Roland and Sarah lingered nearby, determined to do anything necessary to protect Marcus, Ami, and their child.
David was there, too, of course, watching over the flock in Seth’s absence. It grated a little that Gershom couldn’t access that one’s thoughts.
Imhotep and Chaak were present as well and were likely the only two aside from David who could offer up a decent fight. The Celt had proven to be a good adversary, but he was at the military installation, fawning over his lover.
The younger immortals Richart and Jenna manned a love seat, their Second Sheldon across from them. Multiple other heartbeats surrounded the house. Network soldiers, no doubt.
He scoffed silently. Did they really believe humans armed with guns could stop him?
The immortal black sheep Bastien was absent, as was his wife. He and Melanie had opted to remain at the network to make a stand with Heather and the vampires should Gershom decide to strike there or should he simply pop in to fuck with Ethan’s mind again.
Hmm. Maybe he should fuck with Ethan’s mind. It would only take him a few minutes to undo all the healing Seth had spent hours performing. Or better yet…
He tilted his head to one side. Perhaps, while the other immortals were struggling to contain Seth’s fury after he returned and found Ami and Adira gone, Gershom would stop by the network and nab Cliff. He could deny the valiant young vampire blood until the madness consumed him, then stick him in a room with Ami and Adira. Let nature take its course. Could be interesting.
But first…
He shifted into Seth’s form, then teleported to David’s living room, appearing beside Ami.
Several gasps sounded.
David rose.
Marcus did, too. “Is it over? Did you get Gershom?”
Ami dropped her book and hugged Adira to her breast as she stared up at him with fear. “That’s not Seth! It’s Gershom!”
The immortals all leapt to their feet.
In a blur of motion, Marcus scooped his wife and daughter into his arms and raced out the front door.
Gershom shifted back into his natural form and teleported to David’s front lawn, appearing directly in Marcus’s path.
Immortals poured through the front door of David’s home, weapons drawn, David in their lead.
Marcus darted in a different direction.
Gershom again teleported into his path. Then did so again. And again.
Marcus stopped. Lowering Ami’s feet to the ground, he moved her and the baby she held behind him and braced himself for a fight.
The human guards that stood just outside the house—fewer than Gershom had guessed—raised their weapons.
“Fire your weapons,” Gershom called, “and I’ll use telekinesis to send every bullet into Ami.”
No weapons fired.
Richart vanished and reappeared behind Ami.
Gershom flung out a hand.
Richart flew backward thirty yards and slammed into one of the huge trees at the edge of David’s lawn. Several of Richart’s bones broke with audible cracks.
Gershom swung on David, Roland, Sarah, Chaak, Imhotep, and Jenna as they leapt forward. Energy burst from him, radiating outward like a blast wave and sweeping almost everyone—immortals and humans—off their feet.
Only David, Marcus, and Ami remained standing.
As David drew his sword and leapt forward with a roar of fury, Gershom flung a dagger.
Metal glinted in the last of the dying light as the dagger shot around Marcus and stopped half an inch from Ami’s neck.
David skidded to a halt, his dismayed gaze going to the blade that hovered so close to Ami’s carotid artery.
Triumph filling him, Gershom smiled.
When Aidan appeared in David’s living room, he found it empty.
A ripple of power hit him, nearly knocking him on his arse.
Outside, David roared in fury.
Aidan raced through the front door.
Roland, Sarah, Jenna, Imhotep, Chaak, Sheldon, and all the network soldiers were down on the ground. The immortals grimaced in pain. Some of the network men appeared to be unconscious.
Across the yard, an injured Richart struggled to regain his feet in front of the trees.
In the center of the lawn, Marcus stood with sword in hand in front of Ami, who held Adira tight.
David skidded to a halt as a dagger veered around Marcus and hovered a hairsbreadth from Ami’s neck.
Aidan bent to grab a sword Roland or Sarah had dropped and crossed to stand beside David.
David focused his glowing amber gaze on the dagger.
The floating dagger eased away from Ami almost a foot, then darted forward again, nicking the soft skin of her neck.
Gershom smiled and shook his head. “You only think you’re as strong as me, David.”
Marcus drew a second sword.
“Really?” Gershom drawled, then frowned. “Wait. How are you still standing? You’re only eight centuries old. You should be flat on your back like the others.”
Marcus shook his head. “I’m stronger than I look.”
The dagger that threatened Ami abruptly jerked away and flung itself at Gershom.
Aidan’s eyes widened.
As did Gershom’s as he hastily ducked it. He looked back at Marcus with surprise. “How did you do that?”
Aidan wondered the same thing. Marcus didn’t have telekinetic abilities.
Marcus leapt forward and swung his swords.
Caught off guard, Gershom drew his own and fell back a step as he struggled to fend off Marcus’s attack, which shouldn’t even offer him a challenge since Gershom was so powerful.
What the hell?
“How are you doing this?” Gershom growled, steadily backing away as he blocked blows backed by so much power that sparks lit the darkening night each time their blades met.
Marcus’s eyes suddenly flashed golden. “Surprise, cousin.” In the next instant, Marcus grew taller and shifted into Seth’s form.
Aidan gaped.
Golden fire flashed in Gershom’s eyes as his features contorted with fury. “Who are you?” he demanded. “Seth is at the military installation, posing as me. I saw him with my own eyes!”
Seth shook his head with a dark smile. “You studied me so carefully and took such delight in impersonating me when you attacked Aidan. I’m surprised you don’t recognize me.”
“That’s not possible.”
“Apparently you aren’t the only magician in the family,” Seth snarled.
A flash of panic entered Gershom’s eyes. “You can’t be Seth.”
“Oh, but I am. Someone else volunteered to bear your form at the military installation so I could remain here and bury your ass.”
Aidan had had no idea. He had thought Seth had been the one pretending to be General Gershom.
David shot forward, swinging his blades.
Aidan followed, leaping into the fray.
The three of them surrounded Gershom, whose composure began to fray as one blade bit deep. Then another. And another.
The foliage bordering David’s lawn rustled. Dozens of Immortal Guardians strode forward, weapons in hand, ready to take up the fight should Seth, David, or Aidan fall.
Marcus was one of them and crossed to plant himself in front of Ami and their daughter.
Aidan hissed in a pained breath as Gershom’s sword cut across his middle.
The metallic scent of blood tinged the air.