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V is for VampWoman
Kerrelyn Sparks
Chapter One
AS A MAN of feords, Mikhail Kirillov never stated the obvious His coh to reach the same conclusion he had Zoltan’s snitch had double-crossed them, and now they’d teleported into a trap
Mikhail quickly scanned the group of Malcontents as they eathered on the ainst their shields They were arht assus were hopelessly stuck in the past, but Mikhail knew better The Malcontents preferred their battles up close and bloody The scent of blood in the air drove them wild
He completed his headcount "Thirty-six to four"
"Could be worse," JL whispered
"We each take out nine," Jack said "We can do it"
Zoltan nodded "We should fight in a circle, so our backs are protected"
Mikhail frowned as his companions drew their swords Zoltan’s idea wasn’t bad, but it would severely li Mikhail valued, it was a life free froes of tiht however he wanted In over six hundred years of battle, no one had co hiressive warrior but never much of a team player
Not that he didn’t care about his friends Just twenty rin that his wife, Lara, was pregnant Mikhail would single-handedly annihilate an entire army of Malcontents to ensure Jack returned to his wife even though it was unlikely that he would need assistance Jack, aka Giacomo di Venezia, was probably the best varee, but he was too busy designing silly clothes, while Jack and Mikhail were helping Zoltan destroy a Malcontent hu based in Albania
As Coven Master of Eastern Europe, Zoltan Czakvar could handle hi who had Mikhail concerned The for American Vamp and probably more comfortable with a pistol in his hand than a sword
A metallic screech pierced the air as the Malcontents drew their swords They shouted taunts across the field, no doubt feeling arrogantly secure in their superior numbers
Time to improve the odds With one swift move, Mikhail reached overhead to draw his weapon froe broadsword, heavy enough that most mortals found it difficult to lift with two hands With his left hand, he pulled a freshly sharpened battle-axe fro the Malcontents to flinch As he charged toward the eyes Just like the weather where and when he would make landfall
Dead center The vampires in the middle lifted their swords and shields in anticipation The ends of the battle line inched forward, hoping to close in and surround hihty swing of his sword, he lopped off three heads Before the dead could fully disintegrate into three piles of dust, he teleported to the left flank and decapitated three more Malcontents With one last stop at the center of the line, he took out three more, then teleported back to his companions The entire maneuver had taken less than five seconds
Shocked, the Malcontents fumbled about A dozen succumbed to fear and teleported away
Mikhail took a deep breath, then bellowed another war cry as he lifted his sword and battle-axe overhead That alone was enough to make threeaway
Behind him, his companions chuckled
"Now it’s twelve to four," Zoltan said
"Way to go, Mikhail," JL added
"What are aiting for?" Jack asked
With a shout, they charged toward the Malcontents Mikhail dispatched tith one swing of his sword, then spun around to take out a third with his axe A quick glance assured hi well Jack had killed two and engaged a third, an ugly guy with a scar down the side of his face Zoltan and JL had each killed one and were fighting a second opponent
That left two Malcontents Mikhail spotted the to sneak up on JL and Zoltan fro someone in the back
He teleported to the first one, turned hilowered at the second Malcontent "Boo"
With a squeak, the second Malcontent teleported away Mikhail wedged his axe beneath his belt, then turned to watch the end of the battle
A burst ofof swords Mikhail tilted his head Thefrom Jack’s jacket A lively rendition of "That’s Aed at his opponent, causing Scarface to jump back six feet With his left hand, Jack pulled out his cell phone and glanced at it
"You don’t have to answer it," Mikhail muttered
"It’s Lara" Jack continued to fence with Scarface "If I don’t answer, she’ll worry"
Mikhail snorted Thank God he’d avoided the trap e and children? Never again
"Hello, bellissima," Jack answered the phone His opponent tried to take advantage of his divided attention by rushing forward, but Jack easily drove hiood tilanced to the side as Zoltan finished off his assailant "Make that ten minutes"
There was a pause as Jack parried with Scarface "No, there’s nothing going on We’re perfectly safe" He deftly handled a well-aiuys doing sword practice"
Stifling a groan, Mikhail slid his sword back into the scabbard JL Wang jabbed his opponent in the heart, turning him to dust He joined Mikhail and Zoltan as they stood nearby, watching Jack
"No, sweetheart, you don’t have to wait ona loipe intended to slice through his knees "I’ll be hoe for h, Zoltan sheathed his sword Jack could have killed Scarface five ry, go ahead and eat" Jack easily fended off another frenzied attack "You’re eating for two, you know"
Mikhail groaned JL glanced at his watch
"What? No, I don’t think you’re fat I think you’re--merda!" Jack leaped to the side to avoid dise to you--"