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Still, he had my back, and I had his. He’d become like a big brother, even more so than Blaze had ever been. I was relieved that he didn’t seem to have any romantic intention with me, like Rye and Christian. I just couldn’t take it if he did. Having a strong male influence around that wasn’t out to tie me down was refreshing. Still, it made me sad that Sarah was highly interested in him, but he didn’t show any interest in her, either. Or anyone, for that matter. I think he was completely missing the romance gene, actually. I decided I’d have to ask him about that one day.
    “What if he tries to trap us?” I asked.
    Elijah spun the knife in his hands and grinned. “We can take them, and their feral slaves. Been aching for some more action anyway.”
    I laughed but ended up clearing my throat as Christian and Rye both glared at me at the same time. Geez. Can’t have any fun at all.
    “I ’m sure we’ll get our chance soon enough,” Elijah added.
    “That ’s what I’m afraid of,” I muttered as the group came to a stop in another opening in the canyon. This one was smaller than the one where the ferals had attacked us. Mercer waited momentarily as he stared at the wall right before a soft hum from all around us turned into a roaring rumble, and the wall began to shift. It slid smoothly inward, opening up to a dark hole within. As the dust that puffed up from its movement finally rested, I could see bright overhead fluorescent lights heading into a long ramp that led down onto the ground floor of what looked like one side of a large warehouse.
    What is up with hybrids and warehouse hideaways? It reminded me of the warehouse fortress underneath the airport in the middle of the city which Blaze headed up. Lately, I hadn’t been there as often as I used to go, especially with Jeremy taking to the citizens of the underground city of Vida quite well. He never wanted to leave. Who could blame him? It was the only place in Vegas that had other human kids there to play with. It was his paradise, but nothing but sheer claustrophobia for me.
    We marched into the compound, and the large rock wall slid shut behind us with a slow, stomach-shifting rumble. I peered back at it, hoping the sinking feeling of doom sitting like a rock in my stomach would go away. The wall was painted black on the inside, reinforced with sheets of metal and steel. The entire place was like that: dark, black and very much confining. I could feel the air siphoning away from me in a rush to suffocate.
    “Wow, wh o knew this was under all that rock!” Sarah spun around, in awe of the hidden fortress. It was definitely impressive, but it did little to stifle my dread.
    “Yeah, pretty cool, ” I muttered. My mind was on the mass of hybrid vampires gathering to study us. More and more poured in from different halls and doorways, down the metal steps to the upper floor and out from behind the rows and rows of vehicles and storage containers that lined the belly of this place. If the city of Vida looked sterile, this one was the complete black opposite. It was all dark, dark and more dark. Most of these vamps probably never saw the light of day, especially isolated out there so far from any shelter except the slot canyons. Their pale skin was more proof of their reluctance to leave this sanctuary. Not my idea of the perfect place to live.
    “Welcome to our underground fortress. It spans the size of ten football fields. We have living quarters in the third floor surro unding the warehouse and toward the rear. Greenhouse and animal pens are located on the ground floor toward the back, so are the stockrooms, deep in the mountain. Headquarters is just above us.” He pointed up toward the stairs lining the warehouse and leading into a doorway off to the right. “Not much to look at, but it’s home sweet home.” Mercer gave us a wide grin, which only succeeded in making him look even scarier.
    This Mercer was visibly relaxed now that he was within