“Do I look foolish enough to cause a scene this close to the largest Lycan pack, nephew?”
“You’re foolish enough to unleash a demon,” Devon snarled.
“Only because of your betrayal, and you have done so again for a human. A human!” Mortef roared. “You mated with my weapon!”
“She is mine, Mortef. I won’t ever let you touch her. You should have known I would do anything to protect her.”
“You betrayed your own kind for that.” Mortef spat onto the ground.
“You unleashed a demon, Mortef. How could you? I did not betray you. I am trying to prevent a war. Are you trying to get us all killed? If the humans find out about us, it will unleash chaos.”
“Good! Let it. It’s time we come out of hiding, don’t you say? It’s time for humans to take their rightful place as our slaves. We are gods and they are no more than our food!”
She heard the sound of boots hitting the pavement. She turned and saw Vampires jumping down from the roof of the airport behind them.
Several more landed behind Mortef. Devon turned to Kieran. “Get our mate home, now.” The authority in his voice was unmistakable, and Kieran obeyed instantly.
She screamed as Kieran’s arms wrapped around her and he leapt up to the roof with as much effort as a cat would jump on a coffee table. She felt his muscles bunch again and he leapt to yet another building. All the while, she screamed and fought.
“Kieran! How could you just leave him? Mortef will kill him!”
“Because you are precious to us, sweetheart, and Devon trusts me to keep you safe,” Kieran replied as his muscles bunched and he leapt over the fence that surrounded the runway and toward where they’d left their car parked.
Chapter Fifteen
A cool night breeze blew as Kieran drove into their driveway. She spotted Dylan and her sister Addy standing on the front porch. Any other time she would have found the scene comical. Addy stood several feet away from Dylan, but the lovestruck glances she gave him were telltale. The little talk she’d had with Addy didn’t work out as well as she’d hoped.
She sighed. Addy was taking Dylan’s guardianship for affection. He stood in front of Addy as solid as any steel shield, and his protection of her was absolute. The adoring look Addy gave him was just as clear. This was a mess, and at the worst time. Addy wouldn’t be the first girl who fell for her protector.
The truck turned toward the house and she saw the protective stance Dylan kept. Ready to throw Addy behind him and use his own body as a barrier in case their enemies used Kieran’s truck.
Addy was young and inexperienced already in love and body language. While she could be sarcastic with her family, she was shy with many others. She didn’t miss the glowing adoration in her sister’s face when Dylan moved closer to her and had his arm protectively around her as their truck approached.
The truck stopped and she winced as she realized she didn’t have time to be gentle with her sister. Devon’s life hung in the balance. She opened the door and hit the ground running. “Dylan, Devon is in trouble at the airport. You have to do something.”
Dylan glanced at Addy. The love-struck teenager was gone and in her place, she looked confused and frightened by Rachel’s panicked state.
“What’s wrong with Devon?” Addy’s worried gaze moved from her to Dylan.
Dylan shook his head slightly and the gleam in his eyes was a clear indication that they could not discuss this in front of her sister.
Rachel’s gaze met Addy’s. “He’s been in a fight. I need to speak to Dylan alone.”
Addy relaxed while giving her sister a disgusted look. “Really, a fight? You’re going to bother Dylan over that?” She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. Instantly, her sarcastic, ball of hormones teenage sister was back.
“Go in the house, Addy, please. I need to speak to Dylan.” She could see how Dylan was trying to remain neutral. He was in an impossible position with Addy and there was no easy way to fix it when fragile teenage feelings were involved.
“We’re just talking, Rachel. I am not doing anything wrong.” She flung her arm out as she expressed her anger at her.
“I don’t have time for your puppy love attitude. I’ve told you he is too old for you. Do you really think he wants to take a little girl like you out on a date? Go inside now, or I will call Dad and tell him how you are all over the hired help.” Rachel felt bad for humiliating her sister, but she didn’t have time to coddle her when Devon could be dying.
Addy’s mouth opened and she could see the argument written all over her face. She turned to Dylan, who was keeping his concentration on the perimeter of the property, and then turned silently and walked back into the house with her face flaming red.
Relieved that her sister would not try to start an argument, she turned to Dylan. She could hug and talk to her sister later. “We left Devon at the airport with a mess of Mortef’s Vampires ready to attack them!”
Dylan’s eyes glowed slightly as the news settled. “Was he alone?”
“No,” Kieran said from directly behind her. “Our nest is there. I cannot go and assist my brother. Our mate’s protection is paramount.”
Dylan nodded as if he understood perfectly why Kieran was so far away from the fighting when Devon was fighting for his life at that very moment. “So, it is beginning then.”
“What is?”
“The Vampire civil war that has been looming for years. Vampires who followed Balvasar’s teachings and the ones that craved the old bloodshed are eventually going to fight it out.”
“Wait, I thought Mortef was trying to start a war with Lycans?”
Dylan nodded. “Yes, and his plan to kill Emily and have an enraged pack hunting Vampires backfired. So, I’m guessing he will start a Vampire civil war. If he wins, then he will have the war he craves. We will not stand by as they hunt humans. We are the protectors.” He stared off toward Paris with longing in his eyes. “I do wish I could go and be of assistance.”
“Well, go then, please. I can’t bear the thought of losing him!” Rachel could feel her voice cracking and a scream building. She spun around and shoved at Kieran. “How can you just stand here while part of our soul bond is facing Mortef alone?”
Kieran’s gentle face held hers. She saw the same longing to fight, but a protector, as well. “Because you are to be kept safe above all else. If Devon and I both fall and you are left defenseless, what do you think Mortef would do?”
Rachel knew the answer to that. She’d lived that nightmare once before. Her legs crumpled as she fell to her knees on the porch. Her face fell to her hands as she wept, sure that as she was safe and protected, part of her soul was dying. There were so many of them. They were there to kill Devon, she could see it in their eyes.
“I will take some enforcers and go, but I am afraid I cannot fight Mortef. That would only grant him his wish by involving Lycans into a Vampire war. I can only guard the humans at the airport, and perhaps, if Devon is injured, get him out if I can reach him.”
A glimmer of hope sparked in Rachel’s heart. “Yes, please! Go to him and bring our love back to us, Dylan. Please!”
Dylan nodded as he picked up his phone. He glanced at Kieran. “I was sent to guard the little girl, you will protect her.”
Kieran nodded with a grave expression. “She is the sister to my mate. I will guard her with my life.”
* * * *
Rachel didn’t think she could cry anymore. Her eyes felt puffy and bloodshot, but it had been hours and she needed to pull herself together.
Her parents had gone to the fair and would not be home until late, which meant she had some time to have a heart to heart with her sister. Maybe by the time she convinced Addy to find someone her own age to try and give her heart to, Devon would be home safe and sound.
She approached her bedroom door and knocked softly. “Addy, it’s me.”
“Go away,” Addy called. Her voice sounded hoarse and she could hear she’d been cry
ing. Rachel closed her eyes. She knew Addy was sensitive, yet she’d struck her in a way that would humiliate her. She’d just been so worried about Devon, she hadn’t thought what to say through very well.
“Please, Addy, I want to apologize to you. That was very rude of me.”
“You just did, I accept, now can I just be alone?”
Rachel opened the door and saw her sister on the padded window seat. She was still wearing the dark denim skinny jeans, pink Converse shoes and a shirt she’d picked up at the mall not too long ago. She was sitting with her knees drawn up close to her chest, and her bear nuzzled in her neck. Rachel swallowed her fear for Devon and truly looked at her sister. Addy was still a child in so many ways, but the changes taking place in her body made her feel like an adult. Rachel could still remember that time when she felt and looked grown up, but everyone treated her like a little girl.
Addy’s eyes were as red as hers felt and guilt engulfed Rachel once again. Addy was young and very inexperienced with how to handle her feelings. Dylan was very good looking, as well as kind and good mannered. She couldn’t blame her sister for falling fast and hard.
Rachel approached her sister and saw her bottom lip trembled. She’d really hurt Addy’s feelings, she hadn’t meant to. Her chest tightened even more as she sat down next to Addy.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s no excuse, but Devon is in trouble and I wanted Dylan to check on him.”
Addy moved her gaze to the window. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. I embarrassed you in front of someone you care about. I can’t change that, but I can apologize.”
“No worries. I am sure he’ll never talk to me again. You made me sound like some hooker.”
“I never called you a prostitute,” Rachel gasped, giving her a startled look.
“Hooker means a slut, floozy, or you know…a whore.” Addy spat out with fresh tears falling.
“I didn’t and Dylan knows you are none of those things.” She stroked her sister’s hair. Her innocence and pure heart shined bright. There was no way anyone would mistake her sister for any of those things. “I meant what I said when I told you that he is way too old for you.”
“And I told you he doesn’t look all that old. He is nice to me. No guy has ever been that nice to me. He likes me, doesn’t he?”
“Addy, he is much older than he looks, and Dylan is a polite man. You are far too young for him.” She stopped short of calling her sister a child. That would be a sure way to get her sister angry again. “He is going to go back home in a few days, and you will not see him again. You’re going to get your heart crushed if you don’t stop.”
“He won’t stay here?” Addy gazed at her sister with such hope in her eyes, Rachel nearly flinched.
“No, sweetie. He is helping Devon with the things killing cattle. Once that’s done, he’s going home—to his home. Even if he did wish to risk his freedom and career dating a young girl, Dad would never allow it.”
Addy’s chin fell to her hands that were resting on her kneecaps. “I’m so stupid. I’ve been trying to find reasons to talk to Dylan and dreaming about him asking me to a movie or the Burger Shack. All this time I was just a stupid kid to him.”
“No.” Rachel moved another strand of Addy’s hair out of her face. “Dylan sees a young woman who is just stepping out into the confusing world of being an adult. You have a crush and that is normal. Let it go now, okay.”
Addy nodded with a sigh and Rachel leaned over to hug her sister. “We’ll talk more later, okay.” She walked out to let her sister go to sleep while her thoughts returned to Devon. Her heart sank as fear gripped her. She stared up at the ceiling. Please keep him safe.
Chapter Sixteen
The clock ticking was nearly haunting as Rachel paced from the living room, through the dining room, and into the kitchen. Kieran walked in and placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Any word?”
He shook his head with an equally worried expression. “No, but your mom called. They’re staying in Fort Worth tonight, and they’ll be home tomorrow.”
Rachel rested her head against Kiearan. “That’s for the best. Hopefully everything will be fine by morning. It had to be. She couldn’t find her happily ever after just to lose it now. She would have returned to the apartment, but Addy was upstairs asleep and with a demon and unfriendly Vampires on the loose, there was no way she was leaving Addy alone in the house. Gus and Rufus lay on their dog beds watching her as if they sensed the fear and grief emanating from Rachel and silently waited, as well.
Kieran resumed his pacing as they waited for the news on Devon. Midway through her umpteenth pace, Kieran stood up and ran to the door. “Dylan’s here!”
Rachel ran to the door as well as the dogs jumped from their beds and followed her. She bit back a scream of horror as Dylan and Raeff, both filled with huge, tearing bite wounds and slashes across their bodies, carried Devon between them. Blood ran from so many cuts and wide slashes she was sure Devon was gone. No one could lose that amount of blood and survive, not even a Vampire.
Dylan and Raeff both, not looking much better themselves, looked around the room helplessly before gently placing him on the floor. Bleeding themselves, they tried to stop the blood. Kieran tried to help, but they shoved him back.
“Take care of your mate,” Dylan growled.
“No, Devon! No, no, no!” Rachel screamed as she collapsed next to him.
Wailing filled the room and when Rachel looked up, she realized it was Kieran crying as well as he knelt close to him. She crawled over to Kieran and held him tight as Raeff weakly tried in vain to stem the flow of blood.
“There isn’t much we can do. He needs a healer.” Kieran looked around the room. “Where’s my phone. If we can get a healer—”
“He needs an infusion of blood, and fed some energy by a channel.” Both Rachel and Kieran’s heads jerked up at the familiar voice, and saw Logan walk in with Derek next to him looking like two gods of war, ready to slay the creatures of the underworld.
“You made it,” Dylan said with relief in his voice. “It’s an all-out slaughter. We’ve been betrayed by one of the packs.”
“I heard.” Their faces were bestial with their fangs bared and the fine hair showing their fury at the betrayal from the Lycan pack.
“Come here, Rachel,” Derek commanded.
Rachel got up and went to Derek’s side. “I’ve seen it work a time or two where a bonded human was able to heal a Vampire with their blood. We have nothing to lose now by trying.”
Rachel nodded and held out her wrist. It was worth a try. If they could even just get him to hold on until Yerel could arrive. Surely, Yerel could pull one of his miraculous feats and save her Vampire.
“Bite her wrist, Kieran.” Derek held Rachel’s arm up for Kieran. When Kieran did as Derek ordered, she braced herself for the pain.
Rachel sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, determined not to cry out at the pain. She was willing to endure so much more for Devon than a simple little bite, but if Kieran or Devon thought they’d hurt her in any way, they would not forgive themselves.
Pain lanced through her skin as Kieran’s needle sharp fangs sank into her skin and pierced the pulsing artery in her arm. She felt the warm sensation of the venom that prevented her blood from clotting and caused the orgasmic reaction.
She tried to hold her cries in, but her sheath contracted in a powerful orgasm.
“Hold her, so she doesn’t jerk her arm too hard and injure herself,” Logan said from somewhere in the back of the room.
Someone’s hard, muscular body braced themselves behind Rachel and helped to hold her arm secure as Kieran flooded her veins with anticoagulant.
It felt so wrong for her to feel this much pleasure as her love was lying before her gravely wounded. Still, Rachel’s hips rocked as her pussy throbbed in rapture.
Finally, Kieran released her and she glanced over to see Raeff held her from behind. He turned her arm
so that the bite wound met Devon’s mouth. Due to the anticoagulant in his blood, her own blood poured from her arm like an open faucet and it quickly filled Devon’s mouth.
Derek stroked Devon’s neck, forcing him to swallow her blood down. Devon’s lips wrapped around the bite wound and he drank deeply, but he was apparently too weak to bite her himself.
With her heart hammering in her chest, she leaned over Devon. Why wasn’t he waking up? He drank, but his body remained still, simply swallowing the blood that flowed into his throat. The only good thing she noticed was Devon didn’t have the gray look of death anymore. His skin color improved to a normal skin complexion.
Raeff gently pulled Rachel’s arm away. “Now we wait. Perhaps Yerel knows of something that will also help.”
As Rachel and Kieran both kept their attention on Devon, Logan said, “You have a part of the basement with no windows or doors to the outside, right.”
“Yes,” Rachel replied slowly.
“We need to move you and the wounded there. Barricade the doors and do not open them for anything.”
Rachel opened her mouth to ask why. She glanced at Kieran, who looked as if he’d just discovered the worst possible news and his head shook in silent denial.
“What?” She couldn’t fathom why they had to hide.
Logan’s eyes were cold as he said, “Mortef has gotten his wish. The Lycan packs are fighting as well as Vampire covens. The supernatural war he wanted is happening, and Mortef is on his way to finish killing Devon.”
* * * *
Rachel ran up the stairs, taking two and three at a time. Her hands shook and nausea rolled through her. She’d told Kieran to make sure the dogs were in the basement before she took off for the staircase. Mortef had succeeded with everything Devon strove so hard to prevent. Lycans and Vampires were fighting each other, and the truce was crumbling, at least in Texas.
Her hands bled from cuts she hadn’t even realized she’d gotten at some point in the night. It was like an endless nightmare that wouldn’t end. Next, her parents would decide to come home early and show up in the middle of the fight. It was just the way the night was going. Every worst-case nightmare scenario was coming true. They were safe, but Addy wasn’t.
Vampires' Embrace [Southern Supernatural Alphas] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Page 18