Free Ember's Curse (Prime Wolf) by Gena D. Lutz

grimace. She tore the stake out of Collin’s hand and in one graceful leap, jumped over the hood of the van. She disappeared behind it in the direction of the dead bodies. They weren't piled up nice and neat like before. They were up and moving, and they were completely consumed by thirst.
    A vampire’s first thought upon awakening is always one of blood and sex, both at the same time was usual. The older the vamp, the easier it was for them to control the overwhelming urges of their kind. The victims never lived through it if they were human and the vamp was newly turned. They were also stronger as newborns. This wasn't going to be pleasant.
    I grabbed my own stake and threw it at Collin. He looked at me confused but took it. "I work better with my claws anyways," I said, running toward the action. "Just try to keep up."
    Those kinds of comments could emasculate a man.
    It's a good thing my man knows how badass he is then.
    By the time I reached the brawl, Tegan had already gained the attention of the newly turned vampires. Well, all of them except for one. A lone shivering newborn was curled up tight into himself, rocking back and forth in the corner away from the others.
    The goth princess moved around the flailing kicks and lightening quick jabs of the other two, like a ballerina executing the dance of her career. She was lethal and darkly exquisite.
    I watched patiently on for an opening so I could try to insert myself seamlessly into the battle, but my help wasn't needed. No one’s was. She could handle this fight perfectly fine on her own.
    "I am feeling awkwardly unneeded right now," I said to Collin who was standing a few feet away leaning lazily against the wall.
    "Welcome to my world, sexy lady. Tegan is a force all of her own."
    That "force" delivered a roundhouse kick to one of the attacking vamps, and while in mid-turn from said kick, used the momentum from it to push the stake up and under the rib cage of the second one. The garden stake sunk effortlessly into his heart. "One down," Tegan said, letting the now dead vampire slide limply from her weapon and turned to face the other. “One more leach to go."
    She twirled the blood soaked stake like a baton. Blood splattered everywhere; across the walls, floor, and all over Tegan’s clothes and face. Nathan was going to be pissed off at the mess she was making.
    The remaining vampire rushed Tegan. She jumped into the air and brought her leg up for a kick to his head. Right before her boot made contact, he grabbed her calf with both hands. Spinning in a circle, he twirled her into the brick wall. She fell to the ground on her side and the air rushed out of her. Tegan pushed herself up and onto her feet. She wiped the blood that trailed down her hairline from a fresh cut and charged.
    The vampire bared his fangs and hissed before he launched himself at her as well. They crashed together, legs and claws flailing. The vampire got his arms securely around her and began to squeeze. Tegan yelled in pain from the constriction. Her arms were trapped against her body under his hold. She began to chant words I'd never heard before. Her eyes were closed and frown lines creased her forehead. Collin raced for his niece to help her, but slammed into an invisible barrier a few feet before reaching her.
    "What the hell?" he yelled, rushing the clear wall again to no avail. "Tegan. Let me through!" If she heard Collin screaming for her, she didn't let on. Tegan just kept up the melodic chant. Her lips moved frantically and small wisps of smoke started trickling out from under the vampires black fatigues. A horrid smell reached me and I covered my mouth and nose with my shirt. It smelled like rotten flesh set to boil.
    The vampire dropped his hold on her but she still kept up her chant without missing a beat. Light spilled out all around her. Every part of her lit up like a light bulb. Oddly enough, the bright light only hit the vampire she was fighting. The other one was still