Against All Odds (Kaliss Book 3)

by Cree Storm

  Marcos let go, but quickly recovered and swiped at Jael, but Jael ducked, just barely getting away before the beasts huge claws sliced into him.

  Hearing the hooved feet racing towards him, Sabien twisted back around, then moved left and grabbed the large horn and then lifted his body up and onto the rhino’s back.

  Vance dropped and rolled damn near crushing Sabien had he not been able to move out of the way. However, Vance took advantage of Sabien’s position and twisted, pushing the tip of his horn into Sabien’s thigh then tried to bring his hooved foot down onto Sabien’s hip.

  Sabien grabbed the hoof and pushed, tossing the rhino backwards. Hearing Jael’s hiss of pain, Sabien turned to check on his mate, and saw blood coming from Jael’s right side as Jael leaped into the air, twisting his legs around the bear’s neck and flipped them both to the ground. Jael then quickly pinned the polar bear’s face down on the floor, grunting in their link. “Every paranormal has a weakness… even these motherfuckers. We just need to find it!”

  Sabien nodded, looking at Vance as he twisted to get up. That’s when he noticed that all of the rhino was covered in hard leathery impenetrable armor except for one fist-sized area on his chest. “I think I know what it is, but I can’t be sure until I can get a look at Marcos’s chest.”

  “Well shit,” Jael hissed, as he tried once more to claw at the bear’s eyes. Marcos roared and slammed his head into Jael’s, causing his mate to grunt and twist away. Sabien had been so focused on Jael that he made a huge error. He had taken his eyes off of his own opponent which gave Vance an advantage and the rhino attacked from behind. Using his large horn he lifted Sabien off his feet and flung him into the wall. Vance lowered his head and charged forward.

  Sabien moved just as Vance got to him, causing the large horn to get embedded into the wall. Vance struggled to get his horn free and Jael yelled through their link, “Now! Sabien. Look now!”

  Sabien turned and saw the same round fist size bald spot on Marcos’ bear chest just like Vance had on his rhino’s chest.

  “Sabien, Jael are you okay?” Helio shouted in their heads using their link.

  “About finished here, I hope, my anima,” Jael rasped, trying his best to keep out the pain he had to be feeling from his wounds.

  “Don’t lie to me, Jael. I don’t like liars and you will be punished,” Helio snapped.

  Jael grunted as Marcos let out a loud roar of anger, twisting around trying to bite Jael’s head off. “That isn’t a threat, my anima. Is everyone alright?”

  “So far, no one has shown up, but there is a tension in the air that normally isn’t. Jael, what’s going on? You sound hurt. Are you hurt? Oh my gods you are… you’re hurt, dang it. Sabien, are you hurt too?” Helio asked anxiously.

  “Love, can this wait? We’re kind of in the middle of something,” Sabien said, rushing to where he saw one of his knives.

  Marcos let out another roar as he brought his paw up and slashed toward Jael’s face. Jael snarled, “No fucking way!” as he did a low side kick knocking the bear to the floor once again doing his best to keep him pinned to the ground.

  Helio gasped, “You are! You’re both hurt! I’m coming back!”

  “No!” Jael and Sabien shouted together. Then Jael came up with the best excuse ever as he tried to bite into the bear’s neck with no success. “You need to help Briar keep Jewel safe, my anima. It is imperative Ezra’s mate and child not be harmed.”

  “Jewel is at Kerrick’s place with Rune, Briar, and Nelson. We figured if this is where they’re going to attack, then it’s better for Jewel not to be here.”

  Sabien watched as Vance struggled and pulled back hard, freeing his horn from the wall, then he shook his head, looking a little dazed.

  “Jael, grab Marcos’s arms and pray I’m right, because I don’t think Vance is going to give us a second go at his buddy here,” Sabien shouted in their link.

  Jael shouted out, “Here goes nothing!”

  Sabien watched as Jael used all his strength to flip over with Marcos back to his chest, his arms locked within the bear’s, and Jael shouted, “Now, Sabien!”

  Sabien rushed forward and plunged his knife in as deep as it would go. His adrenalin so high he had no idea of the amount of the force he had used until he felt his hand punch straight through the opening and Marcos completely stopped then shifted back into his human form, dead.

  Hearing the sound of hooved feet, Sabien turned and realized there was no way he was going to get out of the way of the rhino beast coming towards him with his head down, horn pointed right at him. He shouted in his link, “I love you guys!”

  “What’s happening? What’s going on? Sabien?” Helio shouted in a panic in his head.

  Closing his eyes, he heard Jael’s, “What the fuck?”

  Opening his right eye, Sabien was amazed to see Vance’s rhino was in mid charge, but unmoving and floating in the air like one of those balloons in a parade. Looking around he saw Ringo in his winged cat form with his tail pointed at Vance. “Need some help?”

  “What the hell did you do?” Jael asked as he shoved Marcos off of him and stood up.

  “Helio sent me to bring his mates back to him in one piece. Good thing he did, huh?” Ringo asked, with a smile.

  Nodding, Sabien replied, “Yeah it is.”

  “We need to get Vance to the cells. I think we should take him to Heskel’s coven for now, but we need to hurry, because we have less than five minutes before Kaliss is attacked,” Jael said in that authoritative voice that turned Sabien on so much.

  “Sabien! Jael! We’re under attack!” Helio shouted through their link.

  “Helio!” Jael and Sabien screamed out as one.

  Ringo waved his paw, anxiously, saying, “You get to Helio and your coven, I’ll get this asshat to Heskel’s place.”

  “How do we get there? We can’t open a portal,” Sabien shouted out.

  “Again, that’s where I come in, because I can open as many portals as you need,” Ringo replied, with a smile.

  “Someone needs to get to Ezra, but with the wards that isn’t possible,” Jael said in frustration.

  “Arlo can get in. He can get past any wards no matter what. He might even be able to get someone else in there if needed,” Ringo said, as he opened a portal.

  Sabien and Jael walked through at the same time. The coven was under attack and damned if there weren’t fifty or more of the altered shifters and other paranormals fighting. “We need to tell them the weakness we found.”

  “Ezra… we need to get to Ezra. He can use the coven link,” Jael suggested.

  Sabien was about to jump in when a portal opened and Orion along with Jael’s army came racing through swords drawn and ready to attack. He immediately shouted, “On the shifters chests is a soft spot. It’s the only way to kill them. I have no idea what the weakness is for the others. We need to find Arlo, so we can get into the room with Ezra and have him use the coven link to inform everyone.”

  Jael quickly suggested, “What about Jewel, he can…”

  Shaking his head, Orion said, “Right now Jewel is freaking out, because his magic quit working and he can’t use his mating link. The doctor had to sedate him because he keeps screaming that Ezra is dead, but I think something else is going on, because Nelson and I can’t use ours either.”

  “Nothing can shut down a mating link, Orion,” Sabien stated firmly.

  “We used ours with Helio just moments ago,” Jael stated.

  “Try using it now,” Orion suggested.

  Sabien thought, “This shit is crazy.”

  Jael stood there saying nothing. However, Helio quickly asked, “What’s crazy?”

  “Mine and Jael’s mating link isn’t working and if Jael wasn’t standing next to me I would be freaking out by now, because I can’t fucking feel him like I did just moments ago in Vegas,” Sabien said, almost in a panic. Had Jael not been standing next to him, he would have feared the same thing Jewel was at this mo
ment.

  “Someone is using one of the Harkeys. It’s the only explanation,” Helio stated, using their link.

  “Do you know where Arlo is?” Sabien asked. “We need him now!”

  “He’s with me outside Ezra’s conference room. We’re watching out for him since Cassidy had to go help in the fight,” Helio said nervously.

  “We’re on our way there now, lover. Just hold on,” Sabien stated.

  Turning to Orion, Sabien explained what Helio had said. Orion responded, “Kondra isn’t in any shape to do this and Digi doesn’t seem like the type of person, but we can’t take any chances. You and Jael go to Ezra, my men and I will get word to as many as we can about the soft spot.”

  “It’s easier to take them down if you work in teams,” Sabien shouted, as he and Jael rushed to get to Ezra.

  He heard Helio shouting, causing both of them to pick up speed. They stopped short when they saw a vampire trying to get at Helio, Arlo, and Digi, but couldn’t. They had to be behind some kind of protective shield that was not only keeping them safe, but was blocking anyone from getting to the door to the conference room.

  “You can’t hide behind there forever. I will get you and when Laramie discovers my great find, he will reward me like no other in our army,” the vampire said with an unusually gravelly voice.

  “The only thing you’re going to be rewarded with is my mates’ feet up your big ass!” Helio snapped back.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t piss off the burgundy-eyed vampire, Helio,” Digi murmured.

  Arlo laughed. “You’d think as long as those fangs are, that he could just drink his own damn blood from his own neck.”

  “I will be drinking yours soon, you little shit. Now just let me in and I won’t be forced to hurt you,” The vampire stated.

  Arlo laughed once more, then turned to Helio, and asked, “What did that funny talking dude say in that movie we watched last night? Oh yeah… Fuck you, asshole.”

  The vampire snarled, “You will die a slow and painful death, puny one.”

  “I may be tiny, but I know for a fact my dick is bigger. Whatever you’re on has to have shrunk your cock down so small that when you ejaculate it comes out of nowhere,” Arlo said, laughing.

  The vampire hit at the invisible wall again and again as Arlo continued taunting him, “Tell me, do you cry when you’re fucking someone and they say go deeper and you know you’ve run out of dick?”

  “Arlo, stop pissing the dickless wonder off,” Helio whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.

  “I bet when someone goes to give you a blow job they say they’ve swallowed pills bigger than that,” Arlo said, laughing even harder.

  Sabien stood there until he realized what the hell Arlo was doing. He was giving them time to figure out a plan to take this prick down. “Lover, do you see any kind of odd circle shape on the vampire?”

  “Oh, thank the gods you’re here. Arlo has to be running out of dick jokes by now,” Helio said, in relief.

  “Mate! Do you see any small fist size circles on him or anything else that looks out of place on his body?” Sabien asked once more.

  It took a moment until Helio answered, “No, the only thing weird about him are his eyes and fangs.”

  “Explain,” Jael said firmly.

  “His teeth look like tusks and there’s like this oblong circle around his eyes. It’s like a bandit mask or something and it goes to his temples. Does that help?” Helio asked.

  Sighing, Jael looked at Sabien and they both nodded, that had to be the spot. Sabien held up his knife and Jael pointed to himself, then the vampire, and then to Sabien, making a slashing motion. Nodding, Sabien allowed Jael to go first. “Hey there, asshole. Looking for something?”

  The vampire turned around and Sabien drew back in disgust. He had slobber dripping off his fangs, and damn, he looked like shit. It was like he was strung out and seriously malnourished, and that bandit look Helio was talking about was seriously freaky.

  Jael stepped forward, saying, “I don’t normally ask this, but how about a dance?”

  Without a word the vamp attacked. Jael moved fast… fuck that man had to be one of the fastest Sabien had ever seen. Jael rushed behind the vampire and grabbed him like he had the polar bear. Sabien quickly moved in with his knife and embedded it right into the vampires temple. It plunged in without resistance and the vamp dropped to the ground.

  “Fuck me, that was cool!” Arlo shouted.

  “I think I’m gonna be sick,” Digi rasped, holding his hand over his mouth.

  “Thank the gods!” Helio shouted, as he rushed to Sabien and leaped into his arms, then held out one of his own for Jael to join them.

  Sabien kissed Helio’s cheek, as Jael kissed Helio’s lips. Finally Sabien set Helio down, saying, “We need to get in there now.”

  “I can’t get in. Briar set the wards and only he can unlock them,” Helio explained.

  Looking at Arlo, Sabien said, “According to Ringo, you can help us out with that.”

  Helio turned to his friend, gasping, “I completely forgot about that.”

  “The question is, can you get us in there with you?” Jael asked.

  Nodding, Arlo replied, “Sure, but I thought Ezra said no one in or out until he gave the word?”

  “We have a problem with that. Even if he wanted to give the word he can’t, because someone’s blocking mating links,” Sabien said, looking at Digi.

  Gasping Digi said, “It isn’t me. I would never do that. Whoever’s doing it has to be doing it some other way.”

  Looking back to Arlo, Sabien said, “We need in there and we need in there now.”

  CHAPTER 16

  “What the hell is going on out there, Ezra? At first it sounded like a mob rushing around lost, now there is absolutely no sound at all. It’s kind of weird,” Enoch said.

  “I’m not sure, but I assure you we are all safe in here. I have taken measures to ensure our safety. I didn’t want anything happening to any of us like what happened to my father at the last conclave.”

  Heskel sat forward, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Ezra. “What do you mean you have taken measures? What measures?”

  Ezra turned to Heskel and in a cool, calm voice he replied, “I told you I had the room protected. I have had wards placed on this room that cannot be broken… by anyone. Only one being in the whole world can remove them and he knows his orders.”

  Heskel jumped to his feet, anger burning in his eyes. “What the fuck, Ezra! You’ve had us stuck in here for a few days and didn’t tell us that we were actually trapped? So no one can get in or out without this… whoever?”

  “Exactly,” Ezra replied, then narrowed his gaze at the Scion. “What does it matter, Heskel? We are all safe and protected here. All our needs have been met.”

  Heskel opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out.

  “Maybe we can put some light on that answer, Re?” Jael said, as he, Sabien, Helio, and two other strangers suddenly appeared in the room.

  Ezra slowly got to his feet as he faced them. “And just how did you all get in here?”

  “We’ll fill you in later, Ezra. Right now we have to make sure you’re safe. There has been an attack,” Helio quickly replied.

  Ezra’s eyes turned red and his fangs shot from his gums. “What attack? Where?”

  “One in Vegas where we were, another at Heskel’s coven, and one here,” Jael replied.

  Moving faster than anyone could see, Ezra was suddenly in Jael’s face. He had the man by the front of his shirt and lifted him off the floor, Jael’s feet dangling. “And what of my mate and unborn child?” he hissed.

  “Child?” Heskel whispered in horror.

  “Jewel is safe, Re Cyprian. He was moved well before the faction arrived,” Sabien jumped in.

  Ezra slowly lowered Jael and placed him back on his feet, then released him. “Tell me,” he demanded as he turned away.

  His mate better be safe, or every
one would pay. Ezra would leave no stone unturned and he would not join his mate in death until he killed everyone first.

  “We’ve gained tons of information on Heskel and all his evil deeds, Ezra,” Helio began, but was cut off when Heskel scoffed, “You lie, tart.”

  Ezra spun on his heel, his eyes glowing with fury. “He is a butterfly dragon, Heskel, not that vile insult you just spat at him. It is our promise, our oath as vampire to always protect the butterfly dragon, and you as a Scion should know this. Say one more disparaging word toward him and I will slit your throat. Go on, Helio,” Ezra finished, his voice softening when directed toward Helio, but he kept his gaze focused on Heskel.

  “There’s so much, Ezra. So much bad and evil there. They had one of my friends from back home as prisoner there. They were keeping Kondra in a cage. He has been beaten and starved, and the things we found out are so disturbing I can’t even tell you it all right now.”

  “What have you done, Heskel?” Enoch asked, in a deadly voice as he slowly moved around the large table.

  “Yes, Heskel, tell us now, so that we may finally deal with you and get back to our own covens. Something tells me that we may be next in these attacks,” Killian said, and Ezra could see he too was carefully moving closer to Heskel.

  “What the hell are you all talking about? Yes, Ezra, I am well aware of our oath to protect his kind, but can’t you see he’s lying? I don’t know why, but he is. I have no idea about some Lemox being in my coven,” Heskel insisted.

  Helio crossed his arms over his chest as he smirked. “Oh yeah, asshole, then how do you know I was talking about a Lemox?”

  Heskel sputtered for moment and Ezra knew he was trying to come up with another lie. Ezra smirked as well as he met Helio’s gaze and nodded his approval. He was very proud of the butterfly dragon. He was right, no one had mentioned anything about some Lemox, whatever the hell that was.

  “What’s wrong fuck face? Can’t think of a good enough lie?” Jael asked, as he moved closer to Helio.

  Ezra suddenly noticed that both Jael and Sabien stood flanking Helio as if he was a king, or something. Sure, they were both vampire and they would live by the vampire oath, but it appeared to be more than that. Suddenly he remembered Jewel saying something about Helio finding his mates and laughing over who it was. Shit, Jael and Sabien were Helio’s mates.