Kingdom of War (Kingdom Journals Book 4)

by Tricia Copeland

  “We need to get you back to your mother.” Aaron approached Lucas. “Who are you?”

  “That’s my dad.”

  “Perfect timing. Get in, all of you.” Aaron held a door open.

  Scanning the area for threats, I snatched our backpacks and towels from the sand and hopped in the car behind Alena. Once we were all in, the SUV sped over the sand dunes to the road. This was the scenario I needed magic for, to protect those I cared about.

  “What’s going on?” Alena demanded.

  “They’ve come for you and your mother.”

  “They? They who? And why?”

  “The witches and the vampires.”

  Swerving through traffic and up on a highway on-ramp, Aaron guided the vehicle into the HOV lane.

  My stomach tightened. “They know that you’re a hybrid.”

  “How?”

  “Someone from Michael’s coven?” Camille grabbed Alena’s hands. “Don’t worry, we’ll get through this. We’re not going to let anything happen to you or your mother.”

  Alena turned to face her father. “Can you help us? Is there a way out of this?”

  “I can witness to my part in your existence, my love for and marriage to your mother. But I can’t affect what they decide to do.”

  “Can you see it? Know what will happen?” Bloody tears formed in Alena’s eyes.

  “I do not have the gift of sight. Only the Creator has that gift.”

  From the front seat, Dimitri spun to face us. “We’re not to be seen with you. Anne doesn’t want Fahim’s unregistered tribe implicated. We’ll take you to the building, but you’re on your own from there. Orm said DJ and Jude should decide whether to stay with us or risk exposure by staying with the trinity.”

  Jude took Camille’s hand and stretched the other out between us. “We are one. I’m sticking with the group.”

  “You can count me in.” DJ placed his hand on top of Jude’s.

  “Wait, DJ, I need you to come to Mexico, help me lead Michael’s coven. What if—” My breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t even bring myself to imagine, to think of what may happen. By vampire and witch law, a vampire-witch hybrid and anyone who conspired to hide their nature should be put to death.

  I tapped Dimitri on the back. “Who did this?”

  “Marcus and the whole witch council as well as the vampire council are at Anne’s residence.”

  “And what of the compound in Mexico? Is it still secure? I thought we’d made sure Michael’s coven had no contact with anyone, that the story of what happened in the battle was contained.”

  “We’ve been in contact with those guarding Michael’s coven. The coven members are secure inside the facility. There have been no breaches.”

  DJ locked his hand around my wrist. “Thanatos is my father. He bred me and Theron. We can all bear witness to hybrids being more prevalent than anyone guessed and that we are not a threat. All for one, one for all.”

  Tears streaming down her face, Alena placed her hand on top of the others. “We will show them. Everything will be okay.”

  Breaths becoming shallow, I peered out the window. Everything I’d done for the previous nine months was for Alena. I loved her beyond reason, the thought of anything happening to her had my pulse racing. “You can’t know—”

  “So, we’ll fight our way out, just like always. All for one, one for all.” Tyler put his fist on top of the stack.

  I curled my fingers into a ball and placed my fist atop Tyler’s. “All for one.”

  Dimitri entered the garage in the building next to Anne’s.

  “What are we doing here?” Jumping out of the car, Alena twisted around.

  Fahim’s clansmen approached as we exited the SUV. Aaron and Dimitri explained that all of Anne’s assets were transferred to Fahim’s wife Eden, who became head of their clan after his death. The vampires gathered around us, each offering an arm in support as we made our way to the street.

  “You must go alone from here.” Dimitri held the door to the lobby open for us. “We’ll be standing by.”

  I laced my fingers through Alena’s as we crossed to the elevators. Vampires I didn’t recognize greeted us as we exited on Anne’s floor. I gripped Alena’s hand, as if keeping her tethered to me would somehow protect her from what was to come. Inside the foyer, Alena gasped. Letting go of my hand, she ran to her mother.

  Shackled and chained, Anne, Chalondra, Orm, Gregor, Jacob, and Will stood flanked by a group of vampires on one side and witches on the other. I prayed Alena could keep her cool. Her shoulders rose and fell, and I knew she must be taking a calming breath, reining in her instincts to fight her mother’s captors.

  Lucas weaved to the front of our group. Dead silence fell in the room, and each witch fell to one knee.

  A witch I recognized to be Marcus rose first and approached Lucas. “Uriel Lucas de Genesee.”

  Lucas raised his chin. “Yes.”

  “Blessed be.” Marcus offered his hand.

  “Blessed be.” Lucas gripped his forearm.

  Marcus dipped his chin. “Forgive me, I know not how to address you.”

  “Uriel will be fine.”

  “So, it is true. The curse is broken. We felt a lightening of our souls two nights ago but haven’t been sure.”

  “It is true.” Uriel Lucas paced in front of us, stopping before me. “The Children of Light have arisen, found the sword, and Michael’s heir, rightful leader of his line, has become flesh and blood again.”

  I fought to understand his words. What did he mean heir? Leader of Michael’s line? Was he talking about me?

  Marcus approached Lucas. “The heir has risen? You have seen him?”

  “He stands before you.” Lucas smiled at me.

  Marcus regarded Lucas and me. “I must see to believe. Thanatos is gone? What of Theron? What do you mean made flesh and blood?”

  I lifted my shirt to expose the scar in my side. “Sonia, Thanatos, and Theron were taken by Lucifer after the curse was broken.”

  “I heard a rumor about a boy named Hunter and a girl named Camille. Who is the third?”

  I motioned to Camille. “This is Camille of Raphael’s line.”

  Marcus stepped in front of her. “I met you in Michael’s castle.”

  “Where I was held captive, drugged, and starved along with—”

  “Jude.” Marcus offered his arm to Jude. “I remember meeting both of you.”

  “Miguel made us witches and members of the coven.” Jude rolled his arm, exposing his mark and now-dead link to Michael’s coven.

  Marcus pivoted on his heel. “And the third?”

  Alena approached Marcus. Lucas wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “This is Alena, my daughter.”

  Marcus’s mouth hung open for several seconds. He rotated, studying our group, and pointed at DJ. “I recognize you.”

  DJ stepped forward. “I am Derrick James Michaels Smith, sir, son of Thanatos, half-brother to Hunter and Theron, and herald to Hunter. Like my departed brother, Theron, I am also a half-vampire.”

  Whispers swept through the room. Jude cleared his throat. “I am Jude Alonso, son of David of the line of Gabriel, but I am also part vampire and herald to Camille.”

  Tyler joined our line. “I am Tyler of Raphael’s line, brother to Camille and herald to Alena.”

  Marcus turned his attention to the witches gathered behind him. I hoped he felt intimidated, perhaps awed, and respectful of the power of our coven. The witches wouldn’t let anything happen to their Children of Light, right?

  A wrinkled vampire stepped forward. “None of this is of consequence to us. Anne Scott, our leader, the one we chose for decades to uphold our laws, has broken one of the most important tenants, one she herself instigated and pushed adoption of. She is charged with siring a hybrid being, a crime punishable by death.”

  The vampires questioned each of us in a trial spanning through the night. They’d brought the witches to witness and a seer named Sybe
lla to attest to the truth of our statements. While the witch council brought no charges against Anne or any of our coven, they offered no testimony to aid her case.

  My leg bounced as Lucas answered each query. Yes, he’d fallen in love with Anne. No, he hadn’t sired a child to create a new powerful line of beings. No, Anne hadn’t planned the pregnancy. She’d taken every precaution to prevent it.

  Alena testified next. Tears streamed down her face as she talked of her mother’s love for her, her upbringing, mainstreaming into human society, and how Orm coached and shaped her use of magic. They called Anne to speak last. My palm grew moist in Alena’s, and I rubbed it down my pant leg. Heart pounding in my chest, I studied the judges, trying to guess what they might be thinking.

  As the sun rose in the east, the judgment council retreated to the study to deliberate. Anne’s staff brought in food and drink, but it sat untouched. I looked at each of my friends. They were truly family. How could this be happening? Alena couldn’t lose her mother. What would they do to Alena? If I were a witch still, if I had my powers, I could’ve made all this disappear. All I’d need to do would be flick my fingers and each being gathered would have to obey me. I’d wipe their memories and send them on their way.

  You wish you still had the power. Maybe I can help with that. I jumped at the sound of Lucifer’s voice.

  “Dude? You okay?” DJ stared at me.

  “Yeah, sorry.”

  You’re just being human, I told myself. Anyone would want out of this situation.

  Get your magic back, and you could save her. Lucifer’s voice continued.

  Could I get my magic back?

  I will grant you magic.

  But at what price? What was the catch? And whose magic? Mine or another’s?

  Smart questions. No price. And no one will be more powerful than you.

  “Sounds like a bad deal to me.”

  DJ jostled my shoulder. “What are you talking about? Are you okay? I know this seems bad, but they’ll see logic. They can’t be crazy enough to kill Anne. And if they try, then we fight, just like we decided. You just got to hold it together for Alena.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I’m going to get some water.”

  As I stood, the vampire council filed into the room. Finding Alena, I took her hand as the counselors stood in front of us.

  Ishmael, the vampire-appointed head of the proceedings, stepped forward. “There is no question as to guilt, only which punishment, death by lethal injection or lifetime imprisonment. Each council member will state their vote. I vote for the death penalty.”

  I assessed the eleven judges, unable to read anything from their faces. Alena buried her head in my chest and cupped her hands over her ears. I wrapped my arms around her. Anne slid over and ran her hand down Alena’s back.

  Fear gripped my chest as the second councilor raised his chin. “Imprisonment.”

  My heart soared. There was hope.

  The third spoke. “Death.”

  Then, the fourth. “Death.”

  And, the fifth. “Death.”

  I watched Anne. She raised her chin and Lucas wrapped an arm around her waist.

  “Imprisonment.”

  “Imprisonment.”

  “Imprisonment.”

  I started to feel more hopeful with the next votes. Anne would make it through this. Alena would not lose her mother.

  “Imprisonment.”

  “Death.”

  The last council member examined his comrades. He was no more important than any of them, but the votes tallied five for death and five for imprisonment. Gaze landing on Anne, his eyes narrowed. My heart felt as though it might beat out of my chest.

  “Imprisonment.”

  I released my breath and kissed Alena’s head.

  Alena rubbed the bloody tears from her cheeks. “It’s going to be okay?”

  “Yes.” Anne wrapped her arms around her daughter.

  Ishmael cleared his throat, and the room fell silent. “As facilities for such cases are scarce, Anne Scott, Alena Scott, Jacob, Gregor, and Will, you are hereby confined to this residence. Our guards will assume control of all operations and communications to and from this facility. You may be allowed one visitor a day for a time period of one hour.”

  My heart skipped a beat and then issued two quick ones in succession. How could this be? I would only see Alena an hour a day for the rest of my life? This was not acceptable.

  See, you should have taken my offer. It still stands.

  I balled my fists at my side, fighting the urge to give in to Lucifer’s trap.

  Lucas stepped forward. “The child is innocent. She had no choice in her heritage. She should not bear the burden of her parents’ sins.”

  Ishmael glanced down the line of council members. “We do not see Alena’s sentence as permanent. She gradually will be allowed more freedom and may be released from her imprisonment if the council decides she’s not a threat to others.”

  “Haven’t you already heard testimony that she’s not dangerous?” Lucas motioned to those gathered.

  “We feel we need to see for ourselves. The verdict is final.” Ishmael lifted his chin.

  I hugged Alena to me and whispered in her ear. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll come every day. And this will be over soon.”

  “My mother is not going to die. She’s going to be okay. That’s all that matters. You need to go and take care of your coven.”

  Orm tapped me on the shoulder. “Aaron has been trying to reach you. He says they need you downstairs.”

  “I’ll be right back.” I kissed Alena.

  Camille, DJ, Jude, Tyler, and, I followed Chalondra and Orm into the elevator. My hand trembled as I punched the button. What more could go wrong?

  Crossing into the next building’s parking space underground, we found Aaron and Dimitri had computers set up in the vehicles. Aaron pointed at one of the screens as we approached.

  “See this video footage? It’s from yesterday morning. Now, look at this.” He tapped on the keys. “It’s from right now.”

  I wanted to hit a wall. “They’re the same. Did you contact our men at the compound?”

  “Yeah, the guy there says nothing’s wrong. It all looks good to him. But something’s off.”

  “Good work, Aaron. We needed to get down there anyway, so this is our cue.” I hated the thought of leaving Alena, but she had her dad to reconnect with and their new life to adjust to.

  We decided Aaron, Dimitri, and two other from their team would travel with DJ, Grady, Orm, Tyler, and me to Mexico. We secured a flight, said our goodbyes, and loaded an SUV bound for the airport within an hour. I thanked my lucky stars Anne had backup plans upon contingency plans and that all her assets transferred to Eden and their clan.

  “Whoa!” DJ gripped the dashboard. “How long has it been since you drove? Do you even have a license?”

  “I passed my driving test. There was a pot hole.”

  “Do you have to drive so fast?” Grady gripped my seat.

  “I’m following Aaron and Dimitri.” I motioned to the vehicle ahead of us. “Vampires have faster reflexes. I’m trying to keep up.”

  Within a few miles of the Mexican compound, Dimitri signaled we should fall back and let them assess the security situation. We wanted to make it look like a routine guard change out in case Michael’s coven did have control of the facility.

  I paced around the car, waiting for word from Dimitri and his team.

  “So, what are we going to do if the compound has been compromised?” Grady asked.

  As soon as we’d boarded the plane, I passed out from exhaustion. The previous seventy-two hours were so mushed in my head that I hadn’t even thought about what we would do.

  “I don’t know. Call for backup? We have all of Anne’s men, right?” I kicked the tire.

  Grady shook his head. “The vampire council took them for questioning. They may be released soon. I was under the impression it was only Gregor, Ja
cob, Will, and Orm who were aware of Alena’s condition.”

  Balling my hands into fists, I faced Grady. “Condition?”

  “Whoa.” DJ inserted himself between us. “I think everyone’s a little tense. I’m sure Grady didn’t mean it to be a negative thing.”

  “No, of course not. Sorry.” Grady rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s the heat and the lack of a decent meal and a good night’s rest. I just meant they didn’t know who she was.”

  My phone rang, and I answered the call. “Tell me something good.”

  “No can do, boss,” Dimitri answered. “The gate is wide open. All four guards are dead.”

  “Dead?” My heart skipped a beat.

  They were dead because of me. I kicked the dirt and walked to the back of the vehicle, trying to get my breathing under control. I mishandled the coven. I should have come to Mexico the second Orm alerted us to the problem. But no, we were hanging out on the beach, having fun while these guards risked their lives and lost them. What if— Don’t go there. Don’t get ahead of yourself.

  “You still there?” Dimitri’s voice sounded through the phone speaker.

  “Yeah, we’re right behind you. Don’t go into the compound until we get there.” I jumped into the vehicle and started the engine.

  “You don’t have to tell me that twice. I can do the math. Four vampires versus hundreds of witches. No, thank you.”

  We joined Aaron, Dimitri, and the other two team members at the security gate. It seemed the guards—I knew them by name, Theo, Carl, Alexander, Henry—had been forced to open the gate and then killed.

  Aaron squatted in front of a body. “I’d say he’s been dead eight, maybe twelve hours max. He doesn’t smell much yet.”

  I took a few deep breaths, trying not to gag. Composing myself, I followed Aaron inside the guard house. All the communication devices were destroyed. With no way to see inside the facility, we had no clue what we were up against.

  “Why would they stay? They wouldn’t go to all the trouble of breaking down the gate to go back inside, right?” DJ asked.

  “It could be a trap.” I peered at the compound.

  “Either that or all Anne’s men are dead and the witches are gone,” Grady offered.

  My stomach clenched at the thought of a hundred dead soldiers, dead because I didn’t have the foresight to realize Thanatos could still control the coven or the mental prowess to think that the coven members would trick me into believing they were cooperating with us. Don’t go there, you don’t know what happened yet.