Wulf's Redemption (Borne Vampires Book 3)

by W. M. Petzler

  “I will be after I kill him,” she snapped, glaring at the smirking demon vampire.

  “Mina, there’s no need to be uncivilized. It’s just business, you understand?”

  “Not for me,” Kai growled, her gun aimed at Waters, finger on the trigger.”

  A roar deafened them. Lisle snapped her jaws at the men closing in on her. Jeremy tried to calm her, “Lisle, you must return to the basement. You have done your job. Rest, my dear. I am very proud of you.”

  Sneering at his attempt to pacify her, Lisle shifted her gaze from Waters to him. “Alex is mine. You plan to hurt Alex,” the wolf accused, her head swaying back and forth in agitation.

  “No, dearest, I explained it all earlier. We want Alex. The others are to die. Remember?” To one of his men, Jeremy ordered, “Bring up the prisoner.”

  Lisle shifted into her human form, the blood on her vanished, and she was wearing a gown Alex recognized from when he first met her in 1819. She ignored the men and strode over to Waters.

  “I want Alex now.” Her lovely mouth shaped into a pretty pout.

  Gritting his teeth, Jeremy was striving to be patient. “Later. I need to speak with him about the prisoner we captured last night. Return to the basement.”

  “Are you ordering me?” she asked softly, the darkening of her eyes not a good sign.

  Alex spoke to Kai, “Locate Edgar and Eddie. If they are still alive, tell them to get their asses in here, now!

  “Found them. They had to double back. Entrances into the club have been sealed. Wait, they’ve managed to open the front doors.”

  “Tell them to sneak in and wait for my signal. And make sure our swords are out of the bags, too!”

  “Done.”

  Losing his temper, Waters shouted, “Lisle, Angel told you to follow my instructions. I’m ordering you down to the basement. Go!”

  Alex spoke to Kai, “Tell Mina and Sin to get ready to run. Lisle is about to have a meltdown.”

  “Ah, shit,” She turned her face to Sin and Mina, who nodded. They all started to back their way to the bar.

  “I will not be taking any further orders from you or Angel. Alex is all I want, and he is here. Leave us.” She waved a dismissive hand at Waters. “Alex, let’s leave here and return home. I miss Wulf Manor, don’t you?”

  Alex almost groaned out loud when Waters snapped, “Listen up, Lisle.” He drew in a deep breath and let it out. “Lisle,” he said more calmly, “I have to take care of Kai. I promised once she was dead, you could have Alex.” He almost looked relieved when his men returned, dragging a man tied with heavy chains onto the dance floor. The man lifted his head and Alex recognized him.

  Sam Winter.

  “Waters, why is a vampire hunter here?”

  “You don’t know what he is, do you?” Jeremy smiled, exposing rows of teeth as he shed his human face. “Lisle may be the Wolf of Magdeburg, but our guest here is an actual Lycanthrope.”

  Alex stared at the demon vampire, not sure whether to believe Waters or not. The way the vampire hunter glared at him. “Before you become all bent out of shape, I am not responsible for your capture.”

  “The Damned followed us to the manor and drained everyone except for me and Harklee.”

  “Why not Harklee?” Alex asked Jeremy.

  “We need him. Turns out he might make a good candidate for a vampire after all.”

  “Werewolves are real, huh?” Alex watched as Sam’s face darkened, but he kept silent. “Well, I guess you’re the one responsible for killing people around here as well.”

  “I don’t kill humans. That’s what you, vamps, do!” Sam snapped back.

  “Actually, Mr. Winter,” Jeremy interjected, “we, the Damned, do. Mr. Wulf and his companions are not so inclined. They have this misplaced sense of honor that humans need protection and are not to be used as mere food. Or some shit like that.” Jeremy waved a hand, not really caring anymore.

  Sam frowned, confused. “You don’t? Why not?”

  “Since we are not infectious as our counterparts, we don’t need to kill.”

  “Damn. You were telling the truth when you said to be careful who I killed.”

  “Enough.” Waters turned to Lisle. “You have one more job, my dear. I want you to kill the Lycan.”

  “Why? What has he done to me?” Lisle stared at Sam with a mixture of wonder and curiosity.

  “We cannot have him killing our kind.”

  “You let me kill ‘our’ kind. What is the difference?”

  “Will you just kill him already? I’ll have other things that need to be completed tonight!” Waters stomped toward Kai, who leveled her gun back at him.

  Speeding, Alex stood in front of Kai, protecting her. “Kill Kai and you might as well kill me, too.”

  “How romantic,” Waters sneered. “I guess Angel has to lose out on having you, just like she did with Sin Dracula. Pity. We could have used you in the upcoming battle.”

  “What battle?” He looked as Kai over his shoulder. “Read him!”

  “A battle between the Damned and the Borne. It’s been prophesized we shall meet on a battlefield to decide the fate of our kind. Jeremy decided it would be better for the Damned if the King of the Borne had an accident,” she repeated to him. “Oh, my God! Alex, they’re planning to kill Faeroes!”

  Mina demanded, breaking communication between him and Kai, “Waters, what have you done?”

  “I heard Faeroes is having an open house … castle … party, except its Borne only invite.”

  Mina and Kai exchanged fearful looks. Kai asked him, “Alex, who was invited?”

  “There are over two hundred emissaries, Slayers, and high-ranking vampires meeting with Faeroes at the castle. It would be a serious blow to the Borne. The war against the Damned would shift in the enemy’s favor, if they are successful.”

  “Hey, you don’t need to worry about it, because you will be joining them. Alex,” Waters said as he walked towards them, “move aside. I have my orders.”

  “Kai, tell Mina to speak to Faeroes. You talk to your mother!”

  “We’ve already tried. Something is blocking us from making contact.”

  “Dammit, I forgot about the lockdown. No one is to use telepathy when they are in the meeting. Cellphones are not allowed either.”

  “Alex, so many will die if we don’t get to Berlin and warn them.”

  In the flash of insight, Alex saw his only opportunity to save the Borne in Berlin. Handing his sword to Kai, ignoring her silent question, he stepped from behind the bar. “Lisle, I will go with you and be with you, if you help me.”

  “No!” Kai made to rush forward, caught around the waist by Sin. He effortlessly held as she struggled to free herself from his grasp. “Alex, please, you can’t leave me! I love you!”

  With an expression of amazement on her face, Lisle asked him, “You would give up your soul to save her, wouldn’t you?”

  “Yes, I would die for Kai.”

  “You love her?” Lisle whispered, sanity returning to her bright blue eyes.

  “With all the broken pieces of my bastard heart,” Alex admitted, praying she understood how much he loved Kai.

  Scoffing, Jeremy said, “Oh, please, this mushy crap is gonna make me puke.” He lifted his gun to fire at Kai.

  An unearthly snarl made him pause. Whipping around, Jeremy screamed as Lisle shifted into the huge wolf again. Towering over him, her fingers wiggled into razor-sharp claws as she roared, the force sending him sprawling across the floor. She snarled and attacked the vamps holding Sam, ripping their throats out with powerful swipes from her claws. Ignoring Sam’s attempts to run from her, Lisle took his heavy chains and flexed her shoulders and broke them apart, freeing him. They stared at one another for a moment, sizing each other up. Sam straightened. Lisle nodded once to his unspoken question.

  “Kill them!” Jeremy shouted, firing his weapon at Lisle.

  She jumped on him, using her great jaws to rip his flesh fr
om his body as she dug her claws into him, ripping him to pieces. The shrieks stemming from Waters was deafening. Alex stumbled back, firing at the demon vampires running at him and Kai whom Sin released. A snarl jerked Alex’s gaze, deep and definitely male, around and he stared at the huge, black wolf. Silver eyes met his and he knew it was Sam. He jumped into the fight and began ripping the demon vamps apart with his jaws.

  Edgar and Eddie were running toward them, carrying their canvas bags, his and Kai’s swords in their hands. Tossing his at him, Alex caught it and pulled his sword free, tossing aside the scabbard. Kai caught her sword, unsheathing it and began chopping off heads as Mina and Sin flanked her. The humans pulled out of their bags orange-colored water cannons and pumped them. Aiming at the demon vamps, they sprayed them with Holy water, causing their flesh to burn and bubble. Those not hit were shooting at Lisle as she ripped into Waters. Those who weren’t injured, dead, or burned with Holy water fled out the front doors.

  Machine gun fired ceased. Alex accessed the damage when he found Lisle on the ground, back in her human form, her body riddled with bullets. Sam knelt beside her, holding her hand. Alex rushed over to her, amazed to see her crying.

  “Oh, Alex,” Lisle gasped. Her wounds bubbled, as if acid had been poured in the bullet holes. Checking, he saw the casings around him and couldn’t believe it. Silver bullets. The Damned actually used silver on one of their own.

  Lisle held her hand out to him, her eyes begging him to hold it. Taking pity, Alex slowly grasped her tiny hand in his as he knelt beside her. “Alex, I’ve done such awful things. Why? Why am I such a monster? Why are you a different vampire than I? What happened when I turned?”

  Kai knelt beside her, pity in her eyes for the woman who wanted to kill her. Lisle gaped at her. “You do not hate me? Why?” she asked in bewilderment.

  “No, Lisle, I don’t. I love him, too.”

  Lisle smiled at Sam. “I wish I’d known you first. Perhaps the madness in my soul would have abetted. I loved being a wolf. I felt … complete.”

  “You are a magnificent wolf, Lisle. I am proud to make your acquaintance.”

  Smiling at him, she coyly batted her eyes. “Flatterer.” She sighed. “Alex, you know what needs to be done.”

  “Lisle, you can change. You don’t have to kill.”

  Coughing up green blood, she whispered, “Too late, my love. I must be judged for my crimes. Please, I want you to end my misery.”

  “I—” Alex found he couldn’t condemn her.

  “Alex, I am in such awful pain. The silver burns terribly. End my suffering, I beg of you.”

  He exchanged a helpless look with Kai. Lisle cried out, clutching his hand tighter. “Alex, please forgive me for hurting you and Aldric. I … I cannot fathom how much I hurt you. There is nothing I can do to redeem myself.” She paused, suddenly anxious. “King. Save the King.”

  “Lisle, what do you know about Jeremy’s plans for Faeroes?”

  “He … he sent humans to the fortress. They have orders to burn it to ground. Kill the Borne inside.”

  “When are they planning to attack?” Sin leaned closer, Mina and Kai behind him, intently listening.

  “Council meets.” She coughed up more blood, choking on it. Sam tried to move her to sit up, but she cried out in pain.

  “Lisle, I was told you stole something from Angel. A weapon. Is it true?”

  Confused, she gave a slight shake of her head. “Stole nothing. Don’t know what you mean.”

  “I figured Harklee lied.” Alex sighed, leaning back.

  “I didn’t steal … I read old parchment Angel … had found. Prophecy and cure.”

  “Cure for what?”

  “Undead. Alex, please, make the pain cease!” She whimpered, choking on her blood.

  He saw his sword held out to him by Sam. Taking it, he rose to his feet as Sam and Kai helped Lisle on hers. Years spent hating her, dreaming of killing her was finally at hand and now he found he felt drained. Lisle stumbled away from them. Standing straighter, she lifted her chin, ready for the blow that would set her free from the madness she suffered.

  “I forgive you, Lisle Breber. May God’s grace set you free.” Alex swung his blade, slicing through tissue and bone, ending Lisle’s torment. He felt a nudge. Edgar held out a water bottle to him. “Thank you. Stand back, you don’t want to get burned.” Dousing Lisle’s body, her head, he felt free as her corpse engulfed in flames and turned to ash.

  “Wow,” Edgar exclaimed. “Do they always burn like that?”

  “Some explode, making dusting them dangerous work. Mind assisting us with the clean up?”

  “Yes, sir,” the eager, young men said together.

  “There might be survivors, so stay close to Mina and Kai, who will dispatch them.”

  “Get rid of the evidence vamps exist. Got ya. We’re on it. Come on, Eddie. We need to refill our water guns.”

  Sin stood beside Alex, nodding his approval. “Good men. Where’d you find them?”

  “Edgar was our bellhop. He and his cousin volunteered to help out. How about Mina?”

  “She’s fine, just ticked off that she couldn’t personally kill Waters. Still pretty pissed about what he’d done to her and Kai back in London.”

  “Can’t blame her. Kai worried that she’d lose her gift forever.”

  “Any idea how to warn Faeroes, since we can’t call or communicate with them?” Sin asked, watching Mina chop of the head of an injured vamp.

  “We have to fly there and warn them personally.”

  Sin checked his watch. “Midnight. We’ve got to go now!”

  His stomach dropped. “Humans can go around in the day.”

  Giving him a funny look, Sin said, “Well known fact. What’s your point?”

  “Sam,” Alex asked, “did you see Harklee after you were taken?”

  “No, he’d gone into town. Missed the bloodbath. Why?” Sam inquired, concerned when Sin and Alex started swearing. “What’s going on?”

  “Harklee wants to prove himself worthy to Angel. What better way than killing Faeroes and the Council.”

  Sin slammed his sword back into his scabbard. “Dawn is when Harklee plans to kill them.” He shouted, “Mina, Kai, we have to leave!”

  “What’s wrong,” Mina asked, cleaning the blood off her sword with the last of the Holy water in the bottle she held.

  “We’ve got to get to Berlin before dawn to stop Harklee from attacking Faeroes’ castle.”

  Sheathing her sword, she started swearing. “We’ll have to push it hard to get there.”

  “Eddie, Edgar, can you drive to Berlin?” Alex asked, cleaning his sword of Lisle’s blood with the Holy water Sin handed him.

  The cousins eagerly nodded. “We’re in. Wouldn’t miss out on another adventure for the world.”

  “Good. Take turns driving to Berlin and be there in the morning. Kai, put in their minds where the fortress is.”

  “Gentlemen, look at me.”

  While she talked to them, Sam growled, “I’m in, too. Harklee set me up, handed me right over to the Damned. I owe him.”

  “More the better. Head on out of town now,” Alex ordered, tightening the belted scabbard strapped around his chest and back.

  “Yes, sir.” Edgar pushed his cousin to move faster.

  Sam paused and faced Alex. “My mother told me about you before she passed away.”

  “You’re mother? I didn’t know Lycans existed.”

  “That’s because I’m not a Lycan, I’m Wolfen. You met her in 1819 when you lived at Wulf Manor. She was the white wolf.”

  “I remember her. She was brave to fight Lisle. Sadly, she lost several of her pack in the fight.”

  “Mother regretted not showing her human side to you, to tell you she knew who the Wolf of Magdeburg was. And for not staying to finish the fight with Lisle.”

  “She was right to leave when she did. What followed after I found my brother and Lisle went from bad to worse. She was l
ucky to have escaped the madness.”

  A honk sounded outside the club. “Watch for speed traps,” Alex warned. “We’ll need the weapons Eddie and Edgar gathered for us.”

  “We’ll be there.” Sam ran outside.

  Kai took his hand in hers. “Alex, I think when we get to close to Berlin, the greater my chance to break past Faeroes and Anya’s safeguards and warn them.”

  “God, I hope so.”

  A faraway gaze in her eyes warned him she was reaching out to someone. “No!” Kai clutched her heart.

  “Kai, what’s wrong,” Mina asked, laying her hand on her shoulder.

  “I can’t connect with Mom. They’re already at the fortress!”

  Alex couldn’t breathe.

  Mariah!

  ✝✝✝

  An unfamiliar beeping in her backpack had Kai shrugging it off and digging out Harklee’s cell phone out. Alex asked her, “Kai, isn’t that Harklee’s phone?”

  “Yes, and there’s a message.” Pushing to retrieve it, the lock on the phone was no longer there. “Alex, it’s a news video.” Sin and Mina leaned in to watch it.

  ‘On today’s latest bombing, the suspects reportedly used liquid fertilizer mixed with other chemicals. The results were complete destruction.’

  “Alex,” Kai said, sick to her stomach, “the lawns surrounding the manor is maintained by a landscaping company, right?”

  “Shit, that’s how Harklee plans to kill the Borne. Liquid fertilizer.”

  “They used the gardeners and already have the bombs in place,” Mina flatly said. Kai knew her better than anyone and knew her friend was as torn up as she was.

  Their family was in danger!

  Sin pulled Mina toward the doors. “The real puzzle is whether Harklee will use a timer or remote detonator.”

  “Knowing the sick bastard,” Alex replied as he and Kai hurried after them, “he’ll want to watch the explosion. Doesn’t matter what device he uses, he’ll be there to personally oversee the deed done.”

  That’s how they could stop him!

  “Guys, if we find Harklee, I can stop him using telepathy!” She pulled on her backpack as they left the club.

  “Sin,” Alex ordered, “you protect our backs. Girls, you stay in the middle. Pour the speed on. Let’s go.” He leapt in the air.