Jorick shoved a weapon into Katelina's hand. "Stay back!" he shouted and flung her away from the impending fight. Surprised, she skidded and crashed into the bookcases. An invisible shower of books fell around her. She crouched and shielded her head against the avalanche.

After the last book landed with a thud, she stayed on all fours. Her ears strained in the darkness and her imagination filled in the visuals. She'd seen enough vampire battles to know what one looked ...