United

by Maggie Walsh

  “Bales, come on,” Josh said and pulled his arm. He dragged Bailey along and took Milo’s hand. They went to the portal and Bailey gave Lexi one last longing look before he stepped through and disappeared. Adam and Viktor joined the group and they all looked toward the tree line.

  “How far out are they, Dale?” Micah asked.

  “I don’t know. My vision only showed them as they got here and the fight that started,” Dale explained.

  “How many, bello?” Dante asked.

  “A lot. I don’t know exactly how many,” Dale whispered, his body shaking in fear.

  “Can’t Dale leave?” Dare growled. “His power isn’t anything like the rest of us. His won’t defend him.”

  “We all must stand together to defeat them,” Jesse said calmly as he stared at the forest. “Remember what Aurora told you, Dare. D three. Have faith in what you have been given. Fight for it.”

  “Would have been nice to have Ryland and Phenex here with us right now,” Zane said and cast Micah a sideways glance.

  “Nuriel!” Jesse called out.

  “Great idea, Jess,” Taylor said.

  “Nuriel? What’s Nuriel?” Micah asked.

  “Not a what, a who. He is a Legion Warrior,” Jesse explained. “Nuriel!” Jesse yelled again.

  “I’m here, Jess. What’s all the yelling about?” A voice came from behind them. A large man with olive skin joined them. He had short-cropped black hair and emerald eyes. He stood almost as tall as Micah and almost as wide. He had to be about six foot ten and two hundred and eighty pounds of rock-hard muscle.

  “Wow,” Rory said, and Raith and Aaron both growled.

  “Nuriel, this is my mate, Micah. Micah, this is Nuriel. He is one of Phenex’s seconds,” Jesse introduced.

  “We can get to all the niceties later. They’re here,” Taylor said and pointed to the tree line. “Nuriel, we have a shit ton of demon Nephilim on our asses and we could use your expertise,” Taylor explained.

  “Fuckers,” Nuriel growled. “Legion commence,” he ordered.

  From behind them they heard the pounding of boots but no one wanted to take their eyes of the advancing Nephilim. Ten large men joined their line, five to the right and five to the left. “Legion, our commander has ordered us to stand with his son and his family whenever we are called upon. They have called upon us now. But it is our duty to wrangle these fuckers and bring them home to hell. Whatever happens here today, it is of the utmost importance that the Prime, the Heart, and the Guardian be protected, but they need to fight. So let them do their thing and we will kick any ass that tries to get close to them. Ready your weapons,” Nuriel commanded.

  Jesse turned his head and looked at Dale. “Stay by your men. No matter what happens, stay close to them.” Dale swallowed hard and nodded.

  The Nephilim advanced as the wolves and company stood their ground. The leading Nephilim locked his eyes on Jesse and an evil smile crossed his lips. Jesse smiled back. “Come and get me, fucker, if you think you’ve got the balls. I’m not some weak, helpless human anymore.” Micah threw his head back and howled, the sound vibrating through everyone’s bodies. The wolves and Storm all shifted and began to circle as they stalked their enemy.

  The lead Nephilim bent slightly and took off running in Jesse’s direction. The others stayed by his side to protect him, like a defensive line protecting the quarterback. The wolves gave chase and the battle began. The Nephilim approached Jesse fast, but Jesse never moved. He stood stone still and kept his eyes focused on the large demon coming toward him. As the Nephilim got within ten feet, Jesse held up his hand and his eyes turned white. His lips began to move and the Nephilim slammed hard into an invisible barrier. His nose began to bleed and his face became enraged. He pounded on the unseen wall before him.

  The large demon stopped and focused his eyes on Jesse. His lips began to move and Jesse’s body flinched back. He caught his footing and put extra effort in his words. The large demon advanced, moving through the barrier Jesse had conjured. Taylor stepped up beside Jesse and held his free hand, while raising the other. They chanted as one as they joined their powers. The large demon stopped and grabbed his head. His face contorted in pain and he dropped to his knees. Suddenly a huge wolf stepped in behind the Nephilim and opened his massive jaws. The snarling mouth encompassed the demon’s head and bit down. The sound of a skull cracking and the blood curdling screams of the Nephilim filled the night. Blood began to ooze from the puncture holes around the wolf’s teeth as his jaws clamped down harder. The Nephilim’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and he went silent. The wolf dropped the demon from his jaws and winked at Jesse. He turned and ran into the fight.

  “I love you, too, love,” Jesse said to his mate through their mating link.

  Dare shifted into his dragon and Dale climbed on his back and held on tight. Dante, Viktor, and Nicco moved together as one and surrounded one of the Nephilim as their claws and fangs appeared. Their eyes changed to a glowing red as they allowed their true vampire to take over. The large demon bent down and charged Viktor, ramming his massive shoulder into Viktor’s midsection and the vampire doubled over. He grabbed the Nephilim’s back and dug his claws in. The Nephilim yelled in agony and Viktor bit down on his shoulder, piercing his flesh with his fangs. The Nephilim grabbed Viktor around the waist and yanked him off, but by doing so, Viktor’s claws and fangs took chunks of his flesh with him. The giant slammed Viktor to the ground and he yelled out as snapping bones could be heard.

  Dante approached the Nephilim from behind and dug his long claws into his back, surrounding his spinal cord. The Nephilim released Viktor as he howled in pain. Dante closed his hands around the Nephilim’s spine and pulled with all his strength, ripping it from the demon’s body. The Nephilim dropped to the ground and Dante released the grotesque cord from his hands. He spun around as he heard a deafening rumble.

  A cloud began to form above them and the wind began to blow at near gale force. The cloud grew larger, darker, and began to swirl. A funnel dropped from the center, reaching down toward the earth. A glow came from within the funnel and suddenly the tornado was engulfed in flames. The fiery funnel advanced toward a group of Nephilim who were advancing on Dare.

  “Dare! Behind you!” Dante yelled out. Dare turned to see the six advancing Nephilim and the fire tornado. “Take flight, my love!” Dante screamed. Dare took a few steps back and Dale held on tight. Dare flapped his wings and sprinted away from the fire. He took off into the air and circled above the cloud. The six Nephilim tried to outrun the funnel, but it engulfed them and they disappeared inside its walls.

  A loud howl of pure agony rang out through the air and Taylor snapped his head in the direction. Crew’s wolf was lying on the ground lifeless as three Nephilim pounded fists and feet into his body. Taylor clenched his teeth as anger took over him. “Jesse!” he yelled. Jesse looked to where Taylor was looking. His eyes went wide in anger and his wings sprang from his body. Jesse and Taylor ran toward Crew and the Nephilim who continued to beat on him. Taylor ran faster and shifted into his wolf. He jumped into the air and landed his head into one of the Nephilim’s side, rolling him away from Crew. Jesse stopped before them and spread his arms and wings wide as his eyes turned pure white. A white glow shot from his chest and his head was thrown back. The light hit the Nephilim and the three exploded.

  Jesse’s head lowered and he dropped his arms as his eyes changed back. He went to Crew and knelt by his side. Taylor shifted back to his human form and knelt on his other side. Taylor lightly caressed the face of Crew’s lifeless form as tears ran down his face. A large black wolf appeared next to them and whined as he shoved his snout into Crew’s neck. He licked Crew’s face and whined again. “Lexi,” Taylor whispered. Lexi lifted his head and looked at Taylor with sad eyes. His eyes changed to that of vengeance. He lowered his head and licked Crew’s face one more time and then took off into the fight. “Did you hear him?” Taylor asked Jesse.

  “Yeah, he
told the pack that Crew was dead,” Jesse answered solemnly.

  “Can we do anything to bring him back?” Taylor whispered as he pet Crew’s soft fur.

  “We sure as hell are going to try,” Jesse said with conviction. “Noah! Raffy!” Jesse yelled.

  Taylor looked around and spotted the two standing together as they fought off one of the Nephilim using their powers. Nicco came up behind them and grabbed them around their waists and disseminated. They suddenly appeared next to Taylor. Nicco winked at them and disseminated again, only to reappear back in front of the Nephilim he just snatched Noah and Raffy from.

  A shot rang out grabbing their attention. They spotted Aaron standing about fifty yards from them, feet spread, arms stretched out in front of him, and he was holding a gun. The Nephilim standing before him staggered and fell to the ground. He was down, but he wasn’t dead. A large wolf ran in front of Aaron and knelt down. Aaron climbed on the wolf’s back and the wolf took off.

  A loud rumbling started and the ground began to shake. One of the Nephilim flew into the air and was thrown into the funnel of fire as it danced toward a few others. Christian’s wolf stood there staring at the Nephilim and they, too, took flight into the funnel. Then Christian was knocked over as the ground shook with such force that it knocked everyone to the ground, the house rattled, and windows broke.

  Gabriel tried to get his footing but the ground was shaking too hard. The wolves all made their way, stumbling toward each other as the Nephilim sat there trying to stand. The Legion and fae warriors took the advantage and let their wings spread out and hovered above the earth. They flew toward the Nephilim with their swords held high. Nurial dropped down in the center of them and began to chant. The Nephilim stared at him in surprise as their powers were all drained from them. The Legion and fae warriors flew past the Nephilim as they swung their swords and beheaded a few and impaled a few others. The ground roared to life and a massive wall sprang from the ground and reached over a hundred feet tall in seconds. The wall advanced on the Nephilim as the funnel came at them from the other side. The twenty remaining Nephilim that were trapped between the two tried to stand and run, but were either knocked to their asses again or killed by the fae and Legion warriors.

  The wall of earth began to curl and bend around them. The wolves, vamps, fae, and Legion, all moved back away from the moving earth and watched as it circled the fiery funnel and the two ends met on the other side, trapping the funnel and the Nephilim inside. Screams could be heard as the funnel glowed brighter at the top of the earthen wall. Dare flew above the funnel and blew a fire from his mouth, into the top of the funnel. He turned away from the wall and descended.

  They all stood in silence as the funnel’s light went out and the cloud broke up and vanished. The wall of earth slowly shrank back down and rested. Everything was quiet except for the sound of Dare landing. Dale climbed from his back and Dare shifted. They grabbed each other’s hands and walked to Dante. Lexi stumbled from the ridge that was left from the wall. His body was charred and smoking. He was dragging something in his jaws. Micah and Raith shifted and ran to his side. Micah caught him as he dropped what he was dragging and shifted back, collapsing as he did. “Crew?” Lexi whispered. Micah looked down at him with sad eyes as he knelt on the ground with Lexi in his arms.

  “I’m here, Lex,” a soft voice came to them. “I’m here.” Lexi turned his head and his eyes focused on Crew. Taylor and Jesse helped him sit up. Lexi smiled at seeing his friend alive. He shifted his gaze to Micah.

  “I think I overdid it on that one, Micah,” he whispered and began to cough.

  “You’re gonna be fine, Lex,” Micah said in a strained voice.

  “Why did you do it, Lex?” Raith asked from beside them.

  “Aaron…needed…Nephil…to…test,” he said in a weak voice, struggling to get the words out between coughs.

  “Shh, don’t talk, Lexi. Save your energy,” Micah said and gently pushed the hair from his face.

  “Take…good…care…of my…” He coughed. “Baby.” He coughed again.

  “There is no way in hell that a reference to an old crappy song is your last words, Alexander,” Taylor admonished through his tears as he dropped down beside them. “Now you listen to me. You are going to be okay, do you hear me? I am not ready to lose your ass. So suck it up, buttercup, and just relax and let us take care of you or so help me I will let your mate loose on you and it won’t be in a good, mind-blowing orgasm way.”

  Everyone had moved closer and they all chuckled at Taylor’s words. Lexi looked up at his best friend with eyes full of love. “What…would―” he started to say but was cut off.

  “Shut it. No more words,” Taylor said and placed his hand on Lexi’s chest. Lexi smiled weakly and then closed his eyes.

  “Can you save him, Jesse? Like you did with me?” Crew asked in a scared voice.

  “I think so,” Jesse answered.

  “But what about all the burns? Will he be permanently scarred?” Crew whispered.

  “Let’s get him in the house,” Aaron said. “Someone get his mate. We may need Bailey’s blood to help heal him.”

  “What about all the injured here?” Xander asked.

  “Everyone into the house and we’ll start helping you,” Jesse answered.

  “What should we do with that?” Cass asked and pointed toward the Nephilim that lay unconscious on the ground.

  “We lock him in a cell. Lexi risked his life to get this fucker for Aaron and we sure as shit will not let him go,” Micah said with conviction.

  “Prime,” Nuriel said. “Phenex instructed us to help you keep the damned once we had one. My Legion and I are at your service. We, along with the fae,” he said and motioned toward the fae warriors gathered with them, “can place spells on your cell that can keep him there and then we can set up a schedule to have at least two guards on him at all times.”

  “Thank you, Nuriel. That would be greatly appreciated,” Micah said and nodded. “Okay, let’s start getting everyone inside.”

  * * * *

  “I still think that was too damn easy,” Dante said as he sat at the center island drinking a beer. “They’re supposed to be close to demigods and amped up on Malachi’s jumpy juice or whatever the fuck it is.”

  Micah smiled at his best friend. “I agree. I thought for sure the fight was going to be a lot worse and we would have a lot more injuries and possibly some fatalities.”

  “Maybe Malachi was testing us to see how we held up against his Nephilim. Now he can tweak his potions and increase the Nephilim’s powers,” Jesse suggested.

  “That sounds more like something that rat bastard would do,” Zane added. “The Nephilim that came after me were a lot stronger and faster than the ones who came here.”

  “Micah, how is Lexi doing?” Dale asked, concern written all over his face. Dante squeezed his knee in comfort.

  “He’s doing a lot better today. He still hasn’t come around, but all the burns have healed. Bailey’s blood helped him. I was able to get his wolf to shift even though Lexi was unconscious. So that helped a lot,” Micah explained as his finger created circular patterns on Jesse’s back absently. Jesse cuddled in closer to his mate and laid his head on his shoulder.

  “I’m just worried that he’s been out for so long. It’s been two days since the fight with the Nephilim,” Jesse said. “Poor Bailey is beside himself and refuses to leave his side. I don’t blame him. When Micah lay unconscious after that drug Thomas gave him, I never wanted to leave Micah’s side either.”

  “Is there anything else we can do for him?” Dare asked.

  “No, Aaron says that at this point it’s only wait and see,” Raith answered.

  “And how about our guest downstairs?” Dante asked.

  “He’s not happy, but that’s just too fucking bad,” Micah said between clenched teeth. “Aaron has been running tests on him with the Legion and fae warriors’ assistance.”

  “Micah, Lexi’s waki
ng up.” Micah heard Taylor through the pack link. Micah smiled and kissed Jesse’s head. Jesse smiled, too.

  “I heard.”

  Micah chuckled. “I keep forgetting you can hear them, too, now.”

  “What is it?” Dante asked.

  “Lexi’s waking up,” Micah said with a smile as he and Jesse stood. They all went to go check on Lexi.

  * * * *

  Everyone came and went as they checked on Lexi to make sure he was okay after his ordeal with the demon Nephilim. Bailey sat back and watched as Lexi’s pack and coven brothers came and hugged him and told him how proud they were of him and how much they loved him. Crew even cried as he hugged Lexi and thanked him for being his friend even though he was a douchebag most of the time. Bailey didn’t know what that was all about, but he figured he would ask Lexi another time. He stared as his mate in complete awe as he thought about what he had done. His mate was so good and brave. Bailey couldn’t believe how lucky he was in the mate department. It worried him at first about finding his mate so young. That maybe he would be cheated out of something by being claimed so young. But now, as he stared at his mate and watched him smile and joke with his pack brothers, and thought about all the times they had shared together so far, he knew he wasn’t cheated out of anything. Lexi was everything to him.

  “Why are you sitting all the way over there staring at me, mate?” Lexi asked him with eyes shining bright with happiness.

  “You needed time with each of your family and they needed that time with you as well,” Bailey spoke softly as he stood and walked to their bed. He sat on the edge and took one of Lexi’s hands in his. “They love you, you know? But more than that, they need you and so do I,” Bailey said lovingly.

  Lexi smiled brightly. “I need you, too, pretty baby.”

  “So how are you feeling? You must be tired after all the people that traipsed in and out of here,” Bailey said as he rubbed Lexi’s chest.

  “Surprisingly, I feel great. I thought for sure I would feel tired and like I was hit by a truck, but I feel really good,” Lexi answered.