Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [105]
Roman cleared his throat.
Marielle turned to see him and Shanna watching her and Connor curiously.
“I have to hold her to teleport her,” Connor grumbled.
“I have to hold him, too.” Marielle slipped her arms around his neck.
“Why do you have to go?” Shanna asked her.
“I have to do my part to make sure Casimir is defeated,” Marielle replied. “I believe it will convince the Archangels to let me back into heaven. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this is happening by Mount Rushmore, where I lost my wings. It should be where I can get them back.”
“Oh, I see.” Shanna gave her a sad look. “Then you might be leaving us tonight?”
“Perhaps.” Marielle felt Connor’s arm tighten around her. “I can’t be sure this will work.”
Shanna embraced her, then hugged her husband again.
“Ye think ye’re leaving tonight?” Connor whispered.
“I’m not sure. I don’t really know if I can ever get back.”
“But if they come for you tonight, ye’ll go?”
The thought of leaving Connor brought tears to her eyes. “I guess.”
“That was why ye wanted to be with me last night. Ye thought it was our last chance?”
She blinked away the tears and nodded. “I will always love you, Connor.”
“Time to go,” Angus announced.
Connor pulled her tight in a fierce hug, then everything went black.
Chapter Twenty-four
Connor eased forward and peered around a tree. Casimir and a small group of his minions were at the base of Mount Rushmore on a small stage. In front of them, aluminum bleachers ascended a hill to the lookout terraces and buildings that housed gift shops and restaurants for tourists.
He spotted Corky and her cameraman midway up the hill on the first lookout terrace. Below her, people sat on the bleachers. Some were Malcontents holding knives. Others were mortal, and by the blank looks on their faces, he assumed they were all under vampire mind control.
He moved quietly past Casimir’s inept guards, then dashed back to Angus and the first team.
“Hostages,” he whispered. “About fifty-five mortals. Sitting on bleachers, eleven to each row. Behind each row of mortals, there’s a row of Malcontents, armed with knives.”
Emma winced. “If we attack, they’ll start killing the mortals.”
“Casimir is surrounded by five bodyguards,” Connor continued. “There are three guards on this side just inside the woods, and probably a few more on the other side. We should take out them out first.”
Angus nodded. “Jean-Luc, take three men and teleport to the other side. Kill any guards over there. Quietly.”
“Got it.” Jean-Luc motioned for Dougal, Ian, and Phineas to follow him. The four men sped up the hill.
“I’ll surrender to Casimir,” Roman whispered.
Angus flinched. “Nay.”
“I’m the one he wants the most,” Roman argued. “I’ll offer myself if he lets the mortals go. It’ll buy us some time till the second team arrives, and if we can get the hostages released, then our guys can attack.”
Angus sighed. “We’ll do that as a last resort. First, let’s get rid of the guards.”
“I’ll show you where they are,” Connor whispered as he pulled a dagger from the sheath beneath his knee sock.
He weaved through the woods back toward the monument. Angus, Emma, Roman, and Marielle moved alongside him. He stopped when he spotted the three guards.
A twig snapped beneath Marielle’s foot, and the guards turned toward them. She hit them with a blast of air, but it barely knocked them back a few feet.
Connor noted the shocked look on her face before he threw his dagger. It thudded into the heart of the first guard, turning him to dust.
Before the second guard could yell out a warning, the third one snapped his neck and plunged a knife into his heart.
Angus froze, his arm raised and ready to throw his dagger.
The third guard dropped his knife and held up his hands. “Don’t kill me,” he whispered in heavily accented English. “I am Stanislav.”
“Aye.” Angus lowered his arm. “What can ye tell us?”
“Casimir thinks you will surrender to save mortals.” Stan looked them over, frowning. “Is all the men you have?”
“Nay,” Angus said.
Stan nodded.