The vampire smiled as he tipped his head up. “Fine by me. He left me long ago and I do not miss his passing.” His eyes sparked with a light burning hot from within, as if a fire burned behind them.

“Now we can go for Tad.”

“I took a lot of blood from you. I think you should rest,” Remo crooned, and his words made perfect sense. Of course I should rest. No, that wasn’t right, I needed to get to Tad, to get him away from Achilles.

I blinked and glared at Remo. “Stop that.”

His dark eyes widened ever so slightly, showing a hint of violet once more, and a smile curled his lips. “Stop what?”

“You know what I’m talking about. Stop trying to make me do what you want,” I snapped. Though even I had to admit, the snap was more of a breathy whisper. I shook my head and slid off the table. My legs wobbled as I moved sideways to the counter. The granite was smooth under my hand, and I gripped it for all I was worth. A loud crack rent the air, the granite cracking under the pressure.

Remo cleared his throat. “I’ll gather up my mob and head to the stadium. I’ll wait for you across the street.”

I nodded. “How long before you’re there?”

“An hour.”

One hour to get past the SDMP at the gate, and all the way to the stadium. This was going to be tight. Remo stood and stretched, his shirt pulling up, giving me a glimpse of pale belly and a thin line of dark hair that disappeared into the waistband of his jeans.

“Married, huh?”

I whipped my head up, but what could I say? “Looking isn’t the same as touching. I’d have to be dead not to look.”

He laughed. “I’ll see you in an hour, Alena.”

I closed my eyes as he passed by me, the smell of cinnamon and honey the only thing that told me he had moved. When it faded I opened my eyes. The room looked no different and yet . . . I was different. I’d made a deal with a devil: a devil I rather liked the look of.

“‘I’d have to be dead not to look’? You realize that is rather ironic since most of the ass he taps is dead.” Dahlia strode into the kitchen, Beth and Sandy trailing behind her.

I shrugged but couldn’t meet her eyes.

“Wait, you don’t really like him . . . do you?” Dahlia gasped. “Oh my God, you’re hot for Remo.”

“I am not hot for anyone. I’m married.”

“You keep saying that,” Dahlia snorted. “I don’t think it matters anymore.”

I frowned, hating that part of me agreed with her. “Whatever. We need to focus on getting Tad safe and making Achilles see I’m not the monster he thinks I am.”

Dahlia shook her head and picked up the car keys from the counter. “You think you can convince him to simply back down from the fight?”

I nodded. “Why not? I’ve been able to convince other men to do what I want.” The words popped out of me and I cringed. “Never mind, it will be up to me anyway.”

“We’re coming with you,” Beth said. “If what you’re saying is true, he’ll come after us next, won’t he?”

I bit my lower lip. “Yes, I think so. But that’s only if he kills me.”

“What’s the chances of a hero, trained in the killing arts, with superhuman speed and a track record of 10–0, killing you, a brand-new monster with a dislike for ruffling feathers?” Dahlia glanced at the two girls. “No pun intended.”

I slapped my hands on the table and leaned toward her. “I’m not leaving Tad. At the very least I’m getting him out of there. Do you understand me?” I didn’t realize I was shouting until I stopped and the room echoed with my words.

Dahlia gave me a tight nod. “Got it, General Alena.”

Beth and Sandy bobbed their heads in unison. “Understood.”

“Then let’s go. We’re wasting time.” I held my hand out to Dahlia and she dropped the keys into my palm.

They fell into step behind me.

“She really could be a general,” Beth said.

Dahlia grunted. “Here I was thinking I’d be the one protecting her.”

A flush of pride washed through me, and I knew in that moment I’d at least go out on a high note. Achilles would probably kill me, but I wouldn’t go down without a fight. No, the dark night wouldn’t claim me without a battle to remember.

CHAPTER 15

The gate at the Wall was open without a single SDMP member guarding it. Not one. And the Super Duper community was taking advantage of the lack of guards. A steady stream of Supes headed through the open gate. My first thought was the tracking chips they all had implanted.

“Why aren’t they getting shocked?” I stared at them as they went through; not one Super Duper so much as twitched.

“Damn, I can’t believe it worked!” Dahlia crowed. “That’s part of what we did at the SDMP when we picked you and Tad up. We disabled the tracking chips.”

I couldn’t help showing my geek flag off. “How? What did you do, blow out the thermal exhaust port?”

“With a well-timed proton torpedo.” She winked and leaned forward. “It’s a lucky break for us, though. Don’t slow down, just go.”

I nodded and hit the horn with the heel of my hand. We got a few glances, but nobody hurried up. One werewolf flipped us the finger and a snarl. I pursed my lips. “Dang it all.”

Dahlia hung out the window. “Everybody move or we’ll call the SDMP on you!”