31: The Enemies You’ve Made

SIERRA

I was the first to arrive at the truck, and I immediately recognized Kaven’s signature brutality. It was clear this was a revenge plot. If Kaven had sent Thomas, he intended to make a spectacle of Harper’s death.

I knew Thomas, a hired killer for the powerful. A dangerous vampire, but I was more formidable.

My eyes flamed red. I dug my claws into my palms and let my instincts take over. With a swift motion, I sent ribbons of blood flying from my hands. They acted like solid cords, wrapping around Thomas, pulling him back, and slicing into him.

He tried to protect his neck, but he had sworn allegiance to my bloodline. I was the heir, the old blood, and he would remember who he bowed to.

I had never felt such raw, powerful anger in my life. I was no longer the woman who was scared, starved, and stressed by the men who controlled her. I was the vampiress I was born to be, capable of both terrible and great things.

Things I would do to protect the mate they were trying to kill.

With a vocal command, Thomas hit the ground. I sent a blood line wrapping around his neck. I felt no mercy. This male vampire deserved it.

How many families had he destroyed? He wouldn’t destroy mine.

“Don’t move,” I commanded, and he obeyed. “You’ve betrayed the line you pledged to. Your sentence is death,” I declared, my voice echoing my father’s.

I held power over many vampires due to my blood heritage, but those who pledged to my line and took blood oaths had even less ability to resist. Thomas looked at me.

“Guess you weren’t a waste like he said,” Thomas remarked. “Your father would be proud,” he added.

His words, meant to be a compliment, disgusted me. As if killing him made me better. I hissed at him, turned, and yanked my arm. I didn’t look at the result.

Thomas would be headless, and I didn’t want to see the ribbon of blood do its work.

I rushed over to Harper. Axel and his two followers had taken care of the others. Harper groaned in pain as I helped him sit.

Tears welled in my eyes as I took in his battered state. He had fought hard, but they had beaten him into submission.

“Oh Harper, I’m so sorry!” I cried, my voice softening from the harsh vampiress who had just killed a man without remorse. He looked at me as I knelt beside him, gently touching his face.

“I’m alive. I just want to get off this road and go to a hospital,” he said, coughing up a bit of blood.

I bit my wrist and offered it to him. “Here, my blood will help your natural healing,” I said. He didn’t protest, just took a mouthful. That’s how I knew he was truly hurt.

“God damn it, you look like shit,” Axel said. Harper looked up at him. Axel’s mouth was set in a firm line.

Harper let out a weak chuckle but looked down. I glared at Axel. Did he have to be so crude?

“Axel, you’re a dick,” Harper retorted. Axel gave a small smile before reaching down to help Harper. I saw headlights approaching.

I moved to assist, but Axel took charge. His presence was powerful yet comforting, like leaning on his strength would provide everything you needed. I had never realized the power of an alpha’s energy before.

“Let me help you up, brother,” Axel said. Harper nodded, and I was surprised at how careful Axel was as he helped Harper up. He managed to get Harper’s arm around his shoulder and supported him.

Harper let out a breath, and Axel held him up effortlessly.

Looking at these two, I saw what true support looked like. They were a team, a family that trusted each other. Axel and Harper were what alphas and betas should be.

They were nothing like the ones I had left. This was why their territory grew, why others sought them out. I felt a newfound respect for Axel.

I had always seen him as merciless and savage, a heartless man like my father who was just better at hiding it. But watching him help Harper, rushing to his aid and lifting him up, I saw a different side of him.

Axel was not soft, but he had soft spots. I was glad this was the territory I was going to be part of. I helped support Harper from the other side as a car approached. It was a friend.

But before it reached us, Ian pointed to the tailgate. “Axel,” he said sharply. We stopped near the truck. On the tailgate was Thomas’s phone with an active call.

Axel held out his hand, and Ian handed him the phone. “Who’s listening?” Axel demanded. The rest of us stayed silent.

I didn’t think anyone would answer. They had clearly been listening to what was happening. Now that Axel had the phone, he could easily check the call logs.

“You and your beta’s days are numbered, Axel. You’ve made more enemies than allies with your choice,” Kaven said.

“You wanted a war, Kaven, you got one. I don’t make hollow threats. Your coven will burn, and I will build on the ashes. It’ll be your head on a spike above my door I show my enemies. You don’t know savage. I’ll promise to show you,” Axel retorted and hung up.

I was glad he did. I didn’t want to hear Kaven’s voice anymore.

“Ian!” Axel shouted.

“Alpha,” Ian responded, bowing his head in respect. His beta was severely injured, and his alpha was furious. It was best to show respect and not push any buttons.

“Bring me that spiked pole over there. I’ll use it on Red’s new leader,” Axel ordered, turning to move Harper and me toward the car. Jasper got out of a larger vehicle.

“Sometimes, Axel, your pettiness isn’t so bad,” Harper managed to say, wincing and coughing up a bit of blood. I glanced over at Axel, catching the shadow of a smirk on his face in response to Harper’s words.

“Harper, if you want, you can be the one to put his head on a stake,” Axel offered, his gaze shifting to me. I raised an eyebrow in response.

“Believe me, if there’s anyone I’d like to see headless, it’s Kaven,” I warned Axel, who responded with a chuckle. “Don’t underestimate me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Axel replied. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone with your skill, Sierra. I respect the hell out of it. I wouldn’t wish blood magic on anyone.”

I couldn’t help but smile a little at his words.

Once we got Harper into the car and were racing toward the hospital, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I couldn’t stop touching him, needing the reassurance that he was still here with me.

Seeing Harper in this state was gut-wrenching, especially knowing I was the cause.

“No more,” I told myself.

It was time to learn how to protect and fight. War had just shown up on our doorstep.