“A vampire mixed with a reaper is a deadly combo if you ask me,” Rourke murmured close to my ear. “We’re going to have to watch him carefully.”
Tyler paced ten feet away, his head in his hands. There was nothing I could do to comfort him. We both had to endure Ray as he tried to save our father.
I glanced up at my mate, shivering. I was bone weary and the fight hadn’t even started. I could hear the sorcerers arming themselves outside the walls, and the Queen still stood on the roof, arms raised. We were running out of time. “Do you know what a reaper is exactly?” I asked while we waited. Ray was still hunched over my father. I tried to block out the noises.
“I’ve never known of one,” he answered. “But from history, they are said to have control over souls, sending them to their next resting place when they die. It’s pretty clear he can catch them. Other than that, I don’t know.”
“They can also pull a living soul from a body,” Naomi replied quietly as she neared. “Selene had one in her employ, before she got wary and killed her. They are an asset, but they can also be deadly. A reaper can kill by taking a healthy soul from its host. The stronger the reaper, the bigger the supernatural soul they can snatch.”
That was a lot to take in.
Ray made a gargling noise and finally staggered backward.
Then he doubled over and vomited.
26
The stuff pouring out of him was putrid. Globs of yellow mixed with blood.
“Jesus, Ray!” I shouted. I broke away from Rourke and took a step toward him and then one back. I didn’t want to get close to whatever was ejecting out of him.
My father twitched and raised his shaggy head slowly. I rushed to him, my hands grazing lightly over his fur. Are you okay? Is that you?
Did you let a vampire drink me? His voice was sardonic and I almost cried out in joy.
He sounded like himself, or at least on his way.
I tentatively pushed some power into him, searching, but I didn’t feel the Screamer or the masses anywhere. That vampire just saved your life.
Ray was still churning out the mess a few feet away. He’d managed to suck out the curse, but he was paying for it.
“Good grief, man. That’s a nasty business,” Danny commented. “Glad I’m not in your shoes, then. I’d likely choke to death on the first go.”
“Danny,” I called. “Run into the house and find my father some clothes. Take whatever you can get your hands on.”
“I’m on it.” He saluted as he turned to leave.
“Naomi.” I flicked my head. “Go with him, in case he runs into trouble.” Eudoxia was still on the roof; who knew what the vamps were doing.
“Of course,” she answered.
“Try Conan’s room. He’s about the right size and he won’t be needing them any longer.” A shot of pity ran through my body. I disliked Conan, but seeing him die so violently had been awful.
“Conan?” Naomi cocked her head at me.
I pointed to the bones in the yard. Once the Screamer had exited, the vamp had decayed immediately.
“Oui,” she said. “That was Francis. He will not be greatly missed. Eudoxia had him changed on a whim. She was curious about his body, but he was not … an intelligent being. I know where his rooms are.”
Tyler paced tentatively to us, running a hand over his face. “Is he okay?”
“It looks like it,” I said. My father was still in his wolf form. “I don’t want to be overly excited until we know for sure.”
My father’s body began to vibrate, and I stepped back as he started shifting into his human form. That was a good sign.
“Listen, Jess,” Tyler said. “I didn’t mean—”
“Tyler,” I cut him off, “it’s absolutely fine. You were protecting your father. Totally understandable and I wouldn’t expect any less. It’s all finished. He survived.”
It took my father no time to shift.
He appeared haggard in his human form but was regaining his color quickly. “What did that vampire do to me?” He rubbed his neck.
“I’m not sure.” I glanced over at Ray, who was still bent over, hands braced on his knees. For the moment it appeared he was done regurgitating the nastiness. “I think he sucked the curse out of you along with the Screamer. It was incredibly lucky he was here.” There was no time to explain everything that had happened over the past few days. My father would get a full report once we were out of danger.
My father nodded once. “I am indebted to him, then.” He sat up, looking more aware by the second. “But that will have to wait. We need to prepare for battle immediately. My wolves have told me internally the fracture pack is aligning just outside the city limits. We need to amass the Pack in here and ready ourselves for war.”