"Are you alright?" he asked in a gruff voice.

"I've been better," I answered, swaying a bit. His presence and my blood loss were taking a toll. "Thanks for helping me."

"Anytime, Sensor Girl." He gripped my arm. I managed not to let my eyes drop when he stepped closer. There were more important things to worry about than protruding anatomy.

I nodded at the remaining circle. We could see it through the drifting snow. Nikolas and Charlie had found a way around the witch's protection with their swords. The weapons had my blood coating them and were able to pierce through. They couldn't actually break the spell, since only fresh blood could do that, but it did give the guys an advantage.

Nik was springing about in lightening fast movements designed to keep Variola and her warlocks on their toes. She and her minions repeatedly tried to cast their spells but were interrupted every time. They had to keep shifting positions to avoid the blades coming their way. Nik had managed to nick them in a few places by the looks of their torn leather. To further frustrate them, Charlie was using his own magic to block the many fireballs they kept shooting out in retaliation. He moved fast for a man of his aged appearance.

The warlocks' faces reflected fear and frustration as they stumbled about the circle. Variola did her best to stand apart from them. It amazed me that the three magic users didn't shove each other out of the way to save themselves. A few of their fireballs had stung Charlie and Nik when the shaman couldn't block them in time, but neither of the men looked badly hurt from them. The singe of their clothes was the only evidence they'd been touched at all.

"I've got to go break that," I told Derrick.

Regret reflected in his eyes. Protecting me was one thing, fighting against his leader was another. The werewolf nodded and let go of my arm.

"Be careful."

"I will," I answered him before stumbling away.

Variola's circle laid half-way across the open clearing. The wound on my back pulled with each step, sending shots of agony through me. I had to work my way around mutilated bodies and piles of dust from vanquished vamps. Their scattered clothes fluttered in the wind and snow. A few small fires had broken out, giving the scene an eerie illumination. The smell of smoke reached me, but it didn't cover the much stronger scent permeating the air. Blood and death left a distinct foul odor you could never forget.

The fight was coming to an end, but over a dozen of Variola's minions were still left standing. Those among Nik's supporters, who were still alive and uninjured, continued to battle it out. No one appeared more savage than Lucas.

His short blond hair was plastered with blood and his face and hands were coated in it. The dark clothing he wore hid the rest. He had a disturbing look of pleasure on his face as he fought the vamps. They were lucky if they got one good swing of their blade, which he easily blocked, before he thrust his hand into their chests and removed their still beating hearts.

Silent terror reflected from their faces as they stood frozen before him. They couldn't even flinch as the force of his sword cut through their necks and sent their heads flying dozens of feet away. He moved with predatory grace onto the next adversary without a backward glance. Nik's words returned to haunt me "If he wanted you dead, Mel, you'd be dead." A shudder went through me. If I hadn't believed his words before, I did now.

I dragged my eyes from the enigma that was Lucas to focus on the circle I'd finally reached. Charlie kept Variola and her crew distracted while Nik directed me to a specific spot.

"Break it there."

I nodded and moved toward it, wanting to get this over with. The line was wide. It would require even more of my blood than the last one to sever it. Variola and her warlocks eyed me with malicious intent and shuffled closer to my position. They stopped less than three feet away with their blades poised to strike. Nothing like having powerful enemies staring you down to make your job more difficult.

Lucas appeared at my side. He took an aggressive stance that had the witches hesitating to come any closer. I had faith he could keep them back. He didn't look all that friendly with the blood covering him and the dangerous gleam shining from his eyes.

All my wounds had stopped bleeding except for the one on my back. I ran my hand across it to get the fresh blood I needed and came away with more than enough. My head grew light at the sight of it.

Falling to my knees, I pressed my wet fingers to the circle, running them across the thick line. It broke with an electrically charged snap. Derrick ran up and pulled me out of the line of attack, thankfully having found a pair of pants from somewhere, while Nik and Lucas moved in to engage. They dispatched the two warlocks with a few speedy slices of their swords, but Variola took off running.

The fear leaking from her told me she had no desire to stick around now that she had nothing and no one to hide behind. The more evil and cruel a person is, the less likely they are to tolerate being on the receiving end of retribution.

Lucas called out to her with a heavy note of compulsion in his voice.

"Stop."

She ground to a halt, straining against the pull of his compulsion with her back arched in an awkward position. She was a strong sup, and might have been able to fight it off if not for having wasted so much of her power earlier on spells and fireballs.

"Come to me," he ordered with even more strength.

Almost a minute passed while she attempted to struggle against the command, her body jerking as she resisted. In the end she turned around and walked back with the short, stilted steps you might expect from a zombie. Nik and Luc waited with their arms folded, wearing almost identical bored expressions. They didn't look to be in a hurry now that the moment of truth had arrived. I didn't have that luxury.

Derrick supported me with his arms, but I hardly noticed. My vision was blurring and nothing appeared clear to me. The werewolf tightened his hold when he took in my weakened state.

"Nik...Lucas," he called out, "she ain't holdin' up. You two need to fix her before it's too late."

My eyes were now closed but my hearing continued to work fine. I heard Lucas curse under his breath. In what seemed like a flash, Nik kneeled beside me. I managed to crack my eyes open to watch him as he cut his own wrist. He held it to my mouth. Everything in me wanted to reject the offer, but I took it. Aniya needed me. If it required me drinking vampire blood to save her, so be it.

I pressed my lips to his wrist and grimaced through the first swallow. My initial reaction was to gag, but I got it down. A little more and it was no longer so awful. Maybe vampire blood was an acquired taste that took a few tries before it became more palatable. The spicy flavor transformed into something similar to honeyed mead, which made no sense because I'd never had honeyed mead, but that was the beverage that came to mind. I wanted more. No wonder some humans became addicted to this stuff.

Nik had to pull me away after what must have been close to ten swallows. I licked my lips, missing the taste already.

"You've had enough." The corner of his lip turned up.

I shifted in Derrick's arms in embarrassment, which made him chuckle.

"Not to worry, Mel, you'll be fine. I've got other parts of me you can suck on once you're in better shape if you like."

"Jerk," I muttered. I pushed my arms out in an attempt to drive him away. Nik pulled them down and moved closer. I shrunk back into Derrick's naked chest, feeling caged between the two men.

Nik grinned and grazed his fingers across my cheek. "You bring out the best in me."

Derrick growled. "Don't you have something else you should be doing right now?"

Nik turned to view the gathering of sups waiting for him.

"Yes, I do." Nik nodded at the werewolf. "Thank you for protecting her."

Derrick dropped his intense gaze to mine.

"It wasn't for you," he said. I had to look away-way too much testosterone in this crowd for my liking.

"I know," Nik replied before going back to face his reluctant foe.

Lucas had been managing Variola during the delay. It took me a moment to realize they had stopped everything to take care of me. Why had they done that? They didn't need me anymore. My wounds could have been put off until after everything was over. I may have been bleeding out, but not enough to die in the next few minutes. I didn't know what to think of their behavior. Sups were supposed to be my enemies, but the lines had begun to blur.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the scene of Nik stepping up to the witch-vamp. Variola stood proud, no longer fighting the compulsion. I supposed she must have dredged up some courage from somewhere.

Nikolas paced around her. "Variola, you surely know the time-honored ritual for taking control of a region. It has always been the same. Though you chose to forgo it with me, I'll still give you a chance to fight to keep it."

She didn't move. Her pride cloaked her like impenetrable armor.

Nikolas waved over one of his supporters, who stood about ten feet away. "Give her your sword. We'll let her battle for her dubious honor."

The younger vampire stepped forward and held out the blade, hilt first. Variola stared at it. A small tremor may have shaken her hand as she took the blade. I leaned forward in Derrick's arms. Nikolas had raised his own weapon. I could see the anticipation written all over his face. Variola adjusted her position into a fighting stance and stuck her chin out. Yeah, she wasn't cowed yet.

Not so much as a shuffling sound could be heard across the clearing. One moment the two vampires stood still and in the next they were on each other. I couldn't tell who attacked first. The fight began that fast. They moved in a blur, never staying in one place for long. Neither combatant needed to stop for breath, but I was probably breathing hard enough for both of them.

Minutes passed. The clang of swords striking in rapid staccatos rang out. They didn't limit themselves to the ground. Both were old and powerful enough to fly. They hovered at least ten feet in the air, dipping and curving as they tried for each other's weak spots. I began to think the fight might never end, but then they suddenly dropped to the ground. Variola stood clutching her arm. Nikolas had cut through to the bone. It bled for a few moments before healing.

"Is that the best you can do, vampire?" I'd hoped to see her cowed more.

"This is merely a warm up," Nik flicked his sword. "I wanted you to feel like you were given a chance."

Variola gave him a condescending look. "Think you have it all figured out, don't you?"

"All of what figured out?" he asked.

"Why I came here."

His brows rose. "To steal my territory. That much is rather evident."

She laughed. "You know nothing, vampire. I was sent here."

"Oh," he replied. His eyes glinted. "Who sent you?"

"The same one who killed your sister."

Shock and anger hit the air so strong anyone could have felt it. Nik glanced at Lucas.

"Tell me who," he said through gritted teeth. His fangs cut his lips, but he didn't draw them back.

Variola smiled, giving a glimpse of her own sharp incisors. "I think not."

Lucas stepped forward and pushed his compulsion. "Tell us who sent you."

She shook her head. "Don't bother. It won't work. The one who sent me is stronger than either of you and she made sure I could never reveal her name."

My mind spun. Only someone older and more powerful than Lucas could have placed a compulsion he couldn't break. Nik and Lucas began a wordless conversation I couldn't read.

Variola took advantage of the distraction and moved forward with a thrust of her sword. I wanted to cry out a warning, but everything happened too fast. Her blade aimed straight for his neck in what could only be a fatal blow. Nik pivoted at the last moment. With a raised arm, he blocked it so that it did no more than graze his skin, but it had been close. In the next moment he swung at her. He didn't miss.

Her head flew off and landed twenty feet away next to a group of werewolves. The largest of the group stepped forward with a look of disgust and kicked it off to the side. A moment later it turned to dust, along with the body. Her torn leather garments were all that remained.

Nik gave his arm a brief glance, but it had already started healing. Not much of his blood even stained his shirt. Lucas came over and patted him on the back. They appeared to be whispering something to each other but I couldn't make out the words.

They broke apart and turned to me.

"Did she tell the truth?" Nik asked.

I swallowed, hating to answer. "She told you what she believed to be true."

He ran a hand through his hair and groaned in frustration.

"We'll have to look into this," he told Lucas.

The nephilim nodded.

I wanted to feel bad for Nik. It was his sister we were talking about, but we had more pressing matters that had to be dealt with now. A glance at my watch told me it was almost one o'clock. We were almost out of time.

Chapter Twenty-six.

"I'm sorry about your sister, Nik, but we have to save Aniya right now."

Everyone eyes fell on me.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, frowning.

I outlined what had happened before we came to the mine as fast as I could, not wanting to waste a minute. Derrick, whose arms continued to hold me, tightened in comfort.

"Mel, I don't think we can get to her in time," he said close to my ear.

I pushed his arms away and stood. The cold wind struck hard without his warm body close, but I ignored the discomfort. I ignored all the aches and pains. None of them mattered in this moment.

"There has to be a way."

Yvonne tapped her chin. "Do you know if the deputy had a charm on him to prevent the location spell?"

I reflected back to the scene and clued in on that small detail. "No, he didn't."

"Then we need only obtain the materials to place the spell on him."

I groaned. How were we supposed to do that?

She smiled. "Don't worry, I know where he lives. If I can get there soon, it will simply be a matter of gathering what I need."

"That will still take time," I argued.

"Not if I take her there," Lucas said. I glanced at him in surprise. He still looked rather bloody and I had to hope Yvonne wouldn't mind.

"You would do that?"

"I would, but you'll owe me a debt for it."

Of course, he wouldn't do me any favors for free.

"Fine, whatever, but do it fast. Niya only has five minutes left," I said after glancing at my watch again.

He nodded and turned his attention to Yvonne. "Tell me where you need to go."

She explained the details and I could see him working them out in his head. Did he have some kind of mystical map in there or what?

After being satisfied he had a lock on the location, he grabbed Yvonne and flashed them away. I began to pace, hoping they didn't take long. Every minute I glanced at my watch and let out an audible groan. A couple of times someone tried walking up to me, but I put my hand out to stop them. No one could calm me down and it wasn't worth letting them try.