by Brenda Trim
Dante needed to kill these and get out of there. He was losing energy and hadn’t had much to start with. Soon he would be unable to do much. “Who are you working for?”
Chittering filled the room followed by what sounded like cackles. Well, if the gagging-snarling could be called that. He assumed the spiders were laughing given the way their bodies were shaking.
“You can tell that asshole he’ll never lay his hands on the fallen again.”
The chittering increased in volume and the seven-legged shit lunged for Dante. Turning to the side, he ducked and swiped, cutting of the lower sections of two legs. It kind of hobbled now as it howled.
Fresh air blew through the room drawing Dante’s attention to the far side of the room. The third spider crawled through at the same moment something stabbed into his back.
“Dammit.” His numb hand went up and back, landing on a wet, squishy object. Grabbing hold, Dante flung it over his head. It was near impossible for him to determine if there was anything in his grip. The burn of the blood was the only indication he had the demon.
Half-face landed on top of five-legs. Black spots filled Dante’s vision and he staggered. He couldn’t feel his left arm at all, and it was spreading out from there. Lifting his right hand, he intended to stab half-face and ended up face first in the charcoal brain matter.
His hand moved as fast as possible and hacked the remaining brain to bits. Dante didn’t stop until it stopped moving. His body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. Using his tongue, he pressed the button on his smart watch. “Call Lucas.” He wasn’t sure if the words left his mouth or not. His vision was going. Five-legs was still alive.
“Dante. Dante! Are you there?” Thank fuck he managed to get the call out.
“Luc…Lucas. Spider demons at Chloe’s. One dead…two more.” Dante barely felt anything as his body went flying through the air. Being free of the acidic blood was a relief, but his face still burned, and his body couldn’t decide if it was numb or in agony.
“I’m on my way with Axel and Jett. Hang on.”
Dante couldn’t respond to Lucas. He was too busy trying to find the remaining spider demon. He heard the jumping, scuttle as it moved. The sound seemed far away. A groan left his mouth.
Dante blinked his eyes open in time to see a massive, hairy, black leg coming at his face. His left side didn’t work, so, using his right arm and leg, he swung his blade and pushed his body with his foot.
He moved and his weapon lodged into the spider’s cranium. Breaths heaving out of his chest, Dante left the knife in the demon and pushed to his knees. Grabbing the remaining weapon from his waist, he plunged it down into the top of the demon’s skull and collapsed on top of it.
The thing beneath him shuddered rapidly, making its coarse hairs dig into his skin. He was beyond moving at that point. He never finished packing Chloe’s clothes. He needed to kill this fucker and grab what she needed, so he could get out of there and lock himself in the dungeon below Jessup House.
He wasn’t going to find a female and he was losing control of his inner beast. He refused to let that fucker free. He would never again fuck another being without permission. He’d rather die first. He was just pissed he’d let Chloe down. He promised to grab her clothes for her.
Her sultry scent blew by his nose. Gods he wished he could have fucked her once before he died. She was one female he’d regret not experiencing. Maybe that was his need talking, but he didn’t care. She smelled fucking delicious.
His breathing slowed down. That spider must have injected him with venom. He’d assumed it had been his leg that stabbed his back, but apparently it had one functioning fang. Chances were good that Lucas would make it to him in time.
He took a deep breath and prayed for more of Chloe’s essence to fill him. He’d rather be in her arms, but he’d take his last breath being full of her scent.
Chapter 8
Here goes nothing. Hayden took a deep breath and pulled the door open. Air conditioning blasted out cooling the sweat caused by the humid heat in Washington DC. The people filling the entrance were all anxious as they fell into line behind a major security station.
He’d never seen such a scene in his life. The large objects that resembled doorways beeped as some went through. The officers instructed them to remove all metal from their pockets and sent them through again. Why do they care of they have metal on them?
It was the massive poster on the wall prohibiting anyone from bringing certain items into the building that clued Hayden in. Didn’t they want individuals to be able to defend themselves? He didn’t understand why they refused to allow their kind to bring weapons in the building.
Surely, they were strong enough to handle anyone that lost his shit and control a situation before getting too out of control. As he stood waiting for his turn to be allowed in the building, he tried to keep his concerns at bay. As Omega it was his job to force his shifters into complying with his edicts.
Shaking his head, he removed his phone and car keys when he reached the front. A middle-aged human male held out a plastic container. “Who are you here to see?”
Hayden placed his stuff in the bowl. “I have an eleven o’clock with Richard Peyton.” The guard waved him through, and he made his way to the wall of elevators. He’d never seen more in one building in his life.
There were easily two dozen people in various positions within the FBI. Hayden had no idea what they did and decided to start with the director of the Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG). It seemed like the section that would be called into action during a demon attack. None of the other areas seemed to fit.
He briefly considered the counterterrorism and counterintelligence divisions but dismissed them. He needed to work with an agency trained to respond to crises quickly. They never received enough advance warning to train and gather an appropriate team. Whoever cooperated with them needed to be able to act fast.
Entering the next elevator, Hayden selected the appropriate floor and informed the receptionist he was there for Mr. Peyton when he entered the office. The wait grated on his nerves and had him growling under his breath while his animals prowled just beneath the surface of his skin.
A human male with short, light brown hair and grey-blue eyes finally approached Hayden. “Mr. Jesaray. I’m Dick Peyton. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Clasping the hand offered, Hayden noted the difference in their grips. Dick had less strength than he’d expected. “Thank you for meeting me.”
Dick started down the hall he’d just come from. Hayden followed while his animals continued to lurk. “What can I do for you?” The director of CIRG motioned to a chair on the opposite side of his desk.
Hayden paused next to the seat. The office was formal with shelves full of books, an emblem with an eagle on one wall, and picture frames on the desk along with a computer. Where are the weapons? And soldiers? He sat in the chair, keeping his gaze on Dick.
Oh well. Like his grandmother always said. You can’t judge a dragon by the size of its teeth. “I’d like to talk to you about demons and your help battling them.” Ripping the band aide off was the best approach in this scenario. Neither of them had time to beat around the bush.
Dick’s eyes went wide and his lower jaw went slack before he sputtered. A growl slipped from Hayden’s throat that time and Dick jerked then closed his mouth. “Umm. Well, that’s not our area of expertise.”
This guy was a fucking idiot. Deep breath in and out. “I know it isn’t, but I along with the others on the council are. We have been fighting them for centuries and now it’s time for humans to help.”
Dick titled his head and tapped a pen on his desk. “Let me get this straight. Demons exist and you and your buddies have been in combat with them for hundreds of years? And you want our help to what? Kill them?”
Hayden narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like the tone of Dick’s voice or the way he was looking at him. “In a nutshell. It’s the least humans can do, s
eeing as we’ve lost thousands over the years.”
“You’re not human?”
Hayden’s chest rumbled with warning, his bear at the surface. “Do I look human?” He may have a human form on the outside right now, but his animals were never far and they gave him a distinct look that was undeniable.
Dick’s face paled and his throat bobbed up and down with a hard swallow. He stared at Hayden for several seconds before shaking his head. “I have no idea what kind of special effects you’re testing or what your agenda is, but it’s illegal to give the FBI a false report. Not to mention it’s a waste of my time. What’s your purpose in coming here and spouting such nonsense?”
The director’s gaze shifted around the room and he lifted in his chair and scanned Hayden’s hands and legs. Special effects? What the fuck was this guy talking about? They weren’t in a movie.
“My agenda, as you put it, is to get your help in protecting innocent lives from being lost. Thousands of supernaturals have given their lives to keep humans safe while your kind has done nothing. You take your safety for granted without lifting a finger to defend yourselves.” Hayden stood, then placed his hands on the desk and leaned over putting his face close to Dick’s.
“I’m sick and fucking tired of doing the dirty work for you. You may not have much strength or skill, but you have weapons. Those weapons can injure demons and allow my kind to kill them without loss of life.”
Dick pressed a button on the phone. A second later the female from out front echoed through the speaker. “Can I help you, sir?”
“Call security. Now.” Dick pressed the button again as a smile spread over Hayden’s face. “I don’t know who you are, Mr. Jesaray but it’s time you leave and check yourself into a psych ward. I can see you’re utterly serious about this. All I can tell you is these demons you’re seeing aren’t real. They’re a figment of your imagination and there are medications to help with that.”
Four security guards entered the office before Dick finished talking and flanked the sides of the desk. Their hands hovered over their guns and they glared at Hayden. This was complete bullshit. Humans were blind idiots. Even when Crocell and her sister appeared in all their gory glory they denied what was in front of them. He should have known this wasn’t going to be easy.
Standing up, Hayden dipped his head at Dick. “Pray you don’t encounter a Behemoth demon on your way home, Dick. I won’t be there to save your sorry ass.”
With a growl that shook the windows, Hayden turned on his heels and left the office. He didn’t bother with the elevator this time. Taking them three at a time, he flew down the stairs and was outside before the slow humans caught up.
His blood boiled with his rage. How could he be so blinded to the truth? The encounter only solidified Hayden’s desire to involve the humans. They needed to know what lurked in the darkness. Walking around ignorant and taking stupid risks created ten times more work for their Dark Warriors when they could avoid it.
Checking his watch, he pulled his keys and headed to the rental. He had a meeting with the CIA in a couple hours. Hopefully, his rage cooled during the drive there. The tall buildings and cars were thick the entire drive across the river. As he drew closer to the building in question, trees replaced the concrete jungle. His beasts wanted out.
By the time he parked and entered the building, he was a bit calmer. That didn’t last. He encountered the same disbelief and ridicule with the CIA as he had with Richard Peyton.
He just needed to get away from there and he could find a remote place to shift. His bear finally broke free, forcing Hayden to pull over before he ruined the vehicle. He had removed his shirt and shoes before it burst forth. The rest of his clothes were destroyed in the process.
Throwing his massive head back, he roared and took off into the trees. There was enough foliage around that Hayden was able to run for an hour without stopping. His paws moved over the dirt with ease. What would it take to convince humans demons and supernaturals were real? Zander couldn’t be right about this. The mere thought that the Vampire King was correct when he said humans couldn’t handle the knowledge infuriated Hayden.
Give up before something even worse happens. Hayden should listen to his inner critic. If he caused any of his kind to come to harm, he would never forgive himself. They’d lost enough already.
How could he give up now when he’d come this far? Pack comes first. Always. His grandfather’s words rang through his head, making him stop and take stock of what he was doing.
The Virginia pack needed their Omega. They’ve been fraying at the edges and pushing the local alpha too far. Before he continued his search for humans to ally with, he’d visit the local pack and check in with them.
It would be easier to concentrate on his mission after sharing his energy with the pack here and fulfilling his responsibilities. His kind needed him, and he couldn’t deny them any longer for a bunch of mortals that refused to see what was right in front of them.
Hayden squinted through the windshield in search of the dirt road. He should have come here to start with and never bothered with the humans. They’re ignorant fools that deserve to be eaten alive by demons.
The clouds shifted illuminating the narrow path he needed. Cranking the wheel to the left, the rear wheels spun, and dirt flew up forming a cloud around the car. The back end swung to the left then right, forcing Hayden to correct it by turning into the swerve. Rocks spit out behind the back tires as he finally got traction and the car straightened out.
Releasing the breath he was holding, Hayden continued down the road. He needed to pull his head out of his ass, or he was going to crash the rental car. The last thing he wanted at the moment was to be delayed anymore. A tingle spread from his fingers to the rest of his body the second he crossed the second cattle guard.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, he didn’t see the spell protecting pack lands. If he was human, he’d have turned around without even knowing it. That was one layer of the charms around the land. The second layer would have zapped him and fried his brain matter if he was a demon.
Before the Rowan sisters took over as High Priestesses there were no spells available that could keep out demons. Now, everyone in the Tehrex Realm could purchase spells to protect their house and/or lands from the evil monstrosities. It was one of the changes the powerful triplets enacted.
Within seconds, wolves, coyotes, bobcats, tigers and bears ran alongside his car. A smile spread over Hayden’s face when the howls, growls and roars filled the night air. Energy seeped through the door frame and surrounded him. It fed his animals in a way nothing else could.
The road ended at a gathering of houses. Hayden had been here countless times and like every pack he visited, it felt like coming home when he stopped the car. Climbing from the vehicle, he twisted his back and stretched.
He stood in front of the garden and main building where everyone gathered. It was also the center of the pack lands here in Virginia. Homes were situated in spokes around three sides with their sacred garden in the front.
The animals jumped and prowled around him. Hayden’s animals responded, going haywire beneath the surface of his skin. The power that had been at the core of his being for as long as he could remember stretched and pushed out to encompass every cell in his body.
The shifters around him stopped stalking around him and sat on their haunches. There was a collective sigh. Hayden walked to the stone image of the Triskele Amulet and stood in the center.
It seemed as if the Goddess Morrigan was next to him at that moment. He’d only felt closer to their creator when he performed mating ceremonies. The amulet was the symbol of their Goddess and had been an integral part of their way of life forever. For those like Hayden, it fueled them.
A rogue thought intruded on the moment, catching him by surprise. If the emblem did this to him, how did it impact Izzy? She was the physical embodiment of the Goddess. She had power beyond anything the realm had ever seen. Yet not once had sh
e ever misused it. She’d suffered greatly because of it. Had been hunted by demons from the moment she was conceived.
A vice squeezed his heart. No wonder Zander took the position he did. Not only was he following the Goddess’s edicts, but he was protecting his daughter. It galled Hayden that part of him understood the Vampire King. Dismissing that, Hayden held the desire to cocoon Izzy and keep her safe close to his heart.
“I hope I haven’t missed dinner.” Hayden chuckled as flashes of lights filled the night. Zings of electricity followed as the pack members shifted back to human form.
Lydia, a feline shifter lowered her head and stared at him through her lashes. “You’re just in time. I made your favorite, Omega.”
Hayden smiled at the sexy female, appreciating her sleek figure. The others approached him, all trying to touch him at the same time. Lydia chuckled and headed along the path to the main building. As Omega, the shifters needed his presence, but they were also vital to him. Everyone grabbed clothes they’d left on the tables on the other side of a large fire pit.
Hayden picked up a young stripling and tossed him in the air while chatting with his father, the alpha in this area, about demonic activity lately. Things had been quiet ever since New Orleans. Yes, they dealt them a blow, but everyone expected demons to come at them with more force than ever. They were so fucking close to accomplishing their goal.
The alpha took his son back and held him close. “Do you expect an attack here? We aren’t near any major cities and while there are sites that were bathed in blood during the birth of this nation, I don’t think they carry the level of evil that’s necessary.”
Hayden followed as everyone started heading toward the doors Lydia opened. “For those exact reasons, Jason don’t discount your location. They make you a prime target for the same reasons it’s unlikely you would be chosen. Now, more than ever you need to remain vigilant.”