14. Montana

Iflailed in the water, trying to remember anything Miles had taught me in the swimming pool. But this wasn’t like that. It was freezing, dark and vampires were attempting to pull me under.

Fear coursed down my spine as I thrashed and kicked at the hands trying to seize me, to drown me in this hellish river.

I stayed afloat for two more seconds before cold fingers took hold of my ankle and I was dragged beneath the surface. I sank towards its endless depths, taken from my sister, from the slayers, from any chance of ever seeing Erik again. Nails raked across my back and panic tore at my insides.

I will not die.

I frantically treaded water, trying to release Nightmare from my hip, kicking and fighting to get free. As I snatched the blade and swept my arm out in desperation, I knew I was done for. No matter how much it guided my movements, I couldn’t hit my target.

I won’t give up.

A glittering sword plunged through the water and the vampire met a brutal end. Arms seized me, strong powerful arms that could only belong to a slayer. I crashed through the surface, colliding with a solid chest as I drew in deep, ragged breath of sweet, sweet air.

Magnar held me, his eyes fierce as he stabbed his sword into the gloomy water around us.

“I’ve got you, hold on,” he said, and I looped my arms around his neck.

“Thank you,” I whispered, clinging to him and knowing he was my only chance of escaping this dreaded river.

The moon watched our predicament from above, but clouds drew over its eye and a thick darkness stole my vision. I sucked in freezing breaths of air as Magnar pulled me along, the splash of his sword hitting the water seeming like the only noise in the world.

I looked left and right, hunting for Callie across the murky river, but it was too dark. The city lights were all I could see as Magnar hauled me towards them. I let him assist me, trying to move my numb limbs to help. We finally clawed our way up the riverbank and I coughed up water which had found its way to my lungs.

“Callie,” I croaked, turning back to the river in desperation.

A vampire surged from the water, lunging for my ankles with a feral hunger. Her hair was lank and dripping as she grabbed me, her fangs bared. A scream tore from my throat as I kicked out at her, but Magnar’s blade found her first and she disintegrated into dust.

I scrambled to my feet, trembling as I searched for Julius and Callie, fearing for their lives. I went to call out, but Magnar clamped a hand over my mouth, tugging me away from the water’s edge with such strength that I could do nothing to stop him.

“Quiet, we’re too close to the city.” He gazed over his shoulder at the closest skyscraper which loomed above us. Lights flickered on in some of the windows as Magnar led me back to the high wall which separated the bank from the city. I leaned against it, squinting into the darkness, desperate to see a glimmer of blonde hair out in the water.

My pulse thundered in my ears. “What if they’re hurt? Or- or-”

Magnar shook his head, eyeing a star-shaped mark on the back of his hand. “Callie is alive, the mark of the vow would have faded otherwise. And I have no fear for my brother’s life when dealing with lesser vampires like these. They must have washed up elsewhere.”

My shoulders dropped with relief, but it didn’t last long as more vampires poured from the water. Magnar moved to intercept them and I raised Nightmare, my resilience renewed.

None of us are going to die today.

Magnar kicked a male in the chest, bringing him to the ground before driving his sword into his heart. A female raced toward me, a cruel smile on her lips and I raised Nightmare, terror pounding through me as Magnar was attacked by two more of them, stopping him from helping me.

“Valentina awaits your head,” the vampire purred before leaping at me.

As she collided with me, I brought Nightmare up with all my might, a growl of determination ripping through my throat. I stumbled to the ground as her weight slammed into me, but the blade sank deep into her flesh and ashes cascaded around me.

Bruised and frozen, I staggered upright. These were biters. And Valentina must have been using them to hunt us down.

I ground my teeth, anger flowing freely in my blood. I’d kill her. She was vile. Worse than any vampire I’d ever met.

Magnar dispatched three more vampires before the onslaught stopped, and I eyed the river with a shudder fleeing across my skin. Who knew how many more biters lurked in its depths.

Magnar glanced over his shoulder toward the city. “We’ll have to head toward the statue on foot.”

“But what about the others?” I gasped, anxiety burrowing through my chest.

“They know where to go. We’ll meet them there.”

I nodded, accepting it was our only option, but I hated the idea of parting from my sister again.

Magnar gave me an intense look. “They’re slayers. They’ll be fine.”

I sighed, figuring he was right. I’d seen what Callie was capable of; she was a force to be reckoned with. “Alright. Let’s go.”

We sped up the beach, hugging the wall at its summit and remaining in its thick shadow as we sprinted alongside the river. I could just see the statue far out in the water ahead of us, but how on earth were we going to get to it without a boat?

The beach soon tapered to a thin point, leaving us stranded at the water’s edge with no obvious passage onward.

My heart stumbled as Magnar took a sharp right and we arrived in a damp stairway which led up to the city roads.

He paused on the steps and I could barely make out his features as he turned to me. “We have to get as close to the statue as possible before we swim again. The biters could be anywhere along this stretch of water.”

“Swim?” I squeaked.

“You can hold onto me again, I won’t let any harm come to you,” he rumbled and I sighed, nodding firmly. Magnar had saved my life. And whatever anger I’d felt toward him before was melting, its place taken by a growing trust.

He gripped my shoulder. “We stick to the shadows. Any vampire who sees us dies, understand?”

I gritted my teeth as I shivered in the icy air. “Let’s try not to be seen.”

“Agreed.” He turned and I followed him up the steps, praying Callie and Julius could find safe passage to the statue.

I started to doubt if leaving the ruins had been a good idea. But we didn’t have any choice now. We had to continue and hope we made it to our destination unscathed.

We emerged on the road which was lit with the orange glow of street lights. It was late, but the vampires thrived in the night, and we were now on the outskirts of their hive.

This area of the city seemed quiet though. Traffic rumbled close by but there were no cars here. Not yet anyway.

Magnar took a left and we started jogging down the road, two of my paces needed to match one of his. I eyed the windows above us as we moved past tower blocks, hoping no one was looking out.

The cross on my palm began to throb and a need grew in me that took over everything else. I slowed to a halt, thinking of Erik. If I was seen, someone would take me back to him...

“Montana,” Magnar growled and I shook my head hard, forcing the urge away.

I hurried to his side, murmuring an apology as I kept pace with him again.

“It’s that mark,” he muttered as we moved.

“Yes, but I can handle it,” I promised, curling my left hand into a tight fist. Idun wouldn’t get the better of me.

My fingers were numb, but the faster we ran, the more my blood heated and battled out the cold.

The road soon opened up and a dock came into view ahead, crowded with boats. Huge, white vessels sat on the water, bobbing gently on the waves. They were luxurious things with large sails, too big for us to even consider taking one.

Laughter reached my ears from the streets behind us and we quickened our pace, darting onto the closest jetty and ducking down in the shadow of a large boat.

Magnar took a slow breath, eyeing the water at the end of the pier. The boats around us were quiet and no lights shone from within them. I hoped that meant we were alone.

I ran my thumb over Nightmare’s hilt, but it gave no further clue of our safety; it had been humming with energy ever since we’d entered the city’s streets.

“Okay, let’s move.” Magnar nodded toward the river and I followed him, creeping along in the dark.

Nightmare vibrated a little harder and Magnar stilled. I nearly bumped into him, bracing myself on his back.

“What is it?” I breathed as fear tip-toed down my spine.

“Stay back,” Magnar commanded as a splash sounded ahead of us. He pushed me against the closest boat, shielding me with his body.

A rough laugh sounded from up ahead. “You’re coming with us, slayer. Give us the girl and we’ll make her death quick.”

I sucked in a breath, peering around Magnar’s huge form and spotting the imposing male vampire at the end of the pier, dripping wet and holding a large chain in his hand.

Magnar lifted his sword with a feral snarl. “The only thing I’ll be giving you is a ride on the wind when I turn you to dust.” He stepped forward to meet his opponent and suddenly something clicked together inside my head.

He’d said we’ll make her death quick.

A hand burst through the boards at my feet, grabbing my ankle and yanking so hard the pier broke beneath me.

I cried out and my heart soared as I slashed Nightmare down to defend myself. But I plunged into the freezing water and darkness stole my vision, kicking wildly as arms surrounded me, hauling me along beneath the waves. Salt water seared my nostrils as I swiped Nightmare along my attacker’s arms, but they didn’t let go.

Panic sped beneath my skin as my head broke the surface and I gulped down air, blinking to try and regain my senses.

I was deposited on a small, sloping beach beneath the line of piers and terror consumed me as I took in the group of vampires standing there. They were all dripping wet and deathly pale, their fangs bared as they stared down at me with a desperate hunger in their eyes. It took me a beat longer to realise why they hadn’t attacked me yet.

Valentina stepped forward from the group, her full lips pulling up in a dark smile.

“Use her as bait for Magnar,” she commanded the biters. “Then you can all have the blood you’re owed.”

A heavy scuffle sounded on the pier above us and I was sure that more than one vampire was taking on Magnar now. His roars of defiance swiftly ended in the screams of dying biters and my heart swelled at the noise.

I gritted my teeth as I pinned my gaze on Valentina, hatred coursing through me. I rose to my feet, lifting Nightmare and baring my teeth right back at the group despite the fear snaking through my body. “Monster,” I hissed at her.

Valentina released a tittering laugh, stepping forward and reaching for Nightmare. I swiped my blade through the air in a vicious arc, but she snatched my wrist, squeezing tightly until pain lanced through the bone and I yelped as I was forced to drop it. She bent down, taking it into her grip and I lurched forward to try and grab it from her. Strong hands caught me from behind, holding me back and immobilising me.

“How are we going to bring the slayer down here, Basil?” Valentina asked the vampire holding me.

“We make the human scream,” he suggested, and his icy breath floated over my neck.

My heart thrashed as I tried to jerk free, but Valentina gave him a signal and he tilted my head sharply sideways, his fangs brushing my throat.

“No!” I threw an elbow back in alarm, somehow managing to keep my blood away from this beast a second longer.

Valentina slapped me hard across the face and a tremor rocked my body. I turned to look at her again as her palm print left a heated mark on my cheek. She caught me by the throat, dragging me out of Basil’s arms and into hers.

She bared her fangs with a furious glint in her eye. “You took everything from me when Erik chose you. Do you know how many years I have waited to be crowned at Erik’s side? How close I was to taking my rightful place in the New Empire?”

My mind tangled with her words, that she believed Erik would have offered her that position. That he must have promised it to her, even if only as a lie.

“You’re nothing to him,” I hissed and her eyes flared in fury at those words.

Her nails pinched my skin, and I hissed between my teeth as she drew blood. Her followers started shifting from foot to foot, salivating as the scent of my blood filled the air.

“Stupid girl. You think you meant something to a Belvedere prince?” she scoffed. “You were just a distraction, some pretty legs to spread for a while to entertain him, but you could never offer him the pleasure I could.”

“I wasn’t his entertainment,” I snarled, the words tearing from my lips.

She grinned keenly, her malicious gaze tracing my expression. “Wait…Erik didn’t even bother to fuck you, did he?” She threw her head back, laughing hard and the biters joined in like the mindless creeps they were.

Anger seeped through my bones and I brought up a fist, slamming it into her smug face. She blinked in surprise, then a battle cry filled the air and the pier broke apart above us. Magnar came falling from the sky, crashing down on top of Valentina and crushing her to the ground with his weight. I was thrown onto the rocks as she shrieked in alarm, trying to roll beneath him and Nightmare slipped from her hand.

“Grab him! I want him alive!” she cried at the others and the vampires swarmed forward to take hold of Magnar.

I stooped low, snatching Nightmare, letting it guide my hand. Turn them to ashes, it purred.

I lifted my arm and drove the dagger forcefully into a male’s chest with a cry of effort.

He exploded around me and a female screamed at the sight, making a direct line for me. I steadied myself, digging my feet into the sand, fuelled by rage alone. She swiped for my head, snatching hold of my hair and pain flared across my scalp. She yanked me closer, trying to sink her teeth into my arm, but Nightmare guided my hand and I planted my blade in her heart before her teeth broke the skin.

Spinning around, I spotted Magnar being dragged off of Valentina by the remaining three lessers. The slayer snatched one by the waist, cleaving the female apart with his sword before turning on the final two. They shared a look of fear then fled into the ocean.

Valentina sucked in a breath of shock, glancing between us then racing up the beach toward the road.

“Stop!” Magnar boomed. “Do you still ache for a wedding, Valentina? Let me marry your heart to the end of my sword.” The slayer stormed up the steep beach, taking chase as she made it onto the road above.

Valentina’s feet hit the concrete just as Magnar reached for her. Lightning tore the ground apart between them, throwing him back into the sand with a heavy thud. She fled into the city and anger rattled my bones.

I ran to Magnar’s side and he cursed, rubbing soot from his face with his hands which were badly blistered.

“That woman is a bane that never ends,” he snarled.

“Are you alright?” I asked, fear punching a hole in my chest.

Magnar sat upright and I took in the extent of his injuries. His shirt was burned away and angry welts lined his skin.

He gritted his teeth. “I’ll heal. I just need some time.”

I sat beside him and rested a hand on his back, patting him vaguely then wondering if that was a weird thing to do.

He raised an eyebrow as he turned to me. “You’re done hating me then?”

“I never hated you,” I said with a small smile, dropping my hand to my side. “I just don’t like you bossing my sister around.”

“I only do it to protect her,” he swore and I nodded.

“I know that now. You’re like your brother. He tied me up once to ‘protect me.’”

Magnar released a low laugh. “I don’t doubt that. Julius has his eye on you, you realise?”

My cheeks heated and I dipped my head, looking directly at the silver cross on my left palm. “Well he’s going to be disappointed.”

“He’s quite determined when he sets his sights on a woman.” He chuckled. “You would make a fine pairing. My brother has a good heart and a strong spirit. Like you.”

I smiled vaguely, not wanting to offend him. Julius was a good man, but my heart belonged to someone else. The vampire he and Magnar despised more than any of them.

I noticed some of the burns on Magnar’s body had already become less red and the blisters were slowly fading away.

I frowned deeply. “Valentina said she wanted to take you.”

“Yes,” he grunted. “My betrothed still seems to have some intention toward me. But if she thinks I’d ever look at her with affection, she is deluded. Even before she was a monster, I held no love in my heart for her. I have never felt that way for anyone until…” He cleared his throat.

“Callie,” I finished for him with a smile lifting my lips.

“Yes,” he said and his eyes glittered with longing as he ran his thumb over the star-shaped mark on his hand. As his skin slowly knitted over, it seemed to stand out even more starkly than before.

The water lapped calmly against the shore and Nightmare’s aura became more peaceful. The biters were long gone, but I didn’t think Valentina would give up so easily. I thought over what she’d said about Erik and a knife dug into my heart. How could he have been with someone like her? Had he really promised her a position at his side?

“Come, let’s move. We must leave this place before Valentina returns with more of her vile followers. As much as I’d like to finish her now, our fight would draw the attention of the vampires in the city and I cannot face them all at once.” Magnar rose to his feet, sheathing his sword on his back. “Hold onto my neck,” he instructed and I did so, wrapping my arms around him and gripping him tight.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, and he lifted me onto his back before striding into the water.

I held my breath as we lowered into its icy embrace and I gripped on fiercely as Magnar cut a path through the waves, reaching one arm over the other in powerful strokes.

We made our way out of the harbour and the cold slid deeper into my body. I was looking forward to a fire and some hot food, but most of all I was looking forward to reuniting with my sister.

The statue was a hulking figure under the dark clouds, guiding us toward it. Magnar’s strength never faltered as he carried me and my heart bloomed with a newfound trust. He may have been an asshole at times, but he sure was a reliable asshole. And if Callie had feelings for him, I had to let go of the mistake he’d made in hurting her. I could see in their eyes how much they meant to each other. I would never stand in the way of that. I just wondered if Callie could ever feel the same way about me and Erik.