The Dark Edge Chronicles - Clan War

Extraction

Truk shuddered with relief as he watched Lash's arms slowly lift to encircle Fiadh's lithe form and return her hug.

"Day Witch's floppy teet, that sucked!" he gasped, sagging onto both knees.

"My friends," Lash said after a long moment in Fiadh's embrace. "Thank you so much for coming for me."

It was said with enough emotion, that Truk felt tears well up in his eyes in response. A look over at Narcist yielded she was letting her tears go, two rivers that poured unimpeded down her tattooed face.

"Of course, my brother," Truk replied with a bit more emotion than he meant to. "You would've done the same for us."

"Without hesitation," Lash hoarsely said. "We are Ventru."

"We are Ventru," Truk and Narcist echoed him, Narcist's voice froggy with her own emotions.

"We are the People of the Night," Fiadh added, her smile still bright as she gently caressed the side of Lash's face. A smile that grew when he looked down at her and nodded in reply, his own smile appearing like a slash of white against the dirt and blood darkening his skin.

"Yes, we are," he said before sobering. "And we need to work these werewolves that fell by my hand so they look like they were killed by their own kind. Or the People of the Night run the risk of starting a war we cannot win."

With Bronwyn and Fiadh keeping watch on the still fighting werewolves out in the field, Lash found pieces of clothing from several separate werewolves that fit enough to cover him at least temporarily and didn't leave any of the werewolf bodies naked, which would have raised flags. Then he, Truk, and Narcist were working hard to make it look like the eighteen dead male werewolves weren't slaughtered by a feral vampire, but by each other, staging a battle scene with deliberate care.

Only after using their knives to modify the torn-out throats to look like they were clawed out, did the job look authentic. A quick sweep to ensure it was laid as best as they could manage considering the circumstances, then it was a quick retreat to the SUV with the two packs still battling the whole time, albeit significantly reduced from what they were when the vampires first arrived.

"Good thing you gave me your credit card to do the bookings," Narcist said, handing Lash a small bag with his ID and finances. Nodding in thanks, he took it and almost immediately passed his credit card over to Truk.

"We need a place to buy me more suitable clothing," he said as Truk took the card over his shoulder. "As Narcist was kind enough to do the honors last time, and we don't want to impose on our resident werewolf, you're up."

Truk nodded.

"And a rest stop with a shower after, I'm guessing," he added, earning himself a nod from Lash in the rear view mirror. While Fiadh didn't mind cuddling with him, bloody and filth-covered as he was, the big vampire was pretty close to not being able to stand himself.

Thankfully they were able to find a clothing kiosk at the rest stop they swung into just outside of Bayeux, along with a shower. After a run in to get basic clothing, Truk returned and it was Lash and Fiadh's turn to disappear into the showers.

"I get why they both went. I just hope they don't decide to go marathon style," Bronwyn dryly noted. "We are running low on nighttime."

"Agreed," Truk said. "But I'm certain Lash will be able to keep his performance timely, as no one is as aware of when the sun comes up as a vampire is!"

Thankfully Fiadh's need to get reacquainted was tempered by her own awareness of the dwindling amount of available time and the couple reappeared after only a half hour. Despite the shortness of their time together, the Irish lilith was fairly glowing with satisfaction as they made their way back to where the SUV was parked.