Ste


    I''m unsure what to do. The turbulent weather, along with the rain and the purple clouds, can''t be good. I can physically feel Arachne''s presence, and my hairs stand on edge. There is a bad feeling in my gut.


    I reach to grab Evan''s more giant hand with my right one and peer up at Raphael before taking his hand in the other.


    They squeeze my hands, showing me they are here with me and not going anywhere.


    "What do we do?" Raphael asks.


    "We wait and see what happens," Evan squints his eyes, and his nostrils re before he hisses. "Demons are appearing. There are plenty of them, and they are here to fight." I wet my lips. "Any n or ns?"


    "No, but... I should probably inform the other vampires about what will go down. Lunaris will turn into a warzone."


    I suck in a deep breath. "You should tell them."


    Evan turns around to face the other vampires. His eyes are darkened with both fear and fury. I get the expression; we all had hoped to have more time to prepare and train before Arachne attacked.


    "I know I said we had more time, but it seems the enemy has chosen today to attack. Soon Lunaris will be filled with demons, and you may have to fight them sooner than you thought. Joshua and Ryker, would you mind taking a group of people to lead and fight with?"


    Ryker and Joshua exchange a look before they nod at us. I watch them turn around and then face Evan.


    I wet my lips before speaking from my heart. "Do you think we are strong enough to face Arachne this early? I really didn''t expect her to attack. I''m actually worried..."


    Raphael growls. "I bet that spiderdy nned this all along. She visited us to throw us off and make us think she didn''t n on attacking. But she must have nned this since she sent us the demonmb."


    "That is definitely a possibility," Evan lifts a hand to point ahead. "But we don''t have time to talk or share our theories-look over there."


    I follow his finger and stare at the tinier versions of Arachne wandering the street. Purple spiders with long hairy legs are tumbling over garbage cans in their paths.


    They appear blind or something and instead use their legs to feel around where they walk. It is both creepy and fascinating to watch them. Such vile creatures. Disgusting too.


    Raphael steps forward, summoning fire to cover his entire hand. His expression is determined. "I''m going to burn them-show them what the hell they are getting into!"


    Fire sts from his hands, and every spider screech as they melt from the insane heat. I observe their legs shrink to their body before they are reduced to nothing. But more of them areing.


    Raphael wipes sweat from his forehead on the back of his head before chanting something in a low tone. I notice his eyes glowing in green before something rains down from the sky. Evan chuckles. "We should probably move away a bit."


    I peer up at him. "Why?"


    He smirks. "That was oiling down from the sky."


    Say what now? "Oil?"


    I look ahead and see Raphael ignite an entire area. Explosions of fire light up the whole street, and a building is burning.


    There is also a car rm going off.


    "I think I killed about thirty of them there! And don''t worry!" Raphael turns around to grin at me. "There were no residents inside the house!"


    "No, but it was my house you burned up, you i***t!" Julia hisses at my mate, not afraid of stepping forward. "Where the f**k am I supposed to live right now?"


    Raphael looks clueless. He has never met the angry vampire before and looks at Evan and me for help. To his displeasure, Evan is trying hard not to choke onughter.


    "I guess that''s what you call karma..." Evan''s lips twitch, and he howls when Julia res at him.


    "Karma? Are you serious? What have I ever done to you, huh?" Julia questions. "And why the hell are youughing? You''re the worst leader ever, I swear to god!"


    "Um, not to be mean or anything, but..." Raphael scratches the back of his neck with blinking eyes. "We are about to get invaded by a gigantic spider, and you''re worried about your house?" "Yes?!" Julia growls. "Where am I supposed to live?!"


    The vampire continues throwing her tantrum until an apologetic-looking Whitneyes to tow her away by the arm.


    "Julia..." Whitney grimaces. "Now isn''t the time to argue. We should defeat spiders and not make enemies among each other."


    Julia sighs heavily. "Fine!"


    The two of them walk away, and I notice plenty of vampires are fighting spiders on the streets. Sadly, there seems to be no end to the enemy-more of them keep crawling up from the crack in the ground. "Ah, I see you''ve met my babies already."


    I shift on my heels and repress a growl when Arachne steps out from the shadows. She is followed by alpha Logan and alpha Elias, but something is off about Elias.


    His eyes appear haunted, and I can feel sadness radiating from him. It doesn''t take a genius to figure out what happened-Arachne killed off his mate. Probably to im him as her own partner. "Arachne..." Evan regards the blonde woman with hatred in his gaze. "I didn''t think I would see your ugly mug so soon."


    Arachneughs, but it sounds fake. "Oh, Evan, why so hostile? You knew we would wind up on different sides when you rejected the idea of joining me. Don''t look so disappointed you couldn''t stand here with me." "I''m not disappointed..."


    "Don''t act like you''re not. I know you wish to rule. Pretending you don''t want it isn''t a nice color for you. And by now, you probably realize you''re standing on the wrong side of the war, but not to worry, I will give you onest chance to switch sides, honey." Evan pushes me to stand behind his tall frame. "I would never leave my mate''s side. Never."


    "Ah, so you would rather die?" Arachne questions. Her eyes then travel to the fire surrounding Raphael''s hands, and she gasps. "Wait, how are you doing that? I don''t remember fire being one of your elements."


    Raphaelughs darkly. "I never got the chance to use it on you, but times have changed."


    Fire sts off from Raphael, and Arachne hisses. She steps out of the way from the fire, but Logan isn''t as quick-his skin catches fire, and I watch in terror as he burns.


    I know he was our enemy, but watching another person burn to death is frightening.


    Logan falls to the ground, screaming while trying to crawl forward to get Arachne''s help. His skin is melting. "Please... Arachne... Do something! I''m... I''m in so much... Pain..."


    Arachne tilts her head. "I suppose I could help you out, but... I don''t need your soul or mind, Logan. All I want is your blood, flesh, and body. It wille in handy for what I''m nning."


    I watch the woman walk over to Logan. She bends down to tten her hand and blows something over his body. It makes his muscles bubble, almost like molten hotva, before heughs. "Oh, yeah... I can feel it! The power! I''m finally freed and alive!"


    I take a step back, ncing up at Evan. "What is happening to him? Why is Logan not dead yet?"


    Concern ticks against Evan''s jaw. "I think Arachne just created a new monster-Logan is the host."