Free Vaewolf: Damn the Darkness: The Prophecy's Promise (Hearts of Darkness Book 3) by Eliza March

their blood during Caitlin’s crucial change.
    Max gestured at Dylan with his glass. “Even though Victor knows more about the situation than anyone, there’s a great deal of testing we still have to do.”
    “I agree, but we need Victor here—” Dylan argued.
    “Tell him, Max.” Shelby pointed at Dylan.
    “When I called, Victor was tying up loose ends in Guatemala. He should be finished up soon and be ready to get on his way. He said don’t get your hopes up, maybe he can get out tomorrow or the next day, and he’s ready to help in any way. Also said he could use some research stimulation,” Max added.
    Dylan paced as he spoke. “Good. We’ll need him to do more than research, Max.” Dylan released the tension he’d been holding in with a quick shoulder roll. “There was a demon attack on Jackson’s wolves.”
    Shelby gasped. “Is that what you meant on the phone?” Dylan nodded and Max shook his head.
    “Victor has a strong need to atone for his earlier life—the dark time after Amyra turned him. Even if no one blames him for his actions, he does. He blames himself for the death and destruction he’s caused.” Max shared the story Kyle shared about Victor’s early life.
    “As a newly turned vampire, Amyra left him to fend for himself, wild and crazed from the blood lust, with no knowledge of what he’d become. He’d killed and killed some more. For a Druid healer it was the worst thing he could’ve endured. Then, when he came to his senses, his guilt almost drove him mad. Finally, he’d learned how to live as the creature he’d become, avoiding Amyra every chance he got. He’s spent the rest of his life helping others whenever he could.”
    “Hopefully there won’t be any natural catastrophes to occupy him until he gets here,” Shelby said. “His blood-line will be an asset when we decide to track the demons. Since we aren’t battling Amyra, he won’t feel the need to hold back if we encounter trouble.”
    “One more vampire with demon blood around here won’t be a hardship when it comes to tracking them down.” Dylan would feel better when they determined the reason the demons forced their way through the portal, and Victor might have an answer about Caitlin’s rapid onset metamorphosis.
    Shelby tapped a sheaf of papers on her lap. “Kyle and I are up to our eyeballs at the hospital doing trials on the rogue virus.”
    The virus...” Dylan slapped a hand to his forehead. “Oh no.”
    “You can relax.” Shelby said. “It’s one less thing to worry about with Caitlin. We gave her the first batch of anti-viral serum Max developed before she went through the change.”
    For now, Dylan could take comfort in the fact she wouldn’t carry the rogue virus. “Look, I have to get going, but will you both stay? I’d like to discuss a few other issues with you, later.”
    “Sure,” Max said. “I’m going to check this blood sample in the lab out back. Will you stay with Caitlin, Shelby?”
    “Of course.”
    Dylan realized Shelby looked visibly tense, and tired. “Why don’t you take the weekend off, Shelby? Have a girls’ day by the pool with Caitlin and relax. I’ll call in medical help from a neighboring Parrish to help Kyle out at the clinic.”
    “I kinda like the idea.” She scooped her red curls into some twisted design and wrapped a band around it. The effect was a high pony tail that made her look even younger, especially when she grinned. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had a girlfriend to hang with. Maybe we’ll make it a party, invite Isobel and Genevieve, little Juliette...and Simone. She’s always good for a laugh or two.”
    Dylan winced at the succubus’ name.
    “Why do you do that? Simone is my friend.”
    “The dark fae always makes me wary.”
    “She’d never done anything to cause us to doubt her loyalty.”
    To the contrary, Shelby was right—Simone was clearly on their side against the demons and the rogue jaguars, and lately she’d been