Defender's Blood Alex's Destiny (An Urban Fantasy)

by A. K. Michaels

  Alex relaxed a bit. It wasn’t just her keeping him locked up in the cockpit. “Well, I hope in the future I get to meet him. He sounds like someone I would like to get to know.”

  After take-off Rhianna and Brianna got up, carrying her mother’s journal. They asked Alex to join them in one of the bedrooms to the rear of the plane. Once they were all seated in one of the rooms, Alex sat in the chair in the corner and the sisters sat on the edge of the bed. Rhianna proceeded to teach Alex the spell.

  It was complicated and Alex didn’t think she would ever get it. Her tension rose and after a couple of minutes, the door opened and Zach walked in. “Is everything okay, Alexina? I can feel your stress.”

  Alex’s voice was upset as she answered, “I just don’t seem able to get this spell, Zach. I don’t think I will remember it!” She was getting agitated and worried and tried hard to calm down.

  Brianna got up and came over. “May I?” she asked Zach, obviously aware that anything she did in relation to Alex would have to go by him first.

  “What are you thinking – a calming spell?” he asked.

  The Witch nodded her head as she answered, “I would like to do a calming spell first, and then I have a slightly stronger one that will improve Alex’s memory retention and hopefully will result in her knowing everything she needs to. Is that okay?”

  Zach could still feel Alex’s apprehension. He thought it would be a good idea and said so. He decided to stay in the room, hopefully to have a soothing effect on Alex.

  Brianna held Alex’s hands and started chanting. Suddenly she pulled away. “Ouch, that hurt!” Brianna exclaimed loudly.

  “What is it?” Rhianna asked. “Are you okay, Bri?”

  The younger Witch answered with a grimace. “I’m not sure, but when I started to cast the spell I got quite a shock, like an electric shock. What’s that all about?”

  Zach walked over. “I think I know.” He pulled the amulet from under Alex’s top. “Tatiana put some sort of charm on this to stop magic from affecting Alex. It was when she suspected Amelia might go after her.”

  “Well, that would do it,” Brianna was nodding her head.

  She then looked to Alex and told her, “You will have to take it off for my spells to work. As soon as I have cast them you can put it back on.”

  Alex didn’t want to take it off, however, if she was to have any hope of learning the spell in time, she would have to. “Zach, can you take it off and stand beside me? As soon as Brianna...or do you prefer Bri?”

  “Bri is fine.”

  “As soon as Bri is finished, can you put it back on?”

  “Of course, here let me get it.” He took it off and stood so close to Alex that there was barely space between them.

  Bri took her hands again and started over. In a shockingly fast time, Alex felt a feeling of calm come over her. She was totally relaxed and felt absolutely fine. Bri broke contact for a second and then started again. It was over quickly and Zach replaced the amulet around Alex’s neck. As soon as it touched her skin she felt better.

  “Now, let us try again,” Rhianna said and proceeded to teach the spell to Alex. This time there was no delay. Alex got it the first time and said all the words correctly. Something that she had thought she would not be able to do. Everyone in the room was relieved, Alex more so than anyone else.

  After Alex had recited the spell several more times correctly, they all went back through to the main compartment. Vlad and Dmitri were playing cards and had a drink on the table in front of them. Bri went to the small galley and came back with some fresh sandwiches and coffee. “There’s soft drinks, water, and booze, if anyone wants it,” she told them.

  Alex reached for the coffee and then stopped herself. She was hyped enough, coffee wasn’t the best thing she should be taking. Zach disappeared and came back with a glass of wine for her and one for himself. He had grown quite fond of the Zinfandel she liked. They took some sandwiches on a plate and sat on one of the sofas.

  While she picked some food for herself Rhianna started chattering. “Okay, now guys, I have been working on a shielding spell – a strong one – Tatiana has been helping me. When we get to the cave, it’s Bri’s job to unward it and make the door visible to us. The doorway will be visible to you, Alex, but not to any of us. So you will have to wait until Bri does her part. My job is to keep Bri and Alex shielded. So Alex, that means you need to stay close to me, okay?”

  Zach felt relieved. A shielding spell, if it was strong enough would help to keep Alex safe, which meant he could concentrate on dealing with anything else that stood in their way. Alex nodded at Rhianna, and then also nodded at Zach to let him know she had read what he was thinking.

  She was glad that his attention was not going to be split. He needed to keep his attention on his own job. She didn’t want him distracted by her or anything else.

  Rhianna continued on, “To be honest, and after many discussions with Tatiana, I have a feeling there are going to be obstructions in our way. Whether they be Demons or their human cohorts, we can’t be certain. However, we are sure there will be some sort of defence in place. Tatiana doesn’t think it will be a large amount of beings there, as this is the first time in history that the Defender has not gone alone. They will be expecting Alex, but none of us. Vlad, Dmitri, Zach – it will be your job to deal with them. The humans will, obviously, be easy for you to dispatch. The Demons, well, it will depend on how strong they are. Lesser ones shouldn’t give you too much bother, but if there are any such as the one that attacked at Unity...well, that could cause a problem.”

  Zach and Alex thought back and fear rippled through Alex so strong that Zach shivered.

  Vlad spoke up, “Zach, only you, Thadius, and Alex saw that thing. You got any info you think is pertinent?” Vlad had stopped playing cards and had been listening intently as the Witch spoke.

  Zach spoke truthfully, “Well, it was very powerful, I could feel it. Thadius rushed it, he is very strong, as you know, but it swatted him away like he was a fly. If there’s one like that, we can’t just use brawn – it won’t be enough. I would say to try and not let it touch you, not let it get a swipe at you. If you do, then you will be going down, hard.”

  Vlad thought on this. Dmitri was harder to read. Zach couldn’t figure out if he was thinking or daydreaming.

  “I’m glad I decided to bring my knives, and I’ve brought my sword, too,” Zach advised.

  Rhianna seemed excited. “I have an idea, can you get me your weapons, Zach? You two as well,” she directed at Vlad and Dmitri. Zach got his out of the compartment he had stored them in and passed out Vlad and Dmitri’s luggage. He placed his knives and sword on the table together with the two knives that were for Alex to wear.

  Vlad brought out several throwing knives and several large daggers. Dmitri had several guns and his own knives, since knives were an integral part of the training for guards. Vlad also had a small crossbow and quite a few small, but very strong, arrows for it. Zach hoped that security would not do a thorough check. If they did they wouldn’t get away with this amount of weaponry, and the guns were a definite no-no in the UK.

  Rhianna smiled as she spoke and looked down at the weapons on the table. “Okay, here’s what I’m thinking. Tatiana gave me a couple of spells for use against Demons. We didn’t have anything that would deal with them, nobody has, but she does. She is a very interesting fairy. So what do you think if I cast the spells on the weapons? I’m not sure it would work, but it can’t hurt any, and if it does work, then it could give you guys some help.”

  Rhianna’s enthusiasm was contagious and everyone said it was a good idea. Rhianna worked at placing the spells on the weapons. She even got Dmitri to get his bullets out and place them on the table. Anything she could put a spell on, she did.

  She was tired afterwards and said she had to rest. Bri went with her to the rear of the plane to one of the bedrooms. Vlad, Dmitri, and Zach repacked the wea
pons and Alex yawned. Zach was at her side immediately and said she should rest.

  “Yeah, you two go on back – get a room, so to speak,” Vlad guffawed. “Me and Dmitri here will use the sofas.”

  ‘Grab me some water, would you please?’ Alex sent the thought to Zach, and he silently got a couple of bottles out of the small fridge and followed her to the other large bedroom. Before Zach closed the door Alex ran back through and brought her small bag. She would want a shower and clean clothes, well, clean underwear anyway before they landed.

  When she got back to the room, Zach was already undressed and lying underneath the covers. “You look extremely relaxed, Mr Vampire, for someone that’s going to be possibly fighting Demons in a day or so.”

  Zach’s reply was nonchalant, “All in a day’s work, Alexina. I have fought Witches, Werewolves, Vampires, Mages, humans, and a host of others in-between. If something lives, then it can die. I just have to make sure it is them that does the dying.”

  Alex was astounded at how calm he was, and he was calm, she could sense it. He wasn’t putting on a front to make her feel better, he truly was calm.

  She thought on what he had just said. “What else is there? You just said all those different species and a ‘host of others.’ What on earth else is there?”

  “Come to bed and I’ll tell you.” He said this with one of his eyebrows raised.

  “No, no – answer first while I brush my teeth and get undressed.”

  Zach laughed before continuing. “Okay, well, there was the time in New Orleans that we had to deal with Zombies. Now that was not pretty! Hope I don’t come across them again...”

  Alex stuck her head out of the en suite with her toothbrush in her hand and foam all around her mouth. “You are kidding? Zombies? I didn’t think they were real!”

  Zach carried on, “Nope, not kidding, some Mage turned Necromancer and all hell broke out. It was Mardi Gras and everyone around thought it was part of some show that was put on. There’s even a clip on YouTube that someone captured on their bloody phone. We had known it was a big operation, so there were quite a few of us down there to sort it out. It took every last one of us to do it. In fact, we lost two guys from the local Wolf Pack, who was drafted in to help. It was a sorry business. The Necromancer was killed, too, just as well. I dread to think what the Pack would have done to him, if they had got their hands on him.”

  Alex was appalled, Zach’s job was dangerous. It hadn’t hit her before. Well, on a subconscious level it had, but it was more real to her now.

  “Well, you’ve met a few Wolves, but there are other species of Weres. Very rare, keep to themselves, but they are out there. I’ve came across a small pride of Lions, they live totally off the grid and don’t have anything to do with the Council. They rule in the wild, nonsense of any kind is dealt with quickly and the result is usually death. There are also Bears, they usually live in the wild in Canada. Again off the grid. There’s talk of others, too, but we haven’t had much to do with them. There’s a rumour of a group in Scotland – Jaguars. I haven’t seen them personally, but it wouldn’t surprise me. There’s so much land that’s unpopulated that it’s possible. Anyway, you seem to be taking a long time in there, little one. I’m getting lonely!” Zach finished, and Alex noted the huskiness to his tone.

  She finished her teeth and put on the little satin nightie she had brought, the emphasis being on little. Zach had just started to talk again, when she walked out and his words died on his lips.

  She was a vision, his breath hitched in his throat. Arousal hit him fast and hard, and he lifted the cover on the bed so she could join him. She had a smile on her face, but it was a little timid. She once again could not believe that this man was hers.

  She still felt a little self-conscious, she was sure her bum was wobbly. She had noticed changes to her body since she had started to train with Zach, though. Things were tightening up, but as far as she was concerned, she still had some extra padding.

  Zach felt this going through her mind. He pushed back at her more forcefully than he had before: ‘You are utter perfection to me, there is no one or nothing so beautiful on this earth.’ She smiled more confidently now and snuggled under the cover.

  Zach took his time. He had also felt her fear about what was coming, and he wanted to calm her. He started slow and continued so with caresses, kisses, and little nibbles that drove her to the brink. There was an eternity for him to teach her the vast amount of ways to have pleasure, from the very simple to the more complex. From straight sex to a little BDSM, to role playing, and a myriad of others.

  Tonight he was treating her like fine china – gently and lovingly. When they were finished, he cuddled her close, and she was asleep in minutes. Zach decided to nap with her and placed his other arm over her, too, so she was completely encompassed in his arms.

  They woke several hours later. Both showered and dressed and made their way forward. Vlad and Dmitri were once more at the table playing cards, and Alex wondered if they had rested or just had a marathon card game. “Did you two rest?” Zach asked – quite clipped, Alex noted.

  “Yes, sir, we did,” Vlad replied with a mock salute.

  Zach’s voice was still clipped as he went on, “I don’t want you tired, when we land. The minute we get there, I want you on high alert. We don’t know what we’re walking into.” He sounded impatient.

  “Zach, relax, honestly, Dmitri and I both rested, we only got up about an hour ago. You know I would never put a mission in jeopardy, and I most certainly would not put the lives of people I care about in danger.” Vlad seemed upset that Zach would even suggest it.

  Zach took a deep breath. “I know, Vlad, I’m just a little on edge. It’s the not knowing that’s getting to me. If I knew we would only have to deal with anything once we were at the cave, then I could relax a bit, but we don’t know if they will try to get to Alex before then. I won’t unwind now until we’re on Pack land. I know Duncan was making sure it is warded and safe for us.”

  Vlad got up and came over, he slapped Zach on his back and told him, “I know, my friend. I would feel the same if it was Irina. You know I would do anything for you, and I would die protecting Alex.”

  “Let’s hope no one dies on this mission,” Zach whispered.

  Rhianna and Bri joined them at this point, both still looking a little sleepy. They had some coffee, which seemed to perk them up a bit.

  “Okay, let’s go over everything again,” Vlad said, and they did, thoroughly.

  It made Zach calm down a bit, and he was sure that was the reason Vlad did it. He was a good friend.

  Just as they were finishing, Zach’s phone rang, it was Thadius. “Hi, Zach, I have pulled a few strings and none of you will be searched at security, either personally or your luggage. So you don’t need to worry about anything that you are taking with you.”

  Zach let out a sigh and answered, “That’s a relief, Thadius, thank you.”

  Thadius’s strong voice continued, “No thanks are required, Zach. I just wish there was more I could do to help. Please take care and I hope to see all of you in a couple of days.”

  Zach conveyed what Thadius had said, then got his weapons out and spoke his thoughts. “Okay, so if we don’t need to worry about security, I’m going to arm myself with a few things, just in case. Obviously the sword is out, I don’t want to take the chance that someone might spot it, but the knives are going on. Alex, I want your knives strapped on, too.”

  He got to work, doing Alex’s first, then strapping one to each forearm, one small knife inside the top of his boots. A couple he placed in the inside of his coat, a long, black leather one that Alex had not seen him wear before. He finished arming himself with a large dagger in the waistband of his jeans at his back. Alex was scared he would hurt himself with all the blades he was wearing. Vlad and Dmitri also armed themselves with some blades, too, although the guns and crossbow stayed in their bags.

  C
hapter 14

  The plane landed as smoothly as Alex remembered, the pilot really was very good. It was the middle of the night local time, and when they disembarked, they were all surprised to see Duncan not far from where the plane had stopped. He was standing with another large man next to two large, black, off-road jeeps.

  Duncan clasped Zach’s hand in a strong handshake and his voice rumbled, “My are we no lucky tae see ye twice in as many weeks, ma friend.”

  Zach laughed his reply, “Indeed.” At that word, Alexina tried to suppress a laugh.

  Duncan continued, “That Thadius must hae a lot o pull tae get us ontae the tarmac, laddie.”

  Zach nodded his head. “I think he does, Duncan.”

  Vlad took all the bags from everyone and loaded them into the jeeps. As they didn’t have a lot, they fit in one of them. As soon as they were loaded, Duncan hurried them along. “Right we can get off noo. We’ll be yer chauffeurs, so split up – three n three fer each. This here’s Scott, ma Beta, an ye couldnae ask fer a better lad at yer back in a pinch.”

  Duncan gave Alex a strong hug. “Nice tae see ye again, little lass. I hope that brigand’s treating ye right?”

  She smiled into his stomach, as that was where she came up to on him! “Yes, Duncan, he is...indeed.” Zach snorted, trying not to laugh.

  Zach turned to the others, “Ok, Vlad, you come with me and Alex in Duncan’s and the rest of you can go with Scott.”

  *****

  Scott had been standing, just watching the others, and his attention seemed to be drawn to Bri. He thought she looked gorgeous, and he sniffed the air getting her scent.

  Bri had taken note of Scott, he was large, even slightly bigger than Duncan. He had dirty blonde hair with green eyes. She loved green eyes. She had noticed Alex had them, too, maybe it was a Scottish thing? She didn’t know, but green eyes were quite rare, so she always noticed if someone had them.