Defender's Blood The Birth and The Battle (Urban Fantasy)

by A. K. Michaels

  “And?”

  “The visions were similar, very similar. I think we’re looking at a war, Zach, like none we’ve encountered before. They both saw Demons – plural – and a whole heck of a lot of humans with them. They were readying for the attack here ... so we’re gonna need every fucking Super we can get our hands on, my friend. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, I know you and Alex are under enough stress, but I thought you should know.”

  Zach immediately put a block up, he didn’t want Alex hearing this. She was worried enough already and he didn’t want to add to her stress and risk their babies.

  “Understood,” was all he said as he hung up the phone, making his way back inside to his mate. He would make damn sure she was safe ... no matter what it took, no matter these visions, no matter how many arrived to try and take their children.

  As he went back in, she was frowning. He wasn’t sure if it was the call from Vlad or the conversation with Scott that she had eavesdropped on. He hoped it was the latter, and luckily it was.

  Alex knew Zach had spoken to Scott, she had heard the beginning of the conversation before Zach had remembered to put up a mild block. “So what were you asking Scott?” she asked.

  He sat down on the sofa and pulled her over, she went into her favourite position – lying with her feet up and her head in his lap. “Well?” she said in a tone that assured Zach she wasn’t going to let it go.

  “Little one, you know I love you, more than life itself, but I have to fight. I don’t know how I know this – and I am certainly made for it – but I have to fight. That would mean I couldn’t be with you, wherever we decide is safest in the town.”

  Her eyes opened wide as she realised what he meant. “No Zach, you can’t – I need you with me. I’m not strong when you’re not with me!”

  Her voice broke and he realised she was close to tears. “Darling, my job is and has always been, firstly to protect you above all else, that is my job. I am your protector ... the guy upstairs made me that. I have to fight.”

  A tear slipped out the corner of her eye and Zach wiped it away. “Please don’t be upset, but inside I know I have to do this. I was asking Scott if he would be your guard. Vlad and I will do what we have done for centuries – we will fight side by side. Don’t worry Alexina, we are damn good at it. I was going to ask Duncan …”

  Alex interrupted, “Duncan? Is he coming over?”

  “Yes, he will be here and bringing some men with him. More of his Pack wanted to come but he needs to leave enough to guard Margaret and their lands. So I was going to ask him, but I’ve known him long enough to know he will want to be in the thick of things. Duncan has told me how much he respects Scott and how strong a Wolf he is, so I’ve asked him to protect my mate.”

  Alex realised the enormity of what he had asked Scott. “What did he say?”

  Zach ran his fingers along the side of her face gently. “He said he would be honoured to protect my mate.”

  “Oh,” was all Alex managed.

  “I may as well tell you what’s happening. Part of it was my idea, part Vlad’s, but a lot was Dmitri and his actions will make us strong ….”

  Zach went on to tell her the full plan. She, too, was impressed with Dmitri. If his call to arms bore as much fruit as they were hoping, then the town was going to be a battleground.

  She didn’t relish what was to come but the more that were on their side, the better!

  Zach continued talking, he could sense her fatigue and he wanted her to fall asleep. She did so soon after and he sat with her head in his lap, stroking her hair. She had to be safe, and their babies, they all had to be safe!

  Zach had dozed off while stroking Alex’s hair and he came fully alert in an instant. He could ‘feel’ something – his head shot around looking for a threat but he couldn’t see anything. His senses were still telling him something was with them but he couldn’t see it.

  He gently moved Alex’s head and placed a pillow under her. She didn’t wake. He prowled through the house, looking for what was sending his senses into overload. He found nothing.

  He shook his head. Maybe he was just scared for Alex and letting his imagination get the better of him? He didn’t think so but he couldn’t do anything if he couldn’t find anything. He moved Alexina to their bed and lay down next to her, everything in him vigilant.

  Nothing happened. For hours he lay next to her, and finally he dozed slightly.

  *****

  There was a slight shimmer and Michael stood watching Alex. Unmoving, just watching.

  After some time he left, not knowing what was drawing him to her. It didn’t make any sense to him but he couldn’t stay away.

  He thought the Vampire had sensed him earlier. He would have to be more careful. That was the first time Zach had seemed alerted to him and he had been there many times over the past few weeks.

  *****

  Zach awoke and left Alex for a short while to research something on the internet. The day before he had heard his babies’ hearts beating. He had been so shocked he had immediately put a block up. The hearts had been beating so fast he thought something was wrong and he didn’t want to worry Alexina.

  He put a search in the laptop and he was instantly put at ease. Babies’ hearts did beat that fast – nothing to worry about. He now had to decide how to let Alexina know. It wasn’t something that would crop up in normal conversation: ‘Oh by the way, I can hear the heartbeats of the babies in your belly.’ He would do it as soon as the right moment presented itself.

  For him it brought them closer, it was extremely special that he could hear them before they were even born. He loved them already and he knew that feeling would only grow. All Supers had enhanced hearing and could, if they wished, hear unborn babies’ hearts, but it wasn’t something that they would do. It just wasn’t done, it would be intruding greatly on the mother. They had a code, listening to a baby was one of those situations. Listening to his own ... well, that was different. He wanted to hear them as often as he could, all the time, and a smile was on his face as he thought of the twins – his children.

  He also made some calls, quite a few actually. He called Irina – she had a part to play in what he had in mind. She was excited and happy to help him, thank goodness. He then called the bar and set things in motion there. Lastly he called the one person he didn’t think he had spoken to before. It was a slightly awkward conversation but he got through it – just. Things were set in motion and he only had to make sure it all went to plan.

  The town meeting the next day went well. Thadius started it, there was a small podium outside HO with a microphone set up so that everyone could hear what was being said. He handed over to Vlad and Alex saw a side to him she didn’t know he had!

  His command of the people was extraordinary. As he spoke about Demons and their minions trying to come onto their land and what he was going to do about that, the people went into a frenzy. Shouts from all around – ‘Count me in’, ‘Me too’, ‘Me too’, ‘And me’ – the shouts went up all around. Alex was amazed at the reaction Vlad’s words had.

  She could see why he was Head of Security and Leader of the Guards – he could get people to do exactly what he wanted.

  He explained that all humans would be leaving for safe haven at a Wolf Pack nearby and any non-fighting personnel would also leave, “Only fighters! Only strong Vampires, Wolves, Witches – united – fighting to cleanse our town of these FUCKERS!” He roared the last word and Alex was a little taken aback – fuckers? – well, she supposed that was just what they were.

  Vlad took a deep breath and just when the crowd was finally quieting he shouted again, the authority in his voice was awe inspiring. “How dare they – do you hear me, HOW DARE THEY! They think they can come here, take one of our own – and HER UNBORN BABIES! These fuckers don’t know who they’re messing with. We will kill them – every last one of them. It has been centuries since our kind has waged war,
centuries since we waged war with each other – Vampire against Wolf, Witch against Mage. NOW we stand together – NOW we are invincible. NOW WE GO TO WAR!”

  The fury ran through the crowd with a momentum that was unstoppable and Alex could only watch as Zach’s people – her people – stood up for them. She was humbled and looked up at Zach, who was beaming from ear to ear.

  Vlad went on to give details. There would be training for everyone that was going to stay and fight. Witches would be working around the clock putting spells on weapons. It was going to be busy for everyone. As they didn’t know exactly when trouble was coming they had to be ready now, not next week or the next, now.

  When Vlad finally finished, people started leaving and he made his way over to Alex and Zach. “You should think about running for president, Vlad. That was amazing!”

  Vlad just shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, it’s what I do, and if I do say so myself – I’m bloody good at it!”

  “That you are, my friend.” Zach slapped him on the back.

  Irina shouted Vlad’s name and he turned, she was running at full speed towards him with a huge smile on her face. He put out his arms and she jumped into them and he twirled her round. “Oh my God, Vlad, that was out of this world! Do you know how hot you were up there? Take me home, Vlad – take me home now!” Vlad laughed and ran off with her still in his arms.

  “I think Vlad’s about to get lucky!” Zach smirked.

  “Yeah I think he is and well deserved too. By the way, he was hot up there, and you, my Vampire, are going to reap the benefit – take me home, Zach, take me home now!” She mirrored what Irina had said with a very flirty smile on her face. He took her hand and led her to the car – rather quickly. As they got in she commented, “I think there will be a lot of mates getting lucky today!”

  As Zach drove, Alex sighed “I wish you could just move us.” She thought about how scared she had been when she had first met her Vampire and he had moved them away from danger. She still thought on his ability to do such a thing as gloriously exciting, even if a little scary.

  “You know I don’t like to abuse that too much.” Zach smiled over at her and she couldn’t wait to get home, knowing she was going to have a wonderful afternoon!

  “Zach, I’ve been thinking about that, your ability to move, that is. How do you do it and why can you do it?” This was something she had been meaning to ask for ages, but kept forgetting, usually because Zach was kissing her, or snuggling at her neck ... both of which made her mind go completely blank.

  “I’m not sure why I can do it, the how is also not easy to explain. The first time it happened I was totally shocked. I was trying to find a rogue, we had been given an aerial photograph of where he was staying, a log cabin near a lake. I was getting frustrated as we couldn’t find it and I was staring and staring at the picture, looking for some clues as to where it was and then suddenly I was there. I appeared right in front of the cabin and it scared the crap out of me. I didn’t know how I had gotten there and still don’t know. All I do know is that I started to practise – using my mind to see where I wanted to be and then I would move and appear there.”

  Zach shrugged his shoulders. “As far as I’m aware, I’m the only Vampire that can do it. The Council seem to think it’s because I’m so old and powerful. We don’t actually know of anyone as old as I am, so that could well be the case. I can’t pretend to know the why or even the how – only that I can. I treat it as a gift, to be used sparingly, plus when I use it a lot it tires me out, so I can’t use it in a battle for instance, or I’d end up dead.”

  Alex was in total awe of the power of her Vampire. So ancient, so powerful, and he was hers ... all hers.

  *****

  The Wolf Packs and Vampire communities all over started to respond to Dmitri’s request for a call to arms. The numbers were staggering, some didn’t even respond but just started turning up. Soon the town was full!

  Folks with extra rooms in their houses had to start taking them in. The Wolves were easier, they spent a lot of time in the wooded areas around Unity and ran free, only changing to human for training or meetings. The amount of times Alex saw huge Wolves walking past the house was staggering. She had to keep telling herself that they were there to fight for her – not to eat her.

  Irina met a She-Wolf from the UK who she made friends with. She spent a lot of time as her Wolf with the various small Packs that were now on the land, doing all she could to welcome them and try to get details of everyone that was there. The job was hard though, as some came alone and not with a Pack and didn’t check in with anyone, so they weren’t entirely certain of the amount that was there. Alex was scared for Irina, she didn’t want her personality to change. She was so sweet and naïve and caring, and she never hunted or killed while in Wolf form. Alex worried that if she did that, then it might change her.

  Zach said that Irina should embrace her Wolf. He thought because she held her Wolf in check, that was the reason she sometimes couldn’t shift when she wanted. He tried to explain to Alex that Wolves were pack animals, they hunted, they killed together and it was all part of being a Wolf. He didn’t think that if Irina embraced this part of her Wolf that it would change her. “Her soul is pure, Alex, being Wolf won’t change that.” He was so insightful and she just wished for the best for Irina – whatever that was.

  *****

  Zach’s phone rang and he looked to see who it was – Irina. He put a mild block up and told Alex it was business, going out back to take the call. She had got what he had asked her to. Great, everything was set for the next day. She would bring it over and leave it at the back door when she came to pick Alex up in the morning.

  Zach smiled, he was the happiest he had been in a long time. He went back in and Alex raised her eyes – he bent down and kissed her. They had an early night as Zach didn’t want Alex tired the next day, she was obviously unaware of what he had planned.

  Irina arrived early and Alex was confused as to why Irina had taken it into her head to drag her to the hairdresser, but went along. Her nails needed doing too so she could get that done at the same time.

  Irina was very excited, more so than usual, and Alex was a little suspicious.

  Irina dropped her at home and she walked through the door to a sight that made her stop and her mouth hang open. Zach was standing waiting for her dressed in his tux.

  Confusion ran over her face, along with more than a few dirty thoughts in her head. “Nope – not now, little one. Come, your dress is in the bedroom.”

  Dress, what dress? Zach heard her thoughts. “Why, your wedding dress, Alexina. Today you become my wife!”

  Her breathing stopped – she struggled to get it started again. “Calm down baby, come on, we don’t have much time.”

  He took her hand and led her to their room. There, lying on their bed was a white gown, very simple with just the hint of lace at the sweetheart neckline. There were also shoes, underwear – which included stockings – and a small round headdress made of white flowers. She knew that Tatiana had made it, it was all natural and absolutely stunning.

  Tears came to her eyes. “No no – no tears. Come on, I’ll help you get ready.” Zach helped her dress and she took some time to add a little make–up. Her stomach was full of butterflies. When she was ready she looked in the mirror and Zach stood at her back. “You are divine, the most beautiful thing on this earth. Come, we can’t keep people waiting.”

  “Where are we going, Zach?” He just smiled, not answering her question.

  When they went outside, Vlad was sitting in his car – with white ribbon and balloons decorating it. Irina sat next to him in a lovely simple satin gown, the colour was a very pale peach and she looked stunning. She was doing her excited little jumping up and down in the seat and motioning them to hurry up.

  Vlad was so handsome in his tux and she was pretty sure he would reap the benefits this evening, that’s if Irina could keep her hands off hi
m till then.

  Zach helped her into the car and they drove off. Alex still didn’t know where they were going. Vlad headed for the woods and parked. She knew this part ... she and Zach often walked here. It led to a lovely little copse surrounded by trees, very calming and they liked to picnic there. Zach helped her from the car and they started to walk towards the copse.

  Thadius met them just before they got to the open area and he was resplendent in a tux similar to the ones Vlad and Zach were wearing. He looked very handsome indeed. “I’ll take Alex from here, Zach – you and Vlad go on.”

  Irina squealed, “Wait a minute, I’ve forgotten the flowers, they’re in the boot.” Vlad took off at his supernatural speed and was back in less than a minute. He handed her a very simple bouquet of white flowers and one to Irina. Then Vlad and Zach walked on, Zach giving her a kiss before leaving.

  Thadius beamed at her. “You look lovely, Alex – the most beautiful bride I’ve seen. Would you give me the honour of walking you to your groom?” She nodded, overcome with emotion, and didn’t think she could utter one word. Thadius held his arm out and she took it. Irina followed behind a huge smile on her face.

  When they entered the copse, Alex took a sharp breath in – it was out of this world. Tatiana had obviously been working her Fairy magic as white flowers were blooming all around. From trees that Alex was pretty sure didn’t flower, far less the white ones from the bouquet she carried.

  There were people all around, and at the very front, an arch made of the same white flowers. Zach stood there with Vlad at his side and a man in front whom she didn’t know. This couldn’t have been more perfect.

  Then the music started – how on earth did they get music here? It wasn’t the usual ‘here comes the bride’, it was her favourite piece that Zach had composed himself, and it was him playing it. He must have recorded it without her knowing. Her eyes were starting to fill with tears and she took a deep breath. She wasn’t going to cry, she wasn’t going to cry, she wasn’t going to cry. She kept saying this – but she thought she probably would.