"I can't claim this massacre. But I can claim credit for saving you from ending up like the rest of them."
"Jenn …" Jonny's voice was weak. She stepped back over his body, unwilling to lower her guard against the large vamp whose gaze was on her.
"Jonny, hon, what happened?" she asked.
"Help me up." He held out his hand. She pulled him to his feet.
"Stay behind me, Jonny," she directed him. "I'll take care of this."
"No, no, Jenn. I did this," Jonny said. He wobbled on his feet and shook his head. "They ambushed me. I was trying to … I don't know what happened."
"You killed every vamp in the facility," she told him.
"Really?"
"Except for Xander here, who seems immune to just about everything."
"I'm just that tough," Xander said. Jonny looked at the massive vamp, who made no move to close the distance between them.
"He's just really tough," Jonny said. "You survived, too, Jenn."
"The Black God saved those who were loyal to him," Xander supplied.
"That makes sense," Jonny said.
"No, it doesn't," Jenn countered, watching Xander manipulate the boy-god without knowing how he did it.
"Know your place, Guardian," Xander warned in a lower voice.
"I'm ready when you are, vamp."
"Enough," Jonny snapped, dabbing at the blood on his face. "All I know is that I wanted them to stop beating me. Xander's right, Jenn. You two are the only people I trust. I'm sick of living underground anyway."
"Safer underground," Jenn and Xander said simultaneously.
"I don't care. Xander, find me somewhere safe above ground. Jenn, help me to my room. I need to rest."
"I know somewhere safe," Xander said. "We can go now. This place is compromised. Everyone within a hundred miles felt what you did."
"Somewhere safe above ground, with vamps who are loyal?" Jonny asked.
"As you command." Xander held out his hand.
"Jonny-" Jenn objected.
"Take us there," Jonny cut her off. He limped to Xander.
"Your Guardian must come," Xander said.
"Jenn, you must come with me," Jonny echoed.
Her instincts on high alarm, she met Xander's gaze. The vamp smiled slowly. She replaced her weapon and crossed to him, unwilling to show fear. No matter what, she had to stay with Jonny. She accepted Jonny's hand rather than Xander's and closed her eyes to the cold sensations of Transporting. When she opened them, they stood outside a stone façade of a compound built into the side of a mountain and surrounded by evergreen trees whose branches were heavy with snow.