their pack joining them. The outside attackers must have all been taken care of, and now they just had to deal with those in the compound—cockroaches that needed to be squashed like the disgusting insects they were. There were growls around her as the wolves sniffed the air and picked up on the scent of vampires … and something else . Something that smelled wrong.

"What is that, Finn?"

"Death. Decaying bodies."

Lizzy frowned as she thought about that.

"Why do I get the feeling there will not be much more resistance?" Jacque asked.

"Maybe because it smells like a rancid meat locker?" Myanin offered.

Jacque snapped her fingers and pointed at her. "Nailed it. That means bodies that have been decomposing for days."

"Go left," Lizzy told the two high fae still leading the group, ready to protect them from any magical attacks. "The largest room where he kept all the hybrids is down those stairs. But his lab is straight ahead. That's where I'm going."

"Finn, Jacque," Fane's words came out a little garbled through his large teeth. "And Nick and I will go with Lizzy. The rest of you comb this place and make it a tomb."

"By the smell, I'd say it already is." Myanin scrunched up her nose.

When they reached the lab, everyone paused.

"Any unexpected surprises?" Fane asked the fae.

Dain shook his head. "I can't detect any traps or wards."

Okay then . Slowly, Fane turned the knob. To Lizzy's surprise, it turned easily, and Fane pushed the door open. They entered Cain's lab and found the vampire waiting. Lizzy sucked in a breath. She wasn't sure if he was going to be there or not, but she hadn't expected to find him casually sitting upon a stool, relaxed, looking like anything except a king who was losing his entire empire. Lizzy's eyes dropped to the ground, and she gasped. Cain was surrounded by the broken bodies of his creations. He looked up at them, a cruel smirk twisting his lips as he met Lizzy's gaze.

"You're too late, little hybrid."

"What do you mean?" Her eyes roamed over the lifeless bodies, and she saw Willis, the scientist who did all of Cain's bidding. His body was grey, and he'd obviously been dead for days.

"You thought to come in here and kill my children?" The vampire laughed sardonically. "Yes, you've gotten a few. But the rest…" He made a sweeping motion with his arm. "They're free. While you're in here trying to cut off the snake's head, I've released my most vicious hybrids into the world. They will sniff out any dormants and turn them. There's no stopping it. The change from a hybrid's bite takes only minutes. And they can walk in the daylight. They can control their hunger. They are the best of both species."

He sounded like a proud dad spouting off all the amazing things about his children. Lizzy saw the deranged look of a psychopath in his eyes.

"Why didn't you go with them?" Fane asked.

They each moved farther into the room. Lizzy kicked legs out of the way and tried not to gag.

"There are many reasons I'm sitting here entertaining your questions, most of which are none of your business." Cain shrugged. "But the one that matters is that I'm keeping you distracted while they get farther and farther away. And that is much faster than you might realize because of a new friend who has given them a very quick way to travel."

Jacque hissed as she glanced at Fane. "Celise."

The alpha gave a small nod, but his eyes stayed on Cain.

"She's opening portals for your hybrids." Disgust laced Jacque's voice.

"What is it they say about a scorned woman?" Cain tapped his chin, then his eyes narrowed. "Though, whoever made up that saying obviously had never met a male, scorned supernatural being. Hell looks like a vacation spot compared to our rage."

At this, Lizzy frowned. What the hell was he talking about? He'd gone from letting his hybrids go free, to the crazy sprite woman with a dangerous book, and now to his own ramblings about scorned supernatural males.

"This is about Alice," Finn said.

Lizzy met Cain's gaze, her own filled with a cold fire. "Your reign ends tonight," she snarled, launching herself at him with a feral growl.

The battle was brutal, a clash of titans. Cain, ancient and powerful, fought with the honed skill of centuries. But Lizzy, fueled by righteous fury and the love for the pack he threatened, refused to yield. Finn pushed his strength to her through their bond. Fighting with the strength of two souls, her every blow was fueled by the memory of every life lost, every future stolen.

In her peripheral vision, Lizzy could see the other members of the group spreading out around the room. It was cramped quarters with tables lining the walls and one in the middle of the room. She dodged a punch from Cain and then twisted out of a jab he made with a dagger. Where the hell had that come from? Lizzy focused her entire being on the vampire king as they fought. She trusted her wolf's senses and instincts as she made swipes at him with her claws. He roared as she contacted his side, ripping his shirt and into his flesh. The smell of fresh blood permeated the air, and she felt her wolf growing hungry for the kill. Her beast wanted this threat eliminated.

In the end, it was a swift, brutal strike, a whisper of motion that caught Cain off guard. Lizzy's claws found their mark, piercing his chest and wrapping around his heart. She ripped it free from the cavity, severing the threads of his dark power. Something in her withered—a cord that had tied her to him, and she hadn't even realized it. A sharp pain pierced her chest, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

Cain crumpled, his eyes wide with disbelief, a choked gasp escaping his lips as the light faded from them. Silence descended upon the room, heavy and absolute, broken only by the sound of Lizzy's ragged breaths.

She stood over his broken body, her own trembling with exhaustion, the weight of what she had done settling upon her like a shroud. But as Finn's arms wrapped around her, his warmth a balm against the lingering chill of the battle, Lizzy knew, with a certainty that went bone deep, that she would do it again. A thousand times over. For her pack, for Alice, for her mate and the future they would build together. Now, she was free from the shadow of Cain's darkness.

"Not going to lie," Jacque shrugged. "I was expecting that to be a little harder."

Lizzy's chest rose and fell in rapid succession as her heart beat painfully. The adrenaline rush she'd gotten at the beginning of the battle was fading, and she shook. Finn held her tighter to him, and she felt a rumble in his chest and displeasure from his wolf coming through the mate bond.

"Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth," Fane said, as his eyes roamed quickly over the room. "Let's go see how everyone else is doing, and then let's get out of here. I'm ready to see my son, and I can feel everyone's exhaustion through the pack bonds."

Lizzy closed her eyes briefly, letting herself lean against Finn. "It's over," she said softly. "At least this part is." She knew they still had the crazy sprite out there to deal with, and all the hybrids and vampires… Okay, so it wasn't anywhere close to over. But Cain was dead, and that was a good start.

"Hold on one sec." Myanin walked over to the dead vampire king.

"What are you—" Fane's words died off when the djinn lifted her sword and brought it down, severing the king's head from his body.

"Somebody got a bag?" Myanin grabbed the head by the hair and lifted it up. "I don't really want to lug this fool around like this." She lifted it up as if everyone needed clarification.

Dain stepped into the room and held out his hand. A brown cloth bag appeared.

"That'll do." Myanin nodded and dropped the head inside. She looked at everyone and smiled. "If I had some cotton candy, this would seriously be a top-ten moment in my life."

Lizzy shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. "That's so messed up."

Myanin shrugged. "I told you there is no reason to change tradition. Let's bounce."

Lizzy looked at Jacque and raised a brow. The alpha female chuckled. "You kind of have to be a little crazy to be a part of this world."

"So I'm gathering."