Good, the Bad, and the Vampire by Sara Humphreys Page B

line and seared through the air side by side toward the cabin.
    You watch your pretty little ass . He touched her mind with his, praying she’d heed his warning. I think your friend is mixed up with some—
    She’s a good girl . Trixie shot back. Anger and fear laced her voice but she didn’t take her eyes off the cabin. You don’t know anything about her.
    Maybe not but you don’t know as much as you think you do.
    Damn it. Suzie warned me about this. I’ll never forgive myself if I’m too late.
    The gargoyle’s scent grew stronger as they approached and Dakota scanned the area with his heightened senses. The same car from the other night was in the driveway but the area was hauntingly quiet. Too quiet.
    Only death brought silence like this.
    Movement in the air to his left captured his attention as they dived down to the gravel driveway. Dakota whipped out the stone dagger as he landed solidly on the ground and carefully surveyed the area. The door to the porch stood open, and golden light spilled out into the darkness. No further sounds came from inside. That could easily mean that the worst had already happened. Trixie landed silently beside him, but he grabbed her arm, preventing her from going any farther.
    Let me go . She tugged but he held fast. I have to get in there.
    Wait . He shook his head slowly. The scent is strong and it could still be here.
    What are you talking about? The blood? That’s her blood, Dakota. I know it . Trixie’s brow furrowed. I have to get to her… She’s hurt. Oh my God. I can hear her heartbeat, Dakota. It’s fading . Her voice shook and tears filled her eyes. Please let me go. I have to help her. Damn it all. This is your fault. If I hadn’t been out there wasting time with you, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.
    Fine . Her words stung like hell but he didn’t flinch . But I’m a sentry and you damn well better do as I tell you. Besides, you don’t know what you’re messin’ with . He pulled her closer and scanned the area around them intently, his enhanced vision revealing who or what could be hiding in the woods. The gargoyle’s pungent aroma was fading and the trail was off to the west of them, toward the main road, which was probably where the coward ran. You’re gonna get yourself killed.
    You don’t understand . Tears spilled down her cheeks and tugged at Dakota’s withered excuse of a heart. She’s my daughter .
    Stunned by her admission, Dakota loosened his grip just enough for Trixie to yank her arm from his grasp. As she disappeared inside the house in a blur of speed, a renewed surge of hatred for gargoyles bubbled up. He closed his eyes and refocused his attention, immediately picking up on the gargoyle’s scent. He snapped his head to the left and a growl rumbled in his chest as he leaped into the air, following the bastard’s trail.

Chapter 7
    The smell of blood overwhelmed Trixie the instant she stepped inside the tiny cabin, but it was the first time in decades that it made her stomach turn. This wasn’t just any human’s blood…it was Chelsea’s.
    She’d been too late.
    Clutching her belly with one hand, Trixie stood in the living room and tried to calm her quaking body, but it was useless. A sense of dread filled her as she moved through the house, surveying the wreckage. The sweetly decorated home, the one that Chelsea had worked so hard to maintain, was completely destroyed in the wake of what must have been an epic battle.
    Trixie made her way toward the bedroom at the back of the cabin, following the horrifying sound of Chelsea’s fading heartbeat. She wanted to run, to fly. But her body wouldn’t cooperate. Fear and disbelief had her in their viselike grip and made her feel as though she was walking through a river of molasses.
    She was rendered practically immobile by the idea of what she might find in that bedroom. Blood smeared