Chapter 26

Selene hadn"t meant to slam the doors so hard behind her, but damn, the noise was satisfying. The musicians were playing something like a polka when she came in, and several of her dance partners swarmed. They were obviously anxious for her return, and she offered a smile to each of them.

I'll show him cavorting!

Grasping the first hand that was extended to her, Selene was swept into an embrace by one of the reptilian Drago men. He introduced himself as Levi then began to twirl her across the dance floor. The air rushing over her skin felt heavenly, almost cooling some of the righteous anger that heated her face.

Stupid demon.

Sure, Sam looked good in a pair of horns, but his moods gave her whiplash. And so sulky! The way he had avoided her today had stung, especially when all she could think about was kissing him again. Even though apparently he regretted it—that was a treat to hear. Had she been too forward last night? A familiar rush of shame made her throat tighten as they danced.

No. You"re not going there.

Her posture straightened as she stopped the speeding train of self-doubt in its tracks. For years she had blamed herself for her dismal sex life—wondering if she was too needy, too demanding, too idealistic, or maybe she simply wasn't attractive enough to have the passion she craved. It had never occurred to her that maybe she wasn't the one broken. But Aurelian Selene didn't put up with any of that. She was done catering to the sexual hang-ups of men. She refused to feel bad about what happened last night, or about what she had said about the buttons. And she sure as hell wasn"t going to stop dancing just because Sam didn't approve.

She had spent her life whittling herself down to be the person others wanted her to be. It was as exhausting as it was useless. Never again.

When the band changed tempo to a slower song Levi waltzed her to the back of the hall near a cluster of benches. But the last thing Selene wanted was to sit and chat, especially with a man whose forked tongue peeked out with each syllable. Peering over his shoulder, she scanned the crowd for a new dance partner. Feeling reckless, she decided to walk on the wild side and invite one of the burly Lycah to dance.

But as she moved to slip out of Levi's arms, she felt a crackle in the air, like the charge that comes before a lightning strike. A rush of cold air blew through the hall followed by the sound of wood banging against brick. Someone cried out indignantly. She looked across the room and gasped when she saw Sam, huge and terrifying, cutting a path across the floor.

Pulsing black mist surrounded him as he moved. His horns seemed bigger, the tips curved out as if ready for attack. The fabric of his clothes was pulled taut around his muscles, while his height pushed seven feet. His brows were drawn together, and his mouth was set in a grim line.

Blazing red eyes.

Locked squarely on her.

Her stomach flipped. He was coming for her. To do what, she didn't know, but he looked absolutely terrifying. "Shit!" she cried as her heart began to jackhammer. What had Aurelian Selene unleashed?

People were moving out of Sam's path and Selene stiffened as he came close, causing Levi to follow her gaze. "Who is--"

The words died on his lips when Sam stopped in front of them. Levi released Selene and stumbled back. The demon's frame was vibrating with tension. Vaporous black shapes churned around them like hungry wraiths until Sam murmured a command and they dissolved.

With an inscrutable expression, Sam slowly raised his hand. Selene flinched, certain that he was about to grab Levi and tear him apart. Him and every other guy she had danced with, just as he did to the Lycah in Iriswood. Frantically, she looked around for Eldridge or someone to intervene.

But Sam didn't attack; he seemed oblivious to Levi's presence. He locked eyes with Selene and turned his palm up, extending it to her. His breaths were choppy as he gazed down at her.

"Will you dance?"

Selene looked down at his outstretched hand, then up to his face. Gradually she realized his eyelids weren't hooded with savage rage—they were dark with desire. Single-minded, unrelenting hunger.

For her.

Wordlessly, she slipped her hand into his. Roughly, he pulled her close until her breasts were crushed against his front. One large palm pressed into her lower back while the other threaded his fingers through hers. He tucked their entwined hands against his chest before she rested her other hand on his shoulder.

They stayed that way for a moment—staring into each other's eyes while couples danced around them. She felt him exhale as if a great pressure within him had lightened. His breath trailed down her neck like a caress.

Then awkwardly, he took a step to the side. And a step backward. Mimicking the other couples on the floor. He was obviously uncomfortable and very uncoordinated. Yet the earnestness of his effort made Selene's heart feel like it might burst. He was trying. Really trying. For her.

Suddenly she was overwhelmed with the need to kiss him. Just to make sure this… whatever this was between them wasn't only in her imagination. But just as she curled her fingers into the nape of his neck, they heard a crash, followed by screams. Blood-curdling shrieks came from the other side of the hall, followed by the sound of furniture breaking. The music stopped without warning.

Eldridge suddenly appeared to tug at Sam's arm. "Vampires have come!"

The panic in Eldridge's voice made Sam seethe. He let go of Selene and whirled around to see a swarm of figures in black capes streaming into the hall. Vampires in Snowmelt weren't unheard of, but the sheer number of them descending at once was alarming. He nudged Selene until her back hit the wall so he could shield her.

"What do they want?" she asked.

"I don"t know," said Eldridge. He began breaking apart a nearby chair and stuffing pieces of wood into his pockets.

They watched the figures move through the crowd. One grabbed a Nereid and examined her face and ears. When she responded with a quick head-butt, he threw her to the ground. Other vampires did the same—examining each person's face and ears, then tossing them aside. Some were biting, then spitting the blood onto the floor, as if in disgust. Many Aurelians were fighting back, but most were trying to flee. Sam tensed when he realized they were looking for someone.

Selene.

"We need to get everyone out—" Eldridge's words were cut short as a vampire lunged for him with fangs bared. Quickly, the Goblyn sunk a shard of wood into the creature's chest, causing it to fall with a gurgle of disbelief. "I have to find Brunie!" he said, and began running toward the crowd of those trying to escape.

Sam was grateful that both Eldridge and Brunie knew how to handle themselves in an attack like this. More vampires were rushing in, blocking the door. Now they were simply assaulting and biting anyone they encountered.

"What's happening?" Selene whispered frantically.

"Stay quiet," Sam growled over his shoulder. He quickly commanded the shadows to bathe Selene in darkness until he could think of a way to get her out. When the dark shapes made her flinch, Sam said, "They won't hurt you. I just need to keep you hidden."

A pained moan drew his attention to the right. A vampire was gulping blood from a Drago's throat. Realizing it was the male that had been dancing with Selene, Sam moved to block her view, but it was too late. She made an involuntary noise, and the vampire paused. He looked at Sam curiously, as though he had just noticed there was a demon in their midst, protecting something.

The vampire dropped his kill to creep closer, but then another one sprung out from the left. It extended a bony arm to grasp at Selene, which Sam quickly snapped in two, causing the vampire to fall back in pain.

The vampire that had been stalking them neared, craning his neck to see behind Sam. His grin fell when Sam grasped his head and twisted it off. His corpse thumped to the ground near Selene's feet and Sam tossed the head away. He hated that Selene had to see him perform such a gruesome act, but he was also grateful she had not screamed.

More vampires swarmed, making Sam's anger intensify. He took a step backward, further enclosing Selene between his body and the wall. Her breath was coming fast and his insides plummeted, realizing they were trapped. The only exit was the front door, which now teemed with vampires.

The caped figures approached them with fangs dripping. Some with saliva, others with blood. The smell was revolting. The combination of being cornered, the threat to Selene, and his hatred of vampires was making him frenzied. He glanced back to see that Selene's face was pale with fright through the shadows. He reached his hand behind him and she took it.

He needed to strike. To stake, behead, and attack. But to do so would leave Selene exposed, and that was a risk he would not take.

Protect.

Perhaps if he offered himself to the vampires, Selene could slip away. He was immune to disease and age, but he could still be killed. A draining might not kill him completely, but the pain would be excruciating. Especially if the vampires ripped and tore at his flesh as they were doing to the Aurelians.

But as he was about to step forward to sacrifice himself, a gust of wind hit them from above, followed by a horrendous chorus of screeching. He looked up to see Brunie and every other Harpy in Snowmelt hovering above them, nearly twenty in total. Batting their great wings, they stretched out their feet to furiously claw at the vampires surrounding him and Selene.

The undead horde drew back. Some fell to the ground, others cried out as sharp talons tore through their eyes and gored their decayed faces.

"Kill them all!" Brunie shrieked. And then to Sam she shouted, "We've got Selene!"

Sam gave her a salute as a deadly smile crossed his lips. Brunie and the Harpies would allow no harm to come to Selene. And now that she was taken care of, he would eliminate the threat.

Punish them.

Sam turned and lifted Selene's hand. He pressed his lips to her knuckles. "Selene, I'm going to have to use… violence."

She nodded quickly. "Yes, I know."

"Go with Brunie. I'll come to you soon," he said roughly. The desperate way she looked back at him made him feel crazed. His drive to vanquish her enemies warred with a deep need to soothe her. He quickly dropped her hand before he lost focus.

His body quaked as he stepped forward. Inhaling deeply, he called the shadows back to him as his demonic urges took hold. Kill them all. Protect my mate. His horns grew, his vision turned red. Power and strength flooded his limbs as his mind focused on one thing—vengeance.