Flanagan turns his furious gaze toward Alexei. His fingers sprout foot-long, nasty-looking claws. The guttural roar that rips from his chest vibrates through my feet.

A mighty crack resounds across the field as, in a rush of curling Flame, Alexei’s wings appear. Seven feet of clawed dominance spills its shadow across the grass. On the first downward stroke, wind gusts past me, whipping my shirt and nearly toppling my stance.

Flanagan lunges.

Alexei rises unnaturally fast. He tucks in his legs to clear the Lycan’s reach. Flanagan’s claws shred his black trousers and crimson sprays from ripped skin, but though Flanagan jumps higher than I thought possible, he misses grabbing the vampire’s foot by a hairbreadth. Alexei hisses from the air, fangs exposed, black eyes flaming gold. Flanagan leaps again, but Alexei sweeps away. Far more agile than he should be with seven-foot wings.

We’re leaving, Michael.

“What?” Silver fire still engulfs me. I’m standing with legs apart and arms raised in a heady river of power and ecstasy that I never want to end.

Alexei rises higher, his mighty strokes taking him to the far side of Blackriver grounds. His sleek beauty transfixes me as he curves in a wide arc and swoops low. He travels toward me like a bullet, his broad shadow racing over grass and prostrate soldiers.

“Michael!” Flanagan leaps in my direction, but Alyona shoots out a hand, and even as she writhes, grasps his ankle.

“Run, Michael!” Quinton shouts from my other side.

The streaking light plunging through my chest has me frozen. I’m unable to jump from the path of the creature heading my way.

“Stop!” I order the Flame. But it’s too late.

Hold tight, precious one, Alexei says.

He strikes with the force of a descending raptor, circles my waist, and sweeps me into the air. Breath explodes from my chest as the ground drops away beneath me. I fling my arms around his neck.

Holy crapping fuck balls.

Hold on to me.

I haven’t got a choice. I throw my legs around his hips and cling to him, my thighs solid with strain, knuckles cracking. Cold air whips hair in my face as he takes us upward with alarming speed.

“Michael.” Flanagan’s cry from beneath sounds bereft. He’s free from Alyona, but we’re far too high for his reach.

My heart clenches as the tall figure on the grass shrinks to toy size. The wind sucks at my body. I hold on with everything I’ve got, burying my head in Alexei’s neck. I’m enveloped in his rich, chocolate-wine scent. Despite the shock and fury surging through my chest, I can’t help the surge of relief. Home.

You are safe now, my love.

Yeah. I don’t think so.

Chapter 24

24