Passion of the Vampire King (Blood Fire Saga Book 5) by Bella Klaus (best motivational books txt) 📗

darted to Captain Zella, who remained pinned to the ceiling by the jet of water. From the way her arms and legs hung limp around the upward stream, she was probably unconscious.

Panic raced through my veins, pumped by a heart that galloped across my chest. I sent out a silent plea to the enforcers Captain Zella had left in the van. They were probably driving around the block, trying to avoid getting their vehicle clamped.

Fire spread across my hands, but it was useless considering that a) I couldn’t even move a finger and b) the snake had now risen to eye level and flared out a hood like a cobra. A hiss pierced through the air, making every fine hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Every ounce of moisture left my mouth, leaving my pulse fluttering within a dry and brittle throat. It was going to bite me. Bite me and then fill my lungs until I drowned, then it would swallow me whole.

That’s what I would do if I were a demon hybrid who controlled water and didn’t want anyone to know what I’d done with Jonathan.

A watery tongue flickered out from the monster, spraying tiny droplets into my eyes.

Palpitations reverberated across my chest, and I sent messages to every muscle in my body to spring into action, move, jerk… Anything to get me away from the blasted serpent.

Until now, I hadn’t appreciated the sizes of snakes’ mouths, much less those made purely of liquid. Its jaws opened as wide as a crocodile, with rows of fangs hanging off its watery gums like stalactites. A tight fist of panic squeezed my insides and twisted. I had to just stand there, waiting for the thing to put me out of my misery.

Bloody hell. Of all the ways I thought I would die, I would never have imagined myself drowning within the belly of a serpent that would probably evaporate the moment it consumed my body.

“Mmmmm!” Whatever I wanted to say came out a rasp, as Captain Zella had also frozen my vocal cords.

I glanced across the cafe to Lareth who stared at me through glittering eyes. The bloody git was enjoying my helplessness, even though I hadn’t done a single thing to cause him offense.

Lareth’s head twisted to the side with a loud crack, and his head slammed onto the counter. The water snake collapsed into a puddle, followed by a thud, which was probably Captain Zella hitting the ground.

All the magic holding my body captive collapsed, leaving me falling backward with a helpless yelp.

Nut materialized at my side and grabbed onto my waist before I hit the floor.

Breathing hard through my tears, I hung in her arms like a rag doll. “You saved me.”

She stared down at me with solemn eyes and nodded.

“You’ve been with me all along?” I asked.

She inclined her head.

“Thank you.” I wrapped my arms around her broad shoulders.

Setting me on my feet, the demoness gave me an awkward pat on the back and stepped away and straightened her black jumpsuit. I ran a trembling hand through my hair, marveling at how the pair had remained so quiet for the time they’d spent watching over me. Yesterday, I thought I’d been so clever when I’d escaped from Istabelle’s house, but I guess Valentine didn’t hire them for nothing.

Her brother emerged from around the counter, hauling a pale, six-foot man with a shaved head, wearing a maid costume and a headband of cat ears. His muscular limbs dragged across the floor.

Geb threw the man at my feet, who landed face-down on the floor. His miniskirt rode up his hips, revealing a fuzzy ass covered in a pair of frilly knickers and a pin-on tail.

I placed a hand over my chest and stepped back. “This is Lareth?”

Geb nodded and grunted.

“Is he—” My breath hitched. This time, I couldn’t object to the twins’ murderous instincts. Not when they’d just saved me from a watery death. “Is he dead?”

Nut turned Lareth over with her foot, revealing masculine features with thick brows, set within an angular face. His five o’clock shadow that was closer to midnight, his stubble traveling down to a hairy chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.

I rubbed the back of my neck, wondering what was really going on in this establishment. How many guys came here, thinking they were getting served by a sexy young woman? And why did Jonathan disappear?

Water bubbled out of the demon hybrid’s mouth. “Shit.”

My gaze darted to the pair of black boots twitching from behind the counter. “I’m going to check on Captain Zella.”

Nut wrapped an arm around my bicep and pointed at the semi-conscious man. Her scowl and raised chin seemed to say that I should ask the questions I needed and leave. With them.

I glanced at Geb, who gave me a sharp nod. After three years of nonverbal communication with Macavity, I was ninety percent sure that he meant to back his sister up if I tried to turn my back on my former attacker.

“Could you check on the captain, then?”

He shook his head with the same mulish expression as his sister, folding his arms across his broad chest.

“Alright.” I bent low, meeting his glazed eyes with a glower. “Tell me about Jonathan.”

“Never heard of him.”

I pulled back my leg and gave Lareth a sharp kick in the ribs, making him groan. “The gormless-looking blond man who dresses like a bleached-out Paddington Bear?”

“The Neutral,” Lareth rasped. “You’re the third group of people coming here looking for him.”

My heart flipped. I would bet my breakfast that the first and second groups were associated with Kresnik.

“What did you tell them?” I asked.

“Nothing.” He coughed up another mouthful of water. “They all thought I was human and buggered off.”

I crouched at his side and snarled, “What did you do with Jonathan?”

“It’s not me who catches the waifs and strays,” Lareth rasped.

My lips parted with a gasp. “What are you talking about?”

Lareth turned his head to the side and released hacking