Free Soul Guard (Elemental Book 5) by Rain Oxford

and the arm of the last with my other just as darkness closed
around me. The instant the final row of lights flashed on, the shadow engulfed
the vampires. The vampires didn’t scream and I didn’t feel heat.
    Instead of focusing on anyone or the tower itself, I
pulled back. Acid-light or not, the shadow pass was filled with monsters, and
there was no way I could protect the three vampires when I couldn’t even see
the threat. Besides, I had a pretty good theory on what those horrible
creatures were, and death by cremation was a better fate.
    Then I felt a cold, heavy force and heard glass
shattering. The shadows dispersed, but the lights were also out. Zinaida and I
got the remaining vampires upstairs, where everyone was huddled around,
avoiding the sunlit spots. When I turned to Zinaida to thank her for her help,
she was staring at me with shock.
    “What?”
    “You have the same magic as the master.”
    “I thought all Dothra wizards could do that.”
    “Only the shadow walkers and the true master’s
followers, and we can’t control the darkness like that; we can only use it to
travel between places. Not even the Shadow Master can control it.”
    I figured she must not have known about the tower.
Since the tower on Dothra’s world was built in the middle of a major city, that
was surprising. “I need to go see that Stephen’s coven is okay. Are you able to
get these people home?”
    She frowned. “No. I am not a humanitarian. I helped
out more than I needed to because Stephen was nice to my human. As far as I am
concerned, I have done enough to help the vampires.”
    I pulled my cellphone out of its holster and called
Maseré, since it was still too early to call Stephen. The frustrated alpha just
sighed when he picked up. “So, I have a group of vampires here who need food
and help getting home.”
    “And the hunters?”
    “Dead.” Silence. “I didn’t kill them. We had inside
help. How’s it going at the coven?”
    “I have rounded up all of the Canada pack members,
but so far it is only Veronica to blame. I’ve had a chat with the alpha of the
week, whose son apparently went missing a couple of weeks ago. Canada suspects
vampires are to blame, particularly Stephen because the alpha’s son was in
Stephen’s territory. Nevertheless, they swear they had no idea what Veronica
was doing.”
    “So it’s Veronica’s brother who’s missing?”
    “I’m not sure. I don’t think they even know who the
guy’s father is.”
    I could hear the disapproval in the alpha’s voice.
“Alright, well, can you arrange for a lot of blood to be brought over?”
    “Just give me the address.”
    “Um… okay. I’ll send a guide.” As if he knew exactly
what my plan was, Rocky appeared right in front of me. Several of the vampires
shrieked.
    “Who are you sending?”
    “You’ll know him when you see him.”
     
    *          *          *
     
    After sending Rocky to bring back Maseré, I looked
for Henry. Since Henry wasn’t at the shack, I returned to the truck, only to
find that he and his pickup were gone. I called him and it went to voicemail,
so I called him again. “Scott went missing last night,” he said when he finally
picked up.
    “So you decided to drive for hundreds of miles
instead of asking me to use the shadow pass?”
    “You said you haven’t figured out how to use it yet.
Also, I didn’t think about it.”
    I sighed. “I’ll call you when I find him.” I hung up.
Next, I focused on Alpha Flagstone’s mind, knowing full well I was probably
going to get punched.
    I barely sensed his mind before the air grew cold,
shadows darkened in the shade of the trees, and Flagstone appeared, too far out
of reach to hit me. He was, however, glaring. “What have I told you about
trying to mess with my mind?”
    “I know it’s taboo, but I don’t know how else to get
ahold of anyone with a key. Henry’s son is missing and I need to find him.”
Since the shifter was Hunt’s