"Yeah, you're both dicks."
"I had planned on detaining you then letting you go to curry favor with Xander for my ascension to the role of Black God. But this … this is even better," Valon said. "I'd rather fuck up Jonny's world by destroying the woman he's fucking."
Ashley shuddered inside at the expression on his face. It wasn't threatening. He was happy. And she had a feeling that was the worst news possible.
"That might work if he gave a shit."
"Then you are a fucking fool and so is he for sending you within my grasp." Valon stepped away. "Time to see what a real Black God does to Naturals that cross him." He motioned the vamps around them forward.
Ashley lowered herself into a fighting stance, unafraid despite the overwhelming numbers. "Jonny will crush you, Valon," she said. "And you better hope you kill me tonight."
"It would be my pleasure." He flashed a smile. "Kill her."
Adrenaline jolted within her, and she glanced towards the door through which Hector had gone. With any luck, he'd be able to bring Charles and the rest of them soon. They weren't going to win this battle, but they might all escape.
She thought so until the second noose draped around her neck and yanked tight enough for her to be forced onto her tiptoes. Ashley stretched up to cut the rope only for two vamps to charge her.
"Come on … now!" she managed, hacking at them while trying to remain on her toes. "This is hardly fair."
"The Black God doesn't play fair," Valon said, standing back to watch.
You have more in common with Jonny than you know, she thought.
A vamp got a blow in. A second slashed her side. Ashley strained to defend herself when doing so meant she couldn't breathe. Charles and Hector didn't appear, and the blows of weapons and fists became an onslaught she wasn't able to stop. Desperation crept into her, along with pain. Her thoughts went to Brandon first and then Jonny, and she hated herself for admitting she hadn't been able to decide because she wasn't able to stop loving either of them.
Not that it mattered. It was about to become too late for her anyway.