Scorched Heart (The Firebrand Series Book 4), Helen Harper [free ereaders .txt] 📗

had died when my phone buzzed. I took it out, assuming it was Boateng. It was an unknown number but he might have borrowed someone else’s phone. But it wasn’t Boateng’s voice on the other end of the line.

‘DC Bellamy! Help us!’

I stopped moving. ‘Albion?’

‘Someone’s here. Someone’s after us. I can’t…’ His words were drowned out by a series of loud squawks. I heard a high-pitched scream that was cut off abruptly. ‘Help us!’ Albion yelled. ‘Help us!’ The blood drained from my face.

The phone went dead. I shared a single horrified glance with Lukas; from his expression, he’d heard every word of the call.

I spun around. ‘They’re at the other side of the village,’ I said. ‘We have to get there. Now.’

Chapter Twenty-Six

We flew down the road. There were still plenty of people out and about who stopped to stare at us. I didn’t know whether it was because of our running speed or because Lukas was a vampire, and I didn’t care. The killer was at Miranda James’s house. She was there and so was Albion. I had to stop him. It was time to bring the bastard down before we lost any more innocent lives.

‘Will the car be faster?’ Lukas called as we sprinted.

I thought about the long driveway leading up to the house. ‘Yes.’

He nodded and veered off to the Bird and Bush car park. We threw ourselves inside his car and the tires squealed as Lukas reversed, put the car into gear and took off.

‘Left,’ I instructed. I didn’t bother with a seatbelt, I simply clung on and prayed we’d reach Miranda and Albion in time.

Lukas swerved round a badly parked car. In less than a minute we were passing the village boundary. I wasn’t sure how much attention Lukas had paid to the route on his first trip out to Miranda’s grand house. After all, he’d been at death’s door at the time. ‘There’s a small road to the right not far from here,’ I said. ‘It’s easy to miss, even in daylight.’

‘Fortunately I have excellent night vision,’ Lukas said. He slammed on the brakes and spun the wheel. ‘And I remember where it is.’

I nodded, my chest tight with anxiety. ‘Here we go.’

Lukas accelerated again and we sped up Miranda James’ drive. The shadows from the trees loomed over us and I tightened my grip on the crossbow in my lap. I had to be ready for whatever was about to happen. I had to be prepared to…

I let out a brief scream of warning. Standing in the centre of the driveway on the crest of the curve were two figures. They were waiting for us.

Lukas braked hard. I was yanked forward by the force and braced myself with one hand against the dashboard. Then there was an almighty crash from the roof of the car. Someone – or something – was up there.

I leapt out, just in time to see a large dark shadow bound off the top of Lukas’s car and disappear into the trees. I raised my crossbow, ready to fire, but it was already too late. I hissed.

Lukas got out of the car and stared towards the disappearing shape. ‘If that wound is still bothering you,’ I said, ‘you need to say so now.’

‘Don’t worry about me,’ he replied. ‘I’m more than ready for this.’

I nodded and turned to face the figures ahead of us. One was cloaked and hooded; the other was Miranda James. She was struggling desperately to break free.

‘Don’t come any closer,’ ordered the hooded man. It was the elderly bloke from the train. I was sure of it. ‘Unless you want Ms James here to breathe her last.’ He chuckled amiably.

My insides tightened. He was laughing; this was nothing more than a joke to him.

‘He’s trying to bait us,’ Lukas muttered.

I gritted my teeth. ‘It’s working.’ I took my eyes from him for a moment to scan the trees. Chloe had been right all along: there were two of the bastards. It seemed likely that the one in the trees was a supe, while the man in front of us was human. I didn’t know if it was an equal partnership, or how the relationship between them worked, but I’d figure it out.

‘What do you want?’ I called out.

Another laugh echoed towards us. ‘You know what I want, Little Emma.’

I lowered the crossbow. ‘I’m right here. Let Miranda go and I’ll come to you.’

‘Why? So I can kill you? We both know that won’t work.’

‘Careful, Emma,’ Lukas warned in a low tone.

I nodded to let him know I’d heard him. ‘Well, if you’re not going to kill me,’ I said, ‘what do you want with me?’

This time there was no derisive laugh. ‘I should have thought that was obvious. I want to see you suffer in every way it is possible to suffer.’

Without warning, the dark shadow flew from the trees and leapt at Lukas. I cried out and lunged towards him. I caught a glimpse of dark fur and swiping claws before Lukas smashed his fist into the creature’s nose. There was a sudden brief hiss, then it pulled back and bounded towards Miranda and her captor.

‘Wait!’ I yelled. I couldn’t stand and watch the damned beast slash Miranda James’s throat while I did nothing. I started forward as it threw itself at the pair of them.

Miranda screamed. The beast’s body hung in the air, suspended for a brief moment before it vanished.

‘What the fuck?’ Lukas stared. So did I. I swung my head from left to right. Where did it go?

‘Was that Miranda?’ I whispered urgently. ‘Did she use her druid powers to vaporise it?’

‘I don’t think so,’ Lukas replied. ‘For one thing, she doesn’t have that kind of power. For another, she seems as shocked at its disappearance as we are.’

The man was still holding her tightly, but she was no longer trying to wrestle free. Her jaw was hanging open and she looked astonished. ‘Neat trick, huh?’ her captor said