“Trust me, you don’t want to be here right now,” Jenner hissed, giving me another shove. “The blood ring we’ve all pissed off is behind this. They’re probably storming the building. Do you know what they’ll do to you if they find out you’re here? Get out. Now.”
Terror shook me, urging me to heed his warning and head for the door. But where were Shaz and Arys? I couldn’t go without them.
‘Run, Alexa.’ Arys’s voice was loud and clear in my mind. ‘Listen to Jenner and go. I’m needed here.’
‘No,’ I resisted, searching the smoky haze for him. ‘I’m not leaving you guys. They’ll kill you both if you stay.’
‘Jenner and I can handle this, especially with your blood in our veins. I promise. I’ll keep the pup safe.’
I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving without them. Panicked humans tripped me up, and smoke burnt my lungs. There was so much I hadn’t told Shaz, so many things I hadn’t said since he got back. So much he didn’t know.
‘You’ll get your chance to tell him. Now get the hell out of here.’
The house lights came on, and I spotted Arys on the opposite side of the theatre, headed for the door connecting to the arena. He paused to look over at me. I shook my head, unwilling to be parted.
Then the door burst open, and he was under siege by several vampires packing weaponry. Jenner was a blur as he flew past me to come to Arys’s aid. He shouted at me to get moving and instinct told me to listen.
I ran for the fire exit, dodging people as I went. The invading vampires had already taken down some of the remaining audience members. I’d almost reached the door when a hand closed on my arm. Shaz jerked me into his arms and hugged me tight. Then just as fast, he shoved something into my hand and kissed me.
“I’m staying with Arys,” he said. “You need to find Jez.”
“It’s the blood ring, Shaz. They’ll find out who you are. You’ve got to come with me.” I tried to drag him along with me, but he resisted.
“No, I should be here. As long as they don’t get a hold of you, I can handle it. Ok? Now go. I love you.”
He was gone before I could reply. I opened my hand to find the hotel room key card. Mine was in my shoulder bag backstage along with my phone and wallet. I had no choice but to leave without those things.
I ran, easily outrunning those who hadn’t yet made it out. More than once, I had to toss people aside when they risked blocking the way. Taking the stairs two at a time, I quickly reached the top floor.
My feet barely touched the floor as I moved with stealth and speed. The best of both monsters were alive in me, wolf and vampire, fueled by the power we’d called. Despite the drawbacks, having the strengths of both sure had its perks.
The fire escape continued up to the roof. It was likely our only way out. I opened the door to the top floor quietly, listening and sensing. There was no sign of the security guys that had been stationed here. Erotic energy hit me like the wave of heat when opening an oven door. It was raw and hot. But that was all. The chaos of the underground floor did not resonate here.
I moved with silent steps down the hall, seeking Sloane’s room. Not one door had her name. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. I had to focus, somehow, to sift through the myriad of energies, seeking Jez.
Standing in the middle of the hall with no quick hiding place terrified me. I kept expecting someone to come storming up the stairs from the main floor. Creeping to the top of the stairs, I gazed down, finding the club operating as if nothing was occurring downstairs. What the hell?
Then a smoke bomb went off in the middle of the dance floor, and commotion broke out all across the main level. Good Lord, I hoped Jez wasn’t down there.
I moved back into the hall, away from the stairs. Jez, Jez, Jez. I chanted her name to myself, seeking her shifter vibe. There! I followed my senses to a door that said Lady Melanie.
There was no time for manners or knocking. The lock gave way easily enough under my adrenaline and power-charged strength, and I burst into the room. It was nice, much nicer than the rooms back home. Soft beige carpet squished beneath my feet. A flat screen TV hung on the wall across from a king-size bed adorned with satin sheets and a mountain of pillows. A mirror above the bed reflected the image of entangled limbs and luscious hair.
“Alexa? What the f**k? Knock much?” Jez was understandably confused and embarrassed. She looked up from between Sloane’s legs, and I did my best to avert my eyes.
“We’ve got trouble. Blood ring trouble. We have to get out of the building.”
“What?” Sloane was up off the bed instantly grabbing her clothing from the floor. “Where’s Jenner?”
“He’s downstairs with Arys. They were under attack by a swarm of angry vampires. They told me to run, to find Roscoe and to take you with me.” I motioned frantically for Jez to spring into action. She did, thankfully steadier on her feet than she had been earlier.