But he also sliced the face of another. He couldn’t stay in one spot and survive and he knew it. With a move he normally wouldn’t attempt, he disappeared into the wind and reappeared several feet away. He’d never been able to do such a thing. Michael could, as could Mason. And even in danger, his mind went to Marcella. It was the power she had blessed him. She had made this possible.
He had a moment to take stock. His eyes went to Michael as he drove one of his razors through the head of Marcus. Sure death. At the same time, he kicked another. But Damion was missing.
His two Arions appeared beside him, and once again he was in heated battle. The punches came hard and fast but he held his own. These two, he determined, were newly converted. He was easily able to hold them off. They had yet to develop a high level of skills. And he wondered why they were chosen as his attackers.
Was the intent simply to distract him?
With his urgency on the rise, he slammed a knife through the head of one of them and turned to find the other. He needed to figure out what was really going on here. Only he now faced Damion. The other Arion was gone. He and Damion stood there, face-to-face, eyes locked in challenge. In the distance, Diego was aware that Michael was surrounded.
Damion had an agenda. “What do you want?” Diego asked.
He smiled, completely confident in his intent. “You and Marcella.”
“It won’t happen.”
“I have a feeling your mate will come if it saves your life. After all, her aunt is gone. You are all she has.”
“You bastard,” Diego said, stepping forward. He was going to kill him here and now. The intent had been to kill Catherine all along. But suddenly he had three Arions around him, knives at his throat.
Damion laughed. “Rash actions will get you killed, my old friend.”
“We are not friends.” He should attempt to fade and move. But if he failed…
Damion continued, “Not yet but we will be.” He spoke the words with confidence.
The knives were close. A wrong move and Diego would be dead. He knew he needed a miracle. And it came in the form of bullets smashing into the chests of the men around him. The moment was all he had. Diego disappeared into wind and reappeared several feet away. Seconds later, Mason appeared by his side. Knights were in hard battle, and the Arions were falling as if powerless. The steroid. It worked.
There was one Arion still standing. Damion. Knights surrounded him, ready to end this battle. “Wait!” Diego called. “He’s mine.”
Diego started forward but Mason reached for his arm. “No. Go to your mate. He is not worth it. This is not who you are.”
The words hit him like a punch in the gut. Mason was right. He had been eager to kill. The beast inside raged with urgency. Because of Damion. Which was exactly why he needed to walk away. Michael appeared by his side and he and Diego exchanged a look. It was time to go home. They disappeared into the wind, leaving Mason and the other Knights to end this battle.
And it was indeed over for now though not even close to done. Mason wasn’t surprised when his brother appeared by his side. David. The newcomer in their camp shared his name. That was going to be difficult for him. Anything that reminded him of his brother was like poison.
He turned to face the man once called family and now called enemy. But David wasn’t here to fight. Mason sensed his intent.
‘“Join me, Mason.”
“Never.”
“You can’t win.”
Mason’s brow inched upward. “Then what are you afraid of?”
David laughed. “Perhaps it’s you that is afraid. That is why you hide, isn’t it?”
“I’m here now. Fight me.”
“I want us to rule together, Mason. I will not kill the man who can own the universe with me. Together we can have it all. Think of it. Our resources combined. We can make a better race. No more crime. No more racism.”
“And what do you call your treatment of humans?”
“Necessary. They are fools who abuse each other and their planet.”
“You’re the fool, David. And I’m going to stop you.”
He smiled. “I haven’t given up on you yet.” The wind lifted around them and David’s jaw clenched. “But I warn you, my patience is thin.”
And then he was gone.
* * * * *
Diego followed Michael off the elevator and found Marcella at the doors. She wrapped her arms around him and clung. He had expected Holly to tell her he had arrived. They had cameras and buzzers to alert them of arrivals. But he hadn’t expected this kind of greeting. He held her and buried his nose in the soft scent of her hair. Never in his life had he needed someone like he needed Marcella. She wasn’t blaming him for her aunt. He had been certain that she would.
Michael slid by them in silence. He stopped in front of Holly and answered her question before she asked. “Mason is safe. He’ll be here soon.”
Marcella looked at her hand and then Diego’s side. “You’re bleeding!
Holly rushed forward. “Let me see.” Her hand was on his side. “Come with me. You need stitches.”
She started walking and Diego reached for her hand. “No. How are you?”
Holly smiled. “Thanks to Marcella, I’m not sick for the first time in a week.”
Diego looked at Marcella, a question in his eyes.
I can’t heal her. I only calmed her body. She is not getting the nutrients her body needs. You must heal her, Diego.
How serious is she? Can you buy me some time to find an answer to the absorption issues?
Marcella bit her bottom lip. Some.
Holly frowned. “Stop talking about me in your heads. Tell me what you’re saying.”
Diego sighed. “We have to solve the absorption issues.”
“I have some ideas on that. Now come get stitched and well so you can help me make them count.” She paused. “Tomorrow.”
* * * * *
Marcella felt Diego’s lips on hers and her eyes opened instantly. They were lying in the bed Diego had called theirs. It was a small cavern behind Holly and Mason’s. She’d fallen asleep in his arms. And he had held her as she cried for her aunt.
Her palms went to his cheeks. “Tell me I’m not dreaming.”
He smiled against her lips. “You weren’t dreaming before. It was more like an alternate existence.”
Her hand brushed his bandage. “What about your side?”
“I’ve slept several hours. It’s much better.” His lips brushed hers again. “You have no idea how much I need you.”
“I’m beginning to,” she said. “I need you too. I don’t understand all of this but I do.” Marcella paused. “Make me like you, Diego.”
He leaned back and looked into her eyes. “What?”
“Holly said she converted.”
“Or she would have died. She was injured.”
“You don’t want me to?” she asked, her teeth finding her bottom lip.
“I do. I mean…I don’t know. You have more ability to protect yourself if you convert.”
“Good. I want to fight. I want to win this war.”
Diego brushed hair from her eyes. His touched made her shiver. It warmed and enticed as well as making her feel loved and needed. “You hate fighting,” he said.
“So do a lot of soldiers,” Marcella objected. She’d thought this through. “I would rather contribute in other ways but I won’t be defenseless.”
“There are negatives to conversion,” he warned. “Look at Holly and this pregnancy.”
“We’ll solve the nutrition issues. I know we will. But if we don’t take the advantages the enhancements offer, we might not live to save humanity.”
Diego slid between her legs, and his elbows rested on either side of her head. “Give it time. If you want this, I want it. But not now.”
Her fingers pressed on his chest. “First you pressed me to accept and now you press me to wait. I don’t understand you.”
“Mi hermo
sa,” he said, the words gliding off his tongue like sweet seduction. The heat of anger was quickly turning to sizzle. “I pushed you because I had to. Now I give you the choice.” He kissed her cheek, her chin and her lips. “When you choose to fully convert, I want you to really want it. To know it’s right. I promised myself I would not take. What comes next you must give freely and take the time to be certain.” He paused. “You choose what comes next.”
Emotion tightened in her chest. And now she understood what had been all along. He didn’t own her nor did she own him. They shared one another. Her hands went to his face, and her finger traced his lip. “I choose to fight. And I choose us.”
About the Author
Lisa Renee Jones lives in Austin, Texas. She owned and operated a seven-office staffing company for eleven years. She discovered a love for writing in 2003 and sold her business, and now has a dozen published titles.
Lisa Renee Jones welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1056 Home Ave., Akron OH 44310.
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