Chapter Eighty-nine

Bram hit a button on the wall, and a large plate slammed shut over the window that looked out into the bar. “You’re serious about this?” Her blue eyes narrowed at him as she kicked off her shoes. “If you do this, you’ll never see your golden boy or your damn family again. Aleigha will make sure of that.”

“I’m done with all of you. Everyone one of you fuckers is going to burn. Aleigha is next on the list. So, no need to worry, you’ll see her again soon.”

Crouching into a defensive position, she growled, “You’re making a mistake.”

“No, I don’t think so.” He held up a slim dagger. “This is my proof. Know where I found it?”

Her eyes skimmed the dagger. The way her brow bunch in the center and her nose scrunched, he knew she knew. “I don’t know anything about that stupid little toy.”

“I’m sure.” Bram rolled his eyes, “This was lodged in Gavin’s chest. I’m sure you know exactly what this is. Because I gave it to you. It’s made of mostly iron. Not a strong metal, but something that would do major damage to a full vampire. I gave it to you the day we went after the Elders together and you tried to stab me in the back with it.”

“It’s been hundreds of years. You’re remembering wrong. I wouldn’t have kept some stupid trinket—”

“Oh, but you would have. This was personal, wasn’t it, Mihaela? Tyler took me away from you. You kept that dagger purposefully. I’m sure you actually planned on using it on Tyler to begin with, but once you found he had a lover, you just couldn’t resist, could you?” Bram held the dagger down to his side, taking a menacing step forward.

Mihaela reached down her leg, pulling the skirt up high enough for him to know she wasn’t wearing anything underneath, except for the dagger she had hidden high on her thigh. Growling at him she got into a fighting position, pulling it out. “You have no idea how personal everything has been for me. I hate him for taking you away from me. I hate you for not giving me the future I deserve after everything I’ve been through because of you and your wretched family.”

Mihaela snatched her drink, flinging the crystal cup toward Bram. He dodged wide, tucking and rolling behind his desk. He couldn’t let her get him wet. Opening the coolers under his bookshelf, he pulled out a large piece of ice and flung it at her, blasting it with his fire. The blast sent water spraying over Mihaela and she screamed, cussing him out as the blast made it impossible for her to dodge. It would make using his magic harder, but it would stop her completely. She wouldn’t risk the chance of getting electrocuted herself if she did have that power.

More curses flew from her lips as Bram leapt onto the desk, diving for Mihaela. He sliced at her throat, but she dodged. His dagger sliced off bits of her hair. He wasn’t quick enough to grab it, and she slipped away from him. Her own dagger aiming for his chest. The two of them fought, with constant close calls and a flurry of movement the human eye couldn’t follow. They were always the perfect match. Neither of them gaining headway in the battle. Neither one of them faltered. Neither one of them was about to tire anytime soon. Bram couldn’t risk using his magic and drying the room, but trying to take her on without was nearly impossible. “A fight to the death could take us forever.” Mihaela said, one knee nearly touching the floor, her hands braced on the ground in front of her, and her rear end in the air. It was a perfect sprinting form.

Bram held a dagger in each hand, the blade currently held so that they rested against his forearms, in a defensive pose. His eyes remained locked on her. His brow drew together as chaos broke out in the bar. People were screaming and he could hear Emma screaming too. That was *highly* disconcerting. “What the fuck?” He was currently on the other side of the room, so he couldn’t open the side view or door to see what’s going on.

Mihaela laughed maliciously, “Oh, love, did you really thing I would come here without an exit plan?”

Aleigha was here for the rescue. Of course that would be her exit plan. Bram made one more pass for her, forcing her to roll away from the door as he hit the button so that he could see what was happening out in the bar. As soon as the window was open though, Mihaela jumped at it, shattering the glass. Bram followed close behind, and their battle started all over again in the center of the bar. Ghouls had invaded and were attacking all the humans who had, moments ago, been having the time of their lives. Emma was fighting with Aleigha at the moment, but Bram knew she didn’t stand a chance. Not against an Elder. Especially as the ghouls started to multiply around them.

Ghouls were nothing new to Bram though. Even while chasing Mihaela around the bar, he was taking them out left and right. A quick slice to the throat with his iron dagger and they were down for the count. But he couldn’t focus on Mihaela or Aleigha as he tried to dwindle down the herd. Emma went down shortly after, her throat slit and a dagger in her chest. As that happened, the door to the bar bust open and a black cloaked stranger burst in.

The hooded stranger desecrated the ghouls, leaving Bram the ability to focus on Mihaela. When Aleigha went for him, Bram was there. Mihaela was his equal, but he had taken down other Elders before. Aleigha wasn’t much different. Like any other, she had her powers, but none were like his or Mihaela’s. As his dagger found her heart, he heard Mihaela scream. “NO!” As the vampire’s body crumpled.

He turned to her, but she was able to make it out the door before he could stop her. Taking out her informant and mate left Bram with a feeling of euphoria. At the very least he was able to pay her back for what she did to Tyler. All he could hope was that his friend was still alive and could still be saved.

This wasn’t what he could focus on though. Instead, he followed the stranger’s attacks and helped kill all the ghouls now running amuck in his bar. When all were finally dead, he looked over. “Who are you?”

As the stranger pulled down his hood, Bram’s jaw dropped. “What?”

“I have to tell you. I found Tyler. I have my ways, so don’t ask. He’ll just get pissed.”

“Where is he? We can go right now.” Bram licked his lips. He’d never had support on a mission before, but he knew from the moment he saw who was asking, that he would follow them anywhere.

The stranger shook his head. “We need a plan first. This isn’t going to be easy.” Dark eyes stared at him.

Bram nodded, “It never is.”


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