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

by A. K. Michaels

  He didn’t lean over to bite her for a long time … too long, she thought she was going to explode. Their release was immense and they collapsed together on the bed, Zach moving to the side and taking her with him.

  Alex moaned up at him. “Jeez, what am I going to do when we can’t do this? I mean, it’s okay when I’m carrying them – I’ve checked, it won’t cause any harm but afterwards, there will be several weeks that we won’t be able to. How will we survive!”

  Zach nuzzled her neck. “Oh, I’m sure I’ll come up with something. Don’t you worry your little head about that. Trust me, I’ve already got lots in mind about then. Shit, they’ve just popped into my head, wench!” he growled. She noticed he had lengthened and hardened again – she smiled.

  *****

  Another couple of weeks went by and the stuff they had ordered was delivered. Alex made Zach put everything together, he said there was no hurry but she wouldn’t let him rest till it was all done. There were a lot of swear words while he was trying to put one of the cots together. Men, she laughed.

  The unicorn curtains were also soon up, she admitted they looked good. The transformation of the room was remarkable, it was like a nursery from the page of a magazine – perfect. She had everything she would need, clothes, nappies, wipes, everything. She also had bottles and formula delivered. She didn’t know if she would or could breastfeed but she wanted the formula there and ready to go in case she decided to go down that route.

  There were also some other deliveries. Others in the town had bought them presents, some coming in person with their gifts, others had them delivered. All were lovely and all were welcome. The little notes of good wishes reduced Alex to tears on more than one occasion. She was overjoyed at the welcome that their babies were getting, before they were even born.

  It was time for them to go back to the city for another scan at the specialist. Alex was nervous, she didn’t want to leave Unity. Zach tried to allay her fears but she kept putting it off … she didn’t want to go.

  Finally Zach sat her down for a talk. “What’s going on, Alexina? We should have been back at the Docs last week, why don’t you want to go? You’re hiding your thoughts from me pretty well … I assume you’ve been practising?”

  She couldn’t put it into words. “So you can’t tell me with words?” he asked. She shook her head ‘no’. Zach pulled her into his lap. “Okay little one, if you can’t tell me with words – show me. Let me feel what it is, let me into your mind. Properly, no attempts to block … I need to know what’s going on.”

  She nodded her head, relaxing into his body and tried to show him. He slowly probed into her brain and soon feelings started to overwhelm him. He tried to keep going, to see what it was that she was feeling. There was a rush as he broke through and he gasped. The flood of feelings was so intense, he was finding it difficult to sort through them. The strongest was fear, unadulterated raw fear.

  “Alexina, where is this coming from?” he questioned. She again shook her head, she didn’t know.

  He cuddled her closer. “You’re safe with me, you know that don’t you?” Again, words wouldn’t come, she nodded. “Well I’m not going to make you go. The feelings are very strong for whatever reason and from wherever they’re coming from, so we’ll stay here. Okay? I won’t make you leave, honey. I’m sure David can look after you.”

  Again she nodded and moved closer. She felt as if she couldn’t get close enough to him, she thought she could be inside his skin and still not feel close enough.

  Zach felt this and hugged her tight, having no idea how she had been functioning with the wealth of these feelings running through her. He had only had a glimpse and it had totally taken his breath away. His little mate was in trouble if this kept up.

  Chapter 19

  Two days later, Alex was doing some laundry, Zach was away helping Dmitri and she was expecting Tatiana. They hadn’t seen much of each other in the past few weeks as Tatiana had been helping with spells for the coming fight.

  They had organised for her to come round for a catch up and Alex was looking forward to it. She was due in another hour or so, and she was getting the camomile tea out – Tatiana wasn’t keen on coffee, decaf or otherwise. She bent down to get it out of the cupboard and she suddenly felt weird. Not in pain but something felt off.

  She was deciding whether to bother Zach and that was as far as she got. She collapsed onto the floor behind the island in the middle of the kitchen.

  Zach was at work, he felt Alex, she was feeling a bit off – then nothing. She must have fallen asleep again, he thought. Dmitri came in with something that needed his attention and his mind focused on what was in front of him.

  *****

  Bri was sitting on Rhianna’s couch when her eyes rolled to the back of her head and a vision came over her. Alex was in trouble. The feeling of something very wrong hit her mind and she saw her lying on the floor. She wasn’t sure where but she assumed it was at home. Where was Zach? Why wasn’t he with her?

  The vision didn’t end, it continued rather disjointedly and Alex was now in what looked like a hospital where David was running about like a headless chicken. Zach was there and he looked terrified. What could make someone like Zach scared? She came to and let out a low scream. She had to get help for Alex.

  Scott was out training, but Rhianna was in the other room and had heard her sister moaning. She came through and it was obvious she had had a vision – her eyes were wide with fear, her skin pale and clammy.

  She rushed to her sister. “Bri, what is it? Are you alright?” Fear tore into her, Bri looked terrible.

  “It’s Alex, something’s wrong, very wrong. Call Zach now, Rhianna – he’s got to get her to the hospital!”

  Rhianna got her phone, found Zach’s number and pressed dial. It rang … and rang … and rang. Why wasn’t he answering?

  Finally she heard his voice. “Zach here ...”

  “Zach, it’s Rhianna. Bri just had a vision – she says Alex is in trouble – you’ve to get her to the hospital. You need to hurry Zach, you need to hurry!” She was still screaming for him to hurry when she realised she was screaming to a dial tone.

  *****

  Zach moved, appearing in his living room, adrenaline coursing through his system.

  “Alexina, where are you, Alexina – please, where are you?”

  He kept calling while looking firstly in their bedroom, then the nursery. Where the fuck was she? He finally made it to the kitchen, he didn’t see her but could smell her, she was here – where? He couldn’t see her! He thought his heart was going to burst, fear was coursing through his system and all he wanted was to find his mate. He went towards the back window, thinking she may have gone out back – then he saw her lying on the floor.

  What was going on?! He picked her up and if she hadn’t been pregnant he would have moved her to the hospital, but with the babies in her, he didn’t know if it would cause any harm. He grabbed the keys for the car – his jeep was back at the Security Offices. Picking her up gently, he ran to the car, laying her in the back seat just as Thadius pulled up to drop Tatiana off.

  “Something’s wrong – she’s unconscious – follow me!” he shouted over, then got in and took off like a bat out of hell. He didn’t slow down and he left Thadius and Tatiana far behind.

  He pulled in front of the clinic and as soon as he was out of the car he roared at the top of his voice and with all the power he had. “DAVID!” He pulled Alexina from the car and carried her towards the door.

  David obviously heard the extremely loud roar – how could he not, the windows in the clinic rattled as though they were going to explode. He was running towards Zach as he came through into the clinic.

  “She’s unconscious, Doc – I don’t know what happened. You need to do something!”

  *****

  David motioned for Zach to follow him and they went through into the emergency area. All manner of equipment wa
s there and David wanted all the help he could get. If anything happened to Alex, Christ he didn’t even want to think about it … Zach would implode.

  Zach lay her down on the bed and David went to work, trying to find what was wrong. Her pulse was so fast he could barely keep count. Her heart was pumping so far beyond the normal limit, he was worried she was going to have a stroke. He had to help her but wasn’t sure what was going on. If he did the wrong thing, he could possibly do more harm than good.

  Tatiana came running through with Thadius close behind, and Zach grabbed her, none too gently. “Tatiana do something – you have to do something!”

  Tatiana could see Zach was in near hysteria, a feeling he had clearly never encountered before and he wasn’t dealing with it very well.

  She took one of his hands and tried to calm him, using some of her powers towards him. At first she didn’t think it had worked but then a look came over his face as if he had been given a double dose of Prozac.

  “Zach, I want you to sit down next to Alex, hold her hand, let her know you’re here for her. Can you do that?”

  He nodded, got a chair from the wall and brought it over to the side of the bed.

  Tatiana walked closer and looked at her girl. Fear was lapping at her insides also, but she was determined to stay calm, think clearly and help her. “David, what’s going on?” the Fairy asked quietly.

  David turned with a look of confusion. “I don’t know. Her vitals are through the roof. If we can’t bring her heart rate down, I’m scared she’ll stroke out.” He said the last part while darting looks at the Vampire – the last thing he needed was for him to go all caveman in the clinic.

  Tatiana did the only thing she could think of. She closed her eyes and sent a prayer, a specific one – summoning Michael.

  In the next second, the air shimmered and Michael stood there, his wings barely able to fit into the small room. He stared at Alex – he knew what was happening.

  David had disappeared and came back with a syringe in his hands. Michael grabbed it. “What’s this?” he asked, and his tone brooked no argument.

  When David saw what he was pretty sure was an Angel in his clinic, he nearly fainted. David was a devout Christian and went to church every Sunday, so seeing an Angel in front of him … he had to force himself to breathe.

  Michael spoke again. “I asked, what this is?”

  David shook. “It’s something to try and slow her heart, it’s going far too fast!”

  “No!” The Angel’s reply was not just a word – it was a command. David blustered, trying to get the words out to justify him ministering it to Alex. Michael ignored him and watched Alex, with her Vampire at her side.

  Tatiana came forward. “Michael, why shouldn’t David give her this medication? Do you know what’s happening?”

  “Nothing can interfere with what’s happening in her body, Tatiana. The babes want out. They are growing faster than any human could understand … or Vampire, Wolf or Fairy. She will not die because of this stage. You will have to keep her hydrated. That is all that will be allowed. She will come out of this in a day or possibly two, however, the pregnancy will be far advanced by that point.”

  Tatiana gasped. Zach’s head shot up – the implications were vast.

  Tatiana turned to speak to Thadius but he was already pulling his phone out and spoke quickly. “I’ve got this covered, Tatiana, you stay here with Zach. I’ll be back soon.”

  Michael was still staring at Alex. He could actually feel the babies growing – one in particular was calling to him.

  Tatiana’s sharp ears had caught something in what Michael said. “Michael, may I please have a minute of your time?” she asked humbly. She didn’t want him just disappearing on them again before she could ask what was troubling her. He looked at her with those perfect features and nodded slightly. She moved out of the room and right out to near the main doors.

  “Michael, your play on words – ‘she will not die at this stage’ – that implies that she may die at a further stage?” Her neck was craned far back in order for her to look up into the Angel’s eyes.

  “I am not supposed to interfere, Tatiana. You know this,” he answered sharply.

  “Yes Michael, I understand, but Alex is special, the babes are special. They will need their mother.”

  Michael moved his wings and they ruffled out. It was a movement that Tatiana thought conveyed inner struggle.

  She stayed still and kept contact with his eyes. “Please Michael – forewarned is forearmed is the saying, is it not?”

  Michael spoke as if she had torn the words from him. “Yes Fairy, it is. All I can say is that there will come a time … not too far from now, that the Vampire will have to make a choice. It will be one he will not want to make, however, make it he must. You may want to help him with that decision, Tatiana.”

  Tatiana took a step backwards as if she had been struck. Angels tended to talk in double speak, making it hard to understand. Fairies were the only other beings that had been in touch with Angels from the beginning of time, she had met a few and had learnt how to decipher some of that double speak. If she was understanding correctly, Alex was going to die! Zach may be able to save her but only in the most drastic of ways.

  She didn’t know if she could help him with the decision and she was more than certain that he couldn’t make it by himself.

  Chapter 20

  Bri half ran, half waddled into the clinic. She couldn’t sit still and couldn’t relax until she had seen Alex, she needed to know that she was safe and well. What she saw didn’t alleviate any of her fears.

  Alex was lying unconscious with a drip in her arm and Zach at her side. Zach looked as desolate as anyone she had ever seen. The fear he was feeling was filling the room and it made her feel sick in her stomach.

  Rhianna was behind Bri as they moved closer. Tatiana was curled in a chair in the corner with her head on a pillow, and looked to be dozing. Irina was sitting next to her wide awake and staring at Alex, worry etched on her face. Vlad was in the process of leaving, nodding at them on his way past.

  Bri walked over to Zach and placed a hand on his shoulder. “How is she? What’s going on?” Zach looked at her and the look in his eyes made her step back. She had never felt this emotion from another living being in her life.

  His voice portrayed his fear. “We’re not entirely sure … she just collapsed and her heart and pulse are in overdrive. David was going to give her something to try and slow it down, he’s scared she might have a stroke, but that Angel, Michael … he said no. He said we can’t do anything but keep her hydrated!”

  Bri was stunned. Why would the Angel say that? she wondered. Though he was a celestial being and probably knew better than any of them.

  “I’m scared Bri – I can’t lose my little one!” Zach nearly broke down but Bri could see him steeling himself and taking control back.

  Her voice was low and more than a little shaky as she spoke. “Zach, I’m so sorry … I hope everything’s okay. Is there anything we can do?” He only shook his head.

  They stayed for a short time only, but she was sure that in that time, the covers over Alex’s belly had moved? She was drained when they left – a vision always took a lot out of her and being pregnant didn’t help. Rhianna insisted she go home and rest.

  *****

  Within twelve hours, it was obvious to everyone that Alex’s belly had got bigger. Zach was sure he could actually see it growing … with his eyes intent on his mate, he didn’t miss anything. The way she breathed – the beat of her heart – but he couldn’t ‘feel’ her. She was lost to him at this time and it ate away at his guts.

  Irina refused to leave. Vlad came several times for short periods and each time tried to get her to go home and rest. She would only shake her head ‘no’ and continue watching Alex.

  Tatiana also stayed. Thadius would drop in with food and drink but not one of them ate much. Zach ate o
r drank nothing and didn’t move from his vigil at his mate’s side.

  David was in and out constantly, monitoring Alex’s vitals, shaking his head, changing the drip. On the twelve hour mark, he asked Zach “Is it all right if I examine Alex? I think we can all see the change, so I need to examine her?”

  Zach nodded his head and gave an accompanying snarl. David did an exam of her belly and knew he needed to do an internal exam, but he wasn’t sure how Zach would react to that.

  He motioned for Tatiana to follow him out of the room. “Tatiana, I need your help. I really need to do an internal exam. However, I don’t think Zach will be amenable. I would rather keep my head attached to my body … can you help?”

  Tatiana looked up at David. She agreed that if David just outright asked Zach that the outcome would not be good. “Leave me with Zach for a few minutes. I’ll come and get you in your office,” she said.

  She walked back in and round to Zach. “Zach, I need to talk to you.” He didn’t move apart from his eyes which now bored into hers. “Zach, we can see the difference in Alex. She needs a proper exam.”

  Zach snarled back “He’s just examined her, Tatiana,” and he looked away back at Alex.

  Tatiana tried again. “Zach, he did a cursory exam on the outside, he needs to do a proper one. We need to know what’s going on Zach. We need to do everything we can and that includes letting the Doctor examine her fully, internally.”

  Zach’s head whipped around and the growl that came from his throat made her take a small step back. She straightened her spine and stepped forward once more. “Zach – we need to do this. You need to let David examine her, without making him feel you’re ready to rip his head off, Vampire!”

  The look in his eyes was such a mixture of emotion that she found it hard to look into them. Fear was first and foremost, anger, despair and also hope. “Zach, let me go and get David. Okay?” Zach laid his head on Alex’s chest and nodded once.