Quinn stood only a few feet from them, his face one of anguish, ready to attack despite the hopeless situation. He would never reach Rose in time to save her from Keegan’s stake.

“What’s it gonna be, Thomas? Are you joining me, or would you rather perish with your friends?”

“You leave me no choice.” And he hated his sire for what he was about to do, because he’d sworn never to use his skill to kill.

When he locked eyes with Keegan, he realized that his maker understood what he meant to do. A flicker of apprehension crossed his face, and he heard his opponent’s heartbeat spike for an instant before it returned to normal.

“Very well, son, so you think you’re better than I?” He let out an evil laugh. “Maybe you would be if you hadn’t left and abandoned the gift I’ve given you.”

“Gift?” Thomas hissed. “It’s no gift to carry evil in your blood.”

Thomas allowed his mind to calm, preparing himself for the battle ahead of him, the outcome of which was by no means determined. Keegan was right: he hadn’t honed his skill in all those years, and using it now was a risk.

Collecting all his energy, feeling the warmth as it settled in his center, Thomas focused on his enemy, then sent his first thought to him.

Drop the stake!

A faint trembling of Keegan’s hand was the answer. Then his laughter.

“Is that all you’ve got? Haven’t I taught you any better?”

Anger and hate surged, forming a ball in his stomach. With a shout he sent it toward Keegan, aiming at the hand that held the stake. The invisible burst hit Keegan.

“Now!” Thomas screamed at Quinn, hoping his friend would get the idea and act. Giving any more detailed instructions would destroy his concentration and make him lose the little control he’d just gained.

As he saw Quinn move toward Keegan, Thomas sent another blast of his mind’s thoughts to him.

Release Rose. Drop the stake.

He noticed how Keegan’s jaw clamped shut as he tried to fight the invasion.

Quinn’s kicked his foot high, catapulting the stake from Keegan’s hand in the next instant. Simultaneously Rose pushed her elbow into his ribs.

With a curse, Keegan kicked his knee into her back, pushing her to the ground. Then his eyes glared at Thomas. “Your mind or mine. Only one can survive.”

Lifting his hands in a dramatic gesture, his body seemed to harden. His fangs elongated, his fingers turned into sharp claws, and his eyes glowed red.

The first invasion stabbed him like a silver knife, sending a burning sensation through his entire body. Thomas cried out in pain. Then Keegan’s thoughts entered his mind, pushing through the protective walls around his brain, searching for weak spots to annihilate first.

Thomas pushed back, collecting his own energy to combat his sire. He concentrated on the hate and disgust he felt for his maker and hurled it toward him, using those emotions to enter Keegan’s mind and create devastation there. Drawing on every ounce of energy his body possessed, he reached for his opponent’s mind, trying to crush it like a mouse beneath an elephant’s foot.

But Keegan was strong and his mind a minefield, a booby trapped maze. Whenever Thomas felt he was gaining ground, he was catapulted back, the shockwave blasting him back, robbing him of more energy by the second.

Thomas noticed Keegan draining of energy too. They were equally strong, and equally determined to see this to the end. Only one would emerge alive.

Quinn reached for Rose, helping her to her feet, pulling her away from Thomas and Keegan.

Locked in a deadly fight, there were few outward signs of it. The air in the room crackled. From time to time, tiny bolts of lightning traveled between the two, as if two electrically charged bodies fought against each other.

“Oh, God!” Rose said. “Keegan is using mind control on Thomas. We have to help him.”

Quinn pulled his silver knife from its sheath. He might be a lousy shot, but his knife always found its target. It wouldn’t kill Keegan instantly, but a well-placed knife wound would disable him sufficiently so he could finish him off with a stake. As he aimed at Keegan, he flicked his wrist, sending the deadly instrument toward him. But Keegan’s head turned suddenly, and a blast of energy struck the knife, reversing its path. He’d never seen anything like it before.

“Shit!”

Quinn jumped, grabbed Rose and sent them both tumbling to the floor, covering her with his body.

Breathing hard, Rose stared at him, stunned. “How are we gonna help him now?”

Before he could answer, a scream coming from outside, made Quinn jerk up.