Destroy Me (The Last Vocari #4) - Elena Lawson Page 0,2
stake each and every one of them. Or at the very least, the ones who would turn on us, if even moderately provoked.
I’d learned not all vampires were the same. My guys had taught me that. To some extent, Azrael had as well. I gulped, shaking my head to cast out that last thought. My mind was enough of a mess without thinking of him right now.
If I had any luck, I’d be able to avoid him when he came. I hadn’t had to see him since that night in New York, in the apartment building. He saw only the guys. Communicated only by phone. I had no idea if he was doing it for me, or because he couldn’t stand the sight of me after knowing his brother had put his hands on me. That I’d broken under the weight of them.
The overhead lights blinked, and distantly I heard the generator chug and then resume a rumbling monotone. I had no idea how Azrael had come to own such a place. The bunker was old but had clearly been retrofitted with modern amenities.
The lab was small but had all the top gear a budding scientist could want. When Ethan first saw it, I swear his pupils dilated to conceal all the muted brown tones of his irises.
Frost and Blake liked to spend their time in the gym, which, I assumed, was where I’d find them now. Blowing off steam day in and day out to keep from losing their shit.
Maybe a little Rose time would help them chill the fuck out. I could hardly stand to be around them lately. My own edginess heightened whenever forced to bear the weight of theirs as well.
We had maybe another week here before it would be time to act. A week to get everything lined up. To give the army of vampires their promised taste of sunlight. To get them briefed and trained. To come up with a solid plan of attack.
We knew it was only a matter of time before Amala found us here. The blanket of salt and ash atop the bunker wouldn’t hold out forever, and even if it did, there were stronger forms of magic which could penetrate it. We were banking on Amala not being able to use them, though. If what Az told the guys was right, then Amala would need a group of witches to perform the spell strong enough to get through our wards—and she always worked alone.
It would take time for her to gather the necessary number of witches to aid her, and none of us thought any even would help her at all. The witches wanted Raphael and everything he stood for obliterated just as much as we did. If we were right, none would help her.
If we were wrong…
I shuddered, more from the thought than the underground chill constantly clinging to the concrete walls. I didn’t want to know what would happen if we were wrong, that was why we needed to be swift. Be smart.
No place was safe for long.
Ahead, the grunts of Blake and Frost were audible, echoing beyond the heavy metal door leading to the gym. I inhaled, a smile pulling at the corner of my mouth. They were my sunshine. Stuck thirty feet below ground, they were the only light in this perpetual dark. I hadn’t allowed myself to realize that until Ethan kissed me.
I’d been training, attacking practice dummies with feral rage, since we got here. Eating in silence with the guys. Sleeping alone.
It was time to put an end to it.
My hand closed around the handle when a familiar prickle of unease rushed down my back, making my insides twist and my knees grow weak.
I spun, taking him in.
Azrael stood fifteen feet away down the hall, his expression blank. Eyes slightly unfocused. I could only make out half of his face. He stood in the shadows, where one of the overhead lights were out.
My throat went dry as I took in the tight line of his jaw. The hollow dip below his Adam’s apple, just visible over the unbuttoned top of his fitted black dress shirt.
When I finally forced myself to look him in the eyes, making my own to adjust to the shadows, my stomach dropped. In them, I saw Rafe.
Adrenaline flooded my veins, making my fingertips tremble.
I am the motherfucking Black Rose. I do not tremble.
I clenched my fists.
“Azrael,” I said, keeping my voice level, giving him a slight nod.