Shattered Warrior

by Brenda Trim

  “I missed you more,” he murmured. He held her gaze for several seconds then blurted, “Ah, fuck it,” and his mouth crashed down on hers.

  His fingers threaded through her hair while his tongue licked at the seam of her mouth. Her heart raced for an altogether different reason and her stomach clenched with need.

  She lifted one leg and wrapped it around his hip as she deepened the kiss. His responding groan was music to her ears. The fact that he lost himself so completely in his desire for her brought a smile against his mouth.

  Breaking the kiss, his mouth moved along her jaw and he grabbed onto her ass with both hands, lifting her. She immediately wrapped both legs around his waist and a moan escaped her throat at the feel of his erection pressed between her thighs. Shifting her position, she aligned their bodies so he was pushing on her clit.

  “Ember. I need to fuck you, but this is not the time or place,” he lamented.

  She didn’t give a shit where they were. She needed him. Grinding her hips, she rubbed against his shaft and laughed when he stumbled.

  “Mate,” he growled then nipped her ear.

  “I can’t help it. It’s been too long,” she complained.

  Removing her legs, he set her down but held onto her shoulders until she was steady. She knew her eyes were glowing from her arousal, but she didn’t care.

  “We aren’t finished. We will continue this after we’re done here,” he promised.

  Grabbing her hand, he began walking back to the scene at the front of the building. “You are my everything, Wildcat. We will work this out somehow,” he promised as he adjusted his shaft.

  A smile broke out across her face at hearing his words and she prayed to the Goddess to give her the courage, compassion and compromise needed to make it happen.

  “Good, because Hayden made me a C.L.A.W. and I need your support. I could use your training, too,” she said and looked over to see his reaction to her news.

  He stopped walking and stared at her with his mouth open. “When?” he asked, clearly surprised.

  “I was inducted last night,” she admitted, uncertainty creeping back in. Was he upset that she accepted the position? Did he think females weren’t fit to be a C.L.A.W.? She’d never asked him and suddenly his support was more important than anything else.

  “I was a stubborn jackass and missed the most important night of your life. How do you not hate me?” he asked with a self-deprecating smile.

  “The most important night of my life was the night we got mated. I won’t lie I was hurt that you weren’t there, but all that matters to me is having your support.”

  His large hand cupped her cheek and he placed a kiss to her lips. “I had no idea it had happened, but I am so proud of you. That’s such an accomplishment and I couldn’t be happier for you. Next time something this important happens, I want to be there. That means you need to tell me shit,” he ordered her.

  “Deal,” she agreed readily. “Now, what can you tell me about what happened here?” she asked returning to the task at hand as they approached the scene.

  “All I know is that a blue angel attacked a group of humans in front of this store and other monsters joined in, according to witnesses,” he replied. Orlando waved Steve over and flashed his badge, guiding them under the barrier.

  “Monsters?” she asked as she got a closer look at the covered bodies. “None of these seem big enough to be a demon.”

  “It seems the archdemons and a handful of skirm attacked. From what I can tell, the monsters they’re referring to are supernaturals,” O’Haire interjected.

  They’d made their way to Santiago’s side as the male added, “O’Haire is right. There were no lower level demons, but plenty of skirm and a handful of supes. This is a clusterfuck. We need to call Zander and let him know what happened.”

  “And, I’ll call Hayden,” Ember replied.

  Orlando stood with his arm around her while she updated Hayden. The Omega cursed so loud she had to hold her phone away from her ear. He growled he was on his way then the connection ended.

  “What about all the camera phones?” Steve asked.

  “Yeah, this is getting out of hand,” she exclaimed. “We might not be able to contain this. Who knows if they’ve already posted their videos to the Internet or not? Zander may not have any choice in the matter this time.”

  Orlando cursed and Santiago slapped his back. “Don’t worry, brother. I’ve already confiscated phones for our investigation and the witnesses are being held for questioning. This is a mess, but it’s contained for the moment,” Santiago shared.

  Ember had been torn about coming out to the humans. She supported her Omega, but couldn’t ignore the way her gut twisted over the idea. It was difficult to erase over two hundred years of hearing you’d be killed if the humans discovered your existence.

  Glancing over at her mate, she realized telling the humans wasn’t her biggest fear. Were she and her Fated Mate about to be on opposite sides once again? They’d just begun to make amends and another fight threatened to break them apart.

  She had to ask herself who was more important…her mate, or, her pack.

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  Orlando thanked the Goddess for intervening and forcing him and Ember together. He’d been worried about the wrong things. Being with his mate was what mattered and just having her close again settled his agitation. He’d do whatever it took to be with her. If that meant living with her then so be it. He was useless without her anyway.

  He grabbed her hand, needing the contact. “Pick up anything else?” he asked knowing she’d been cataloguing the scene and deciphering all the evidence. He loved the way her mind worked. She was brilliant, sexy, and confident. And she was his.

  “These humans have trampled through the scene so much that it’s washed out some of the scents and has made it tough to tell exactly what happened. But, my best guess is that either Crocell or her twin brought skirm here to feed. There are several victims drained of blood, while others have been maimed. I’d guess that some of the supes eating across the way caught sight and rushed over to help. Why the hell would they attack at a grocery store? It makes no sense,” she murmured as she shook her head.

  “They want to create chaos. They’re keeping us so busy we barely know which way is up anymore,” Orlando observed.

  Zander and Elsie were worried about the threat to Izzy and with good reason. The demon’s real target was the princess and they were determined to succeed.

  “Reyes, Trovatelli,” Captain Rowley barked as he approached them.

  Orlando groaned. Having their captain there was the last thing they needed to deal with. Turning, Orlando stuck out his hand and shook Rowley’s hand. The male had a cigar in the corner of his mouth and a scowl on his face.

  “Good to see you, sir,” Orlando replied. Santiago greeted the captain and introduced Ember and O’Haire as their consultants.

  “What do you make of this crazy shit? That body right there has fucking wings. And, the ME said it’s not a goddamn costume,” Rowley barked.

  “I’ve seen some crazy fucking shit out there. But sewing wings onto your back is going a bit far if you ask me,” Orlando replied easily, putting as much disgust and disbelief into his tone as possible. “I mean it’s one thing to wear freaky contacts and file your teeth down or insert horns under your skin, but wings?” he ended with a shake of his head.

  Rowley went to the sheet and lifted it and scowled at the dead harpy. “Could have fooled me. Those wings look real to me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say this was a giant-ass fairy. If this is a new cult, they’re taking it to the extreme. And, attacking in my city. Find them and stop this shit,” Rowley ordered as he pointed at Orlando and Santiago.

  “Yes, sir,” they echoed to their captain who shook his head and stalked off. Orlando watched him go to the front of the building where blood was splattered across the brick and glass.

  “I can’t believe he believes that BS you just s
pouted,” Ember murmured.

  He looked down at her and saw the adorable wrinkle between her eyes as she concentrated. “He’s human, Wildcat. They don’t want to believe what’s right in front of them. I think it’s a defense mechanism. The truth is a lot harder to accept. It’s easier to believe monsters are myth. They take the easy explanation every time, even when evidence is staring them in the face like now,” Orlando explained.

  “Problem is we can’t keep covering it up. There are some who believe in supes and will spread the word. SOVA is a perfect example. If enough listen to them, then humans will start killing supernaturals, just like Elsie and Mack used to do,” Santiago interjected.

  “But they killed skirm,” Ember reasoned. “Not us. They couldn’t take us down,” she insisted.

  “Don’t underestimate humans. They can be cruel and vicious. Their weapons of mass destruction are proof of that. All it would take is a trigger-happy human,” Santi added.

  Orlando could tell his feisty mate hadn’t considered that. She’d been sheltered within the pack. She may have encountered demons, but she was naïve when it came the species, believing they weren’t a threat.

  Orlando’s phone chimed a second later, drawing his attention. Pulling it out of his pocket, he saw it was a text message from Zander.

  “Zander and the others are here. Do you see them?” he asked as he scanned the crowd. Orlando had been around his share of crime scenes, but his anxiety had never been this high seeing so many humans with recording devices in their hands.

  “Over there,” Santi said as he pointed to Orlando’s left. As a group, they made their way to the grim-looking vampire king.

  By the time they reached his side, the other Dark Warriors surrounded Zander and Hayden was coming up behind him. Orlando’s SPD colleagues watched him approach the group of intimidating males. Some of them shrank back and others turned away. Humans always sensed the danger they posed, even if they didn’t understand it.

  “Give me the headcount. What are we looking at?” Zander demanded with a wave of his hand.

  “The demons were gone when we got here. We have a dozen skirm dead and black blood all over the place, but we also have dead supes. The harpy is garnering more attention than the black blood. Santi had witnesses detained and confiscated phones,” Orlando summarized.

  “A dead harpy. Couldna get much fucking worse,” Zander mused. Zander’s phone was at his ear the next second. “Kill, I need your computer skills ASAP. The demons attacked humans and supes in a store parking lot. There’s a dead harpy on display and I have no doubt some of these yahoos caught footage. Och, make sure nothing has been posted.”

  Orlando should have thought of calling Killian sooner. The Dark Alliance council member was the best and if there were anything on the Internet he’d find it. The guy owned the most popular nightclub in the realm and was one of the sharpest males Orlando knew.

  “Why bother?” Hayden chimed in before Zander had a chance to hang up.

  Orlando tensed and took a step closer to Zander, pulling Ember with him. She tugged at his hand and shook her head, refusing to budge. He understood her loyalty to the Omega, but he was torn. Hayden was his leader, but Zander had earned his devotion. He owed them both, but on this, he agreed with Zander.

  He had no desire for the humans to know of their existence. The Goddess had ordered them to keep it secret and he would do that until the day he died. Even now, the thought of a human dissecting Ember had his blood running cold and only reinforced her edict in his mind.

  “Because the humans have seen too much,” Zander countered with narrowed eyes.

  “I disagree,” Hayden snarled. “Look around you. Several of their kind is dead. They will be pissed about this and wanting revenge. We can use them to help us fight the demons. We don’t have the resources to keep the humans safe while trying to stop the demons. Not with them intentionally targeting the innocents. We have our own to take care of.”

  “Doona lecture me aboot protecting our own,” Zander growled as he clenched his fists and his eyes turned black.

  Orlando had never seen the council members argue to this degree. They’d been friends forever and together had formed the Dark Alliance council. They’d always supported each other. Hell, the council was the backbone of the Tehrex Realm and the stability everyone relied on. Orlando’s gut knotted as he watched the two most powerful beings in the realm hash out their differences. If they couldn’t come to an agreement, this could destroy more than a friendship.

  He wasn’t certain the council would survive something this big between its founders. Not to mention, it would force many to choose sides. Orlando felt the tug within his mind between the two men that owned his allegiance.

  “My entire life is aboot protecting the realm and the humans. It’s my family that’s in danger. My daughter that is being hunted to the point she canna leave our house. So I understand better than most what the fuck this is aboot. It would be far easier to let the humans know and wash my hands of everything so I can focus on protecting my mate and child, but the Goddess has forbid that,” Zander continued, his Scottish brogue thickening with every word.

  “Maybe its time to stand up to the Goddess and tell her we’re done protecting everyone else. We focus on our own and the rest do the same,” Hayden suggested.

  “Next time the demons attack your land, I will remember you said that. I hope your fucking C.L.A.W.s can battle two archdemons and whatever else they may rain doon on you,” Zander spat as he took several steps forward.

  This was about to explode if someone didn’t walk away, Orlando thought. Trembling raced up his arm and he looked over at his mate and noted how shaken she was. Words weren’t all that was flying around. Zander’s power was like pea soup while Hayden’s surrounded everybody, threatening to suffocate. Every supernatural present was affected and even the humans were rubbing their chests and looking around.

  “Brathair,” Kyran rumbled as he placed his hand on Zander’s shoulder. “Calm doon. You’re drawing unwanted attention. Doona create more trouble for us,” the male added.

  Orlando had always known Kyran was a sadist, but the male must really enjoy pain to approach Zander when he was this upset. The last time Orlando had seen Zander this out of control, he destroyed the war room. It had been the night Elsie was kidnapped by the archdemon Kadir and it had taken months to repair the damage Zander had done in a matter of minutes.

  Zander glared at his brother for several moments then Orlando felt the king’s wrath subside. “Too much is at stake, old friend,” Zander told Hayden after taking a few deep breaths. “We canna let the demons divide us. Working together, we will succeed.”

  “You’re right Zander. Too much is at stake. I’m not willing to lose anymore of my shifters to these bitches. I’ll do what’s necessary to protect mine. You do what you need to. But, mark my word. The day is coming when the humans must be told,” Hayden growled before he turned on his heel and walked away.

  “Doona do this Hayden. I doona want you as an enemy,” Zander called out to his retreating back.

  Everyone stood in silence. Had Zander just declared war with the shifters? Orlando was a shifter and had no desire to become the enemy of the Dark Warriors. He’d dedicated his life to them. They’d taken him in and given his life meaning and purpose. He gladly dedicated his life to fighting the evil that lurked in the night and didn’t want to give it up. The entire realm would suffer if there were a division.

  “Are you coming, Ember,” Hayden asked, ignoring Zander’s comments.

  Orlando looked to his mate. The dilemma on Ember’s beautiful face said everything Orlando had just been thinking. Not only was he torn, but also his mate had been pulled into it, as well, and was agonizing over this rift between the leaders.

  Orlando wanted to pound some sense into both males. Their disagreement was already pulling the realm apart and Orlando feared how far this would go.

  Cupping Ember’s cheek, Orlando leaned down and l
ightly kissed her lips.

  “You’re his C.L.A.W. You need to go, but my job is here right now. Can I come see you later? We have unfinished business,” Orlando told his mate.

  He refused to allow anything else to come between them. He would do whatever he needed to have his mate in his life. Duty and pack had always come first, but this time their mating would come before everything else.

  Nodding her head, she kissed him one more time before heading to Hayden’s side.

  A large palm landed hard on his shoulder. “Och, that didn’t go verra well,” Zander murmured.

  “That’s an understatement, Liege. I’m with you, but if it’s a choice between you and my mate, I will pick her every time,” he told the male that had been his most important mentor.

  “Shite,” Zander cursed and raked a hand through his black hair. “Let’s hope it doesna come to that, O. I doona want to lose any of you, especially no’ one of my closest friends.”

  As they split into small groups to begin erasing the human’s memories, Orlando couldn’t help thinking a loss was inevitable.

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  Pacing the large family room in Jesaray House, Ember couldn’t settle her raging thoughts. Her stomach was twisted in a knot and her chest ached. The mating bond, she decided, was both a curse and a blessing. She had purposefully been blocking it off the previous week, but seeing Orlando again had removed the shroud.

  Immediately, she’d been overwhelmed by Orlando’s desire for her. That she understood because she felt the exact same way and it wasn’t difficult to embrace those emotions. But, in the past half hour his thoughts had changed. Whatever he was contemplating had him torn.

  She had an idea of what he was debating. Living with her, or leaving her and staying at Zeum. How could she compete with warriors he’d spent centuries with? They weren’t mere colleagues to him. He considered them family.