He yanked her arm roughly downward, and she had to give way or have it break. She crashed to her knees, but he suddenly released her hand with force, flinging her backward. Her head smashed against the floor; the lights dimmed as dizziness took over. For an instant Ari was too stunned to move, only vaguely aware that Andreas had grabbed her attacker and spun him around. Sebastian’s power flared, and the two vampires were thrown apart, their auras repelling each other. They froze in place, knees bent, hands up, curled into claws. Predators with fangs fully extended.

“You claim this female?” Sebastian snarled.

“I do. She is under my protection, and the protection of Prince Daron.”

What the hell? Surely they weren’t going to use her as an excuse to fight? “Stop this,” Ari demanded, struggling to sit up. “I’m not a bone you can snarl and fight over.”

Ignoring her, the alpha vampires remained riveted on each other. Testosterone hung thick in the air, but the sudden rush of vampiric power was far more alarming. Ari’s skin crackled with Andreas’s energy, but it was nothing compared to the storm emanating from the older vamp. If this turned into a real fight, Andreas would need an army of help. A big army.

“Your claim is not good enough,” Sebastian said, speaking only on Andreas. “This is my territory, my rules. Do you wish to test me? Is that the real reason you are here? To try your hand for my throne?”

Uh-oh. They’d dropped the last pretense of diplomacy. Sebastian had looked for a reason to start something. Maybe that had been his plan from the beginning. In any case, she doubted if anything would stop them now. Sebastian’s body shimmered with growing energy. Hadn’t Andreas told her the old ones didn’t do their own fighting? Guess that didn’t apply if they were pissed enough. Sebastian’s circle of power expanded with each passing moment. Not a physical change so much as an invisible field that built around him.

“I did not come seeking your crown,” Andreas said. “No challenge was intended. Ours is a diplomatic mission.” His words sounded reasonable, but the look on his face was anything but conciliatory.

“You lie.” Sebastian curled his lips, his disdain raking Andreas from head to toe. “You have grown stronger since we last met, but no wiser. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can take me.”

“Paranoia clouds your perceptions. But if you force a fight, you leave me no choice. I will not walk away.”

That tears it, Ari thought. Some diplomat! Someone was going to die in the next few minutes. And things weren’t looking good for her side. She glanced at Oliver. He was focused on Sebastian’s lieutenants, who seemed as stunned by developments as Ari.

Ari was still lying on the floor propped up by her arms, too dizzy and mesmerized by the mounting hell storm to move. Andreas’s defiant words broke the spell. She pushed to her feet, her magic coming to life as she slipped the silver dagger from her pocket. It was cool, reassuring in her hand, although she questioned her ability to successfully use it against the prince. Considering his massive recuperative powers, the blade would have to be held in his heart until it stopped beating. That would take incredible strength.

Her greatest weapon, the lethal, crimson witch fire, was limited by her oath. Was she justified in using it if Andreas was attacked? Would that be close enough to self-defense? It certainly wouldn’t fit defense of the helpless. Would she have to break her oath?

And what of the risk to Andreas? How could she turn the fire on one combatant without endangering the other?

As Sebastian’s power expanded, his vampire court began to stir, not moving toward the confrontation, but shifting with nervous uncertainty. His last orders to the vampiress Marta had been to stay out of it. Given his reputation of brutality against his own people, would they choose to support him or stand clear? For now, they simply watched, apparently shocked by the mere idea that someone would challenge him.

Sebastian and Andreas began to circle, pushing their power outward against each other, ill-matched in many ways. Experience against youth. Power against athleticism. The first advantage went to Sebastian as Andreas staggered under the vise of Sebastian’s energy squeezing him like a huge, iron fist. He managed to shake it off, but in a pure energy struggle, Andreas would eventually lose to Sebastian’s superior power.

The air crackled. Pressure levels rose, pouring over everyone in the room with a shrill whine. The human girls clapped their hands to their ears in apparent agony, crawling and stumbling away toward the edges of the room. Sebastian’s vampires hissed and snarled, eyes rolling with fear and primal urges.

Ari heard automatic weapon fire in the hallways and was vaguely aware that Lilith and Russell had burst into the room. She clutched her dagger, wishing it was in Andreas’s hands rather than hers. He would have the greater strength to wield it.

So why not try? Maybe she could get the idea across to him by using this mystical bond. If their magics were so determined to link up, this would be a damn fine time.

Ari ignored the wild energy scalding her skin and concentrated on forming mental images of the silver dagger, showing it flipping through the air from her hand to his. Could the images penetrate the powerful fog created by their battle? Would Andreas understand?

She stole a quick glance at him, looking for some sign. The pressure of the competing powers had flushed his skin and eyes to an unnatural red. Heat shimmers rose around him, as if his blood was starting to boil. Horrified, Ari’s concentration faltered.

Sebastian suddenly flashed forward, his fat fingers stretched toward the younger vampire’s throat, but Andreas launched himself into the air. With an athletic twist gymnasts would envy, he flipped over Sebastian’s head. The vampire prince screeched with uncontrolled rage and whirled in pursuit. As Andreas landed on his feet, he turned his head toward Ari, and she pitched the dagger to him. He snatched the hilt in one hand and turned in a fluid movement to meet the onrushing prince.

As soon as she released the dagger, Ari shot the blue flames of a heavy stunner toward Sebastian, followed by a handful of magic dust from her pocket. The double whammy was just enough—Sebastian’s focus flickered to Ari for one fatal instant. Andreas took advantage by plunging the dagger into the elder vampire’s heart. He rode the body to the floor, using his strength to hold the dagger in its lethal position. Sebastian bucked and writhed, but before anyone else could react, it was over. Sebastian’s power exploded outward, knocking people and furniture against the walls. And then was gone.

Oliver leaped forward to place his body between Andreas and Sebastian’s vampires. Lilith and Russell raced to the front with their guns ready. Ari had already lifted her hands toward the stage, not to use the witch fire, but to call upon a greater magic. She chanted the summons that would bring the sentient fire spirits, the ancient salamanders.

Fire poured from her fingertips, not the lethal streams of witch fire, but snake-like flames that responded to her bidding and formed a ring around the stage. Sebastian’s vamps halted in place, trapped and confused.

Tails flickering, the glowing eyes of the ageless fire spirits hovered, awaiting Ari’s command.

She was almost as shocked as the vampires. She’d only called the fire salamanders once before—by accident. Since that time she’d studied her magic books, talked with her witch mentor, practiced the summons, but she hadn’t been positive she could do it again. The proof crackled before her.

Now that Ari had the upper hand, she took a deep breath and searched her brain for some way to end this. There were eight enemy vampires inside the room, countless numbers beyond the closed doors. She had the two werelions, Oliver, and Andreas, who was down on one knee, covered with blood. If she wanted to avoid a bigger bloodbath, whatever she did next would have to be good. She took a confident step forward.

“Acknowledge your new prince,” she said in a loud, firm voice. “Prince Andreas!”

Chapter Four

“Prince Andreas!” Oliver’s voice echoed in the silent room, as he followed her lead by turning and bowing to Andreas.

Shock quickly turned to confusion and fear, as Sebastian’s people realized their prince was dead and they were at the mercy of Ari’s fire.

“Sebastian is dead,” Ari said, fighting to calm her pounding heart. “Defeated in battle by Andreas. You were all witnesses. You have a new prince. Acknowledge him.”

The fire crackled ominously as the spirits lashed their tails. She didn’t need to add the “or else.”

“Wait. No one else has to die tonight.” Andreas slowly got to his feet and straightened. He was soaked in blood, his and Sebastian’s, but he stood on his own without wavering. “Sebastian alone was responsible for what happened here.” With one hand he pushed the hair off his forehead. “Release his people, Arianna, so that we may discuss this.”

Ari bit her lip, deciding what to do. She couldn’t tell how badly Andreas was injured or whether he was thinking clearly. Was he making a big mistake? Yet she understood it was necessary for him to take command of the situation. She glanced at him again, and he gave a subtle nod.

With all eyes upon her, Ari decided to put on a good show, reminding them of the ability she held. She lifted her arms over her head and centered her thoughts. Once ready, her lashes fluttered and closed. In a clear voice she thanked the fire spirits for coming to her aid. She gathered the fire images in her mind, and when she announced, “Go now,” she envisioned the fire going out.

Ari opened her eyes. The circle of flames had vanished.

Sebastian’s vampires, more confused than ever, glared around them, heads whipping from side to side. Two of them circled the stage, hissing, as if expecting a new attack. When nothing more happened, their focus settled on Andreas. Ari couldn’t tell whether they were ready to attack him, afraid he would attack them, or were simply attracted by all the blood. She pulled her derringer from her pocket. She always felt safer with a weapon in her hand.

In a sudden move that caused Ari’s finger to tighten on the trigger, two of the vamps began to argue over the human girl’s trickle of blood. Since the donor appeared agreeable to them licking and sucking on her neck, Ari eased off the trigger and ignored them, for now. Plenty of time later to worry about the niceties when the current crisis was over.