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From Protector of the Grey House:

Natalia yelled a warning too late. The Blitzkrieg howled in the same instant as it landed on the deadly creature. The Blitzkrieg’s foot long claws broke in succession; ten dry twigs under the pressure of a heavy boot.  The bits of glass and metal sank deep into the pads of his feet and flesh of his hands. The wolf still flung its mouth open and tried to sink its teeth into the demon’s nonexistent flesh. The wolf gave a mangled howl as his snout, gums and tongue were ripped into ribbons. The demon brought its glass hands up almost leisurely as the wolf tried to pry his teeth off the demon. As the wolf continued to struggle, the demon wrapped its deadly hands around the Blitzkrieg’s throat and started to squeeze.

Natalia pulled herself out of Rebecca’s arms and stood, her anger at the creature and fear for the wolf’s life clashed in her head and clouded her mind. She watched helplessly as the wolf’s head was ripped off by the sharp, jagged edges of the demon’s hands. The Blitzkrieg’s neck nearly exploded as the glass and metal creature sliced through the wolf’s flesh and showered Rebecca and Natalia with blood. The human saw Rebecca start to change and, in that instant, saw the reality of the situation. The wolves gathered nearby, ready to try and take this monstrosity down. All of them would die if they did. Calm battle instinct gripped her mind and all thoughts stilled. She took two quick steps to Rebecca and knocked the woman to the floor.

I’m on vacation and was away from internet (on my computer) fora few days. Yes, I am one of those odd individuals that prefers using internet on a computer for most things. I could have scheduled posts, but then forgot to. Because of course I did. But, I have access again! As a bonus, I’m sharing a longer passage.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Charlie watched as the beautiful human walked toward his group. No one had moved since she pushed Rebecca out of the way and launched herself at the demon. They had been too stunned at her actions and at Orlando’s death. Charlie stared at her face, and wondered at the transformation. She stood tall and looked sure of herself, but for the tears that streamed down her face. He caught the look in her eyes, closed his eyes and looked away. There was no emotion in her eyes. Although the tears betrayed the humanity that lay in her heart, her eyes did not look human. She had come a long way from the scared 18-year-old that had been thrown into the room with the trapped werewolf.

Charlie looked back to the woman he used to call his lover and found her staring at him. The look in her eye grabbed him and threatened to hold him up as the world crumbled at her feet. Charlie shook at the look, and understood it completely. She was his leader. The others around her seemed to sense the same thing. Rebecca handed her the scabbard for her sword, with her head bowed. Natalia sheathed the sword and called to him. Charlie came forward and fell to his knees at her feet. She handed him the sword and whispered for him to take it to the car. He nodded and left, as he knew his place well. He was her sword bearer and protector; would carry out his duty until she couldn’t wield the sword, and until he repaid his debt.

Vincent watched as his lady handed off the sword then walked to Orlando’s body. She knelt beside the corpse and carefully tried to remove him from the demon’s remnants. He watched also, as Rebecca came and helped to pick the headless body up and lay it carefully on the floor. Doug went for the head and laid it at the top of Orlando’s severed neck. Vincent thought it strange that though the body was human, the head was still Blitzkrieg. The wolves didn’t seem bothered by this and Natalia appeared not to notice as she picked the glass bits out of Orlando’s human body. Vincent also saw how the others reacted to her and wondered why. He handed the short sword to Joseph and hurried to Natalia.

Vincent placed his hand on her shoulder and waited until she turned the full force of that look upon him. He understood what the others had seen. She stood and faced him as his equal. He wondered if she realized how she looked. Vincent wiped her tears away and knew that later, much later, she would lie in his arms and cry for the loss of life. But now, as she removed the traces of the demon from Orlando’s skin, she would show nothing but her warrior’s face. It was something a leader would do. The others had seen that and responded to it.

Vincent found himself responding to the look as well. All he wanted was to draw her to him and give her a deep kiss. There was carnage around them, though and they were not done. Orlando was dead and Edwin escaped during the attack after he killed the mayor’s date. They had to get out of the house, as Edwin might have called the human authorities. He pulled away from Natalia, and gave orders. The others listened and did as they were told.

In minutes, his people were out the door, in the cars and headed back home. The sun had started to show itself in the east. Humans drove the limos and moved dividers up as soon as they could. Vincent and Natalia were in the back of the medium sized limo and the rest of his people had found their way into the large limo. He had not planned on this arrangement, but knew his people made it happen to give their leaders some privacy. Natalia leaned against him. She sighed as battle instinct left and his lover returned. He turned his head, kissed the top of her head, and inhaled her scent.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Natalia swung the small extinguisher over her shoulder, holding it with her right hand while her left went to her side. She was leaning into her left leg, her feet shoulder width apart, ten feet from Alexandra. She stared at the kneeling mass of charred vampire, a slight smirk on her face. The room was so quiet she could hear Alexandra’s skin crackling. She waited, and watched as more and more of the creature’s skin healed, knowing the woman was still capable of hurting her. Seconds later, Alexandra moved toward her. Natalia swung the extinguisher and connected with Alexandra’s head when the woman was two feet from her reach. The solid TANG! of extinguisher hitting skull echoed in the high ceiling room and Alexandra went sprawling. The side of her head was sunken in, but she was still healing herself.

Natalia, tired of waiting for the vampire to turn to dust, stepped forward swiftly, swung her weapon around and brought the flat bottom down hard. The unyielding metal slammed into the vampire’s head, crushing bone and brain. It was finally enough. Alexandra tried once more to heal the damage and failed, turning to dust with one final wordless sound. Natalia looked up and caught Vincent’s eye, then glanced around the room. She stood tall and left the extinguisher on the ground.

Sometimes, it surprises me what words I can find in my novel. I almost forgot that I used ‘cattle’ in the book. But it wasn’t to describe actual bovine.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“Is she awake?” Edwin’s shrill voice made her curl her lip.

“Starting to be.”

“Lean her against the wall. Let’s see if her presence makes this one talk. Franklin. Guard her.”

She heard an odd tone in his voice but couldn’t place it and let it go. Stray thoughts wouldn’t help her. She was placed on the cement floor, her back to the wall. Franklin did as told, standing a little in front of her. The fork was in her left pocket, but she thought she would be able to reach it, as Franklin was hiding her actions. She was also able to see the man chained to the wall and realized it was Charlie. It surprised her, as he was still human and the vampires in the room were still here. Edwin reached out and touched him with a cattle prod before asking him a question.

“Where are the rest of the humans?” His voice was light as if they were having a pleasant conversation.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Natalia continued to stare at the wall next to the shower, as her fingers tapped out a nervous tune. There was a space of about five feet long next to the shower stall. Most of the walls had something on or against them: shower stall, toilet, sink, shelves or mirrors. That spot was oddly empty. She wondered why she had never thought about it or the large empty area of the second floor beyond Vincent’s room. She realized it didn’t matter. She pushed off the tub and went to the wall, as she wondered what the trick was. There was a door here; she would find it.

Natalia thought it out in her head and bounced on her  heels as she measured out the possible door. It had to be about this far away from the shower and about this wide for the wiring, if it was an electronic door, and she knew it was. She started to search the wall beside the shower, to find a catch or release that would trigger the door. She took her time, as she knew Vincent would have hidden it well. This was a secret room; the door would be even more of a secret. A tile at about the height of Vincent’s shoulder moved slightly when she pressed against it. She pressed harder and heard a click. The tile slid up into the wall and revealed a keypad.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“Not until you answer my question. Where are you going?”

With her free hand she slapped him hard on his cheek. He barely felt it and did not turn his head. “I said let me go! You have no reason to have me down here!”

He moved fast and her head spun. She was up against the wall, his hand around her neck. There was a glint of fear in her eyes, that quickly turned to anger.

“You wish me to let you go? Tell me where you are going.”

She bared her teeth. “Away from you!”

“And then where?” His voice stayed mild.

Natalia kicked at his legs, but Joseph barely felt it. With his hand still around her neck, he moved toward the last cell in the dungeon. She threatened to kill him, but her voice turned raspy as he restricted her air flow slightly. Once inside the room, he stopped moving and looked at her coldly.

“Look down, Natalia.”

She bared her teeth. “I said let me go, you miserable Hellspawn!”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Natalia nodded, readied herself mentally, stepped out of the shadows and stopped cold when a familiar form turned the corner. The lone figure moved closer and Natalia took a deep breath to stop shaking. Ashley. What was she doing here?

A cold dread worked itself into her gut. Donavon had been spending time with a woman while in San Francisco. Natalia had an awful feeling that the dangerous vampire was seeing Ashley. She tried to convince herself it was a coincidence; Ashley was here to visit a sick friend or relative. It was a hard lie to tell herself. Ashley had no relatives and her Slayer friends almost never went to the hospital. Natalia learned early that coincidences didn’t happen if you knew of the real terror that gripped the fragile human world. She started across the street then jogged as Ashley entered the hospital. Once inside, Natalia used the stairs to run up to the floor the Mayor was on, knowing Donavon would be there. She was able to hide herself well enough to observe Donavan at the Mayor’s door as she waited for the inevitable.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Morgan had been one of Edwin’s favorites, of sorts. He had been on the fringes of Edwin’s society, but was always treated with respect and dignity. He took it very personally that the new Captain did not afford him the same courtesies. “You give the human too many freedoms. You should drain her and throw her to your wolf slaves.”

Vincent knew Morgan wouldn’t have said such a thing if any of the wolves were present. It was the night of the full moon. Rebecca and Charlie were downstairs in the dungeon, locked up and sedated. Doug was out in the silver pen, tearing sheep apart. It was his turn to let loose. Vincent considered having Morgan taken out to the pen and have him repeat the words, but knew Natalia wanted a fight. And who was he to deny her what she wished?

Vincent sat back to watch the fireworks. He had never been able to watch Natalia fight while sitting on his throne. He imagined he would greatly enjoy it.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Mierka greeted her in the garage. “Hello.”

“For some reason, I almost expected Joseph.” She gave Mierka a weary smile as she closed the car door.

“Am I a good stand in?” There was a smirk on the woman’s face.

Natalia laughed nervously as she rounded the car. “Yes, but he was keeping me up to date during all this.”

“I was taking care of Vincent. As he is not here yet, I choose to be where you are.”

“Thank you.” She stood next to Mierka now. “When will he be back?”

“Couple more hours. Did you find an answer to Joseph’s question?”

“No, but this is home.”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Natalia blushed a bit as she regarded the petite woman in front of her. She wasn’t opposed to the suggestion, but Mierka had never made any indication there was an attraction. The human thought about it for a moment, then decided. She gave Mierka a smirk.

“All right. Sounds fun. Let’s see what you can do.”

Mierka mirrored the smirk, then slipped one hand behind Natalia’s neck. She drew the woman down for a kiss. Natalia returned it and slipped one arm around Mierka’s waist. Natalia reached out to Vincent with her other hand as the kiss grew aggressive. He took her hand and watched as the women kissed. Joseph made a pleasured noise as Mierka finally broke away from Natalia.

“I will have you.” She breathed quietly to Natalia.

“We’ll see.” Natalia stated with a smirk.

The woman laughed and Mierka let Natalia go completely.