Another benefit to shifting was that we would heal faster from any blows and wounds we received. We were leaner, more agile, and stronger.
I didn’t have to explain any further, Devlin was already moving on. Strapping a black Velcro sheathe to his forearm, he slid the stiletto blade Darcy had gotten him a few years ago inside. Usually he would conceal exactly how much he was carrying, but today was different. He wanted Julian to know he was prepared. “You do whatever’s best for you and your Pack. Me, and mine, have your back.”
His support meant a lot.
“Zane says we’ll be leaving shortly,” Vlad added, coming over from where Wade and Moses were talking quietly together. Every so often, Wade would glance my way as if to measure my state of mind. It was his job to ensure his Alpha remained levelheaded, especially knowing how crucial the approaching fight was.
The events of today would determine whether the war continued or ended. It would also redefine the Mystic Wolves should their Alpha fall, or worse, lose his mate.
Every choice, whether large or small, was critical—a matter of life or death.
“You need more weapons.” Devlin said gruffly, scanning his nephew up and down. “You’ll be with Moses, guarding Vivien. Should her magic fail, the Vortex will be compromised. This may be the most important assignment you are ever given.”
“So, in other words, don’t screw it up?” There was a slight hint of exasperation in Vlad’s retort.
“Easy, nephew. I’m not saying that.” Gripping his shoulder and holding him steady, it wasn’t humor or frustration that filled Devlin’s eyes. It was pride. “I have faith in you, Joseph. You are ready for this responsibility. I’ve watched you grow into your own and I couldn’t be prouder.”
The tips of Vlad’s ears reddened as he held his Uncle’s gaze. “I could probably use a few extra throwing stars, now that you mention it.”
“Make sure you’re able to have free access to whatever you’re carrying, too.” Nodding at Devlin’s advice, Vlad made a beeline toward the storehouse of martial arts equipment.
“Joseph?”
Still watching his nephew, Devlin was slow to look away. “Yeah, that was what his beautiful mother called him the day he was born . . . Joseph Henry Lockhart. He was fortunate enough to still bear our ancestral name, but chose to adopt a new identity when he became a vampire.”
“Huh.” I grunted, surprised that in the time I’d known Vlad, I’d never thought to ask. “Joseph’s a strong name.”
“It is, and who knows, maybe one day he’ll chose to use it again.” Devlin shrugged, softly chuckling to himself. “Until then, my dear nephew will continue to be called after the infamous Romanian prince.”
“Listen up, everyone!” Zane’s loud, authoritative voice dulled the room’s steady chatter. Where I was used to seeing Devlin in his Enforcer garb, it still struck me whenever I saw Zane in anything other than the suits he loved or tailored slacks and white shirt. Dressed from head to toe in black, he presented a formidable image standing there at the door. He wasn’t a stranger to weapons, either—knives strapped to each thigh and a sword sheathed at his back.
“He doesn’t mess around, does he?” I whistled beneath my breath. It was a stark reminder that while Zane was King, and one of the top leaders within the supernatural community, he was also trained as an Enforcer.
He was one of the first Enforcers, ever. Because of the power exuding from him and Devlin, the weight that hadn’t eased from my chest since Darcy was taken, lightened a fraction. They instilled confidence, adding to my own faith and belief we would come home victorious.
“Watching him fight is a thing of beauty,” Devlin whispered in return, his gaze never straying from his liege.
“I just received word that everyone is in position at the Vortex site. So far, there is no sign of Julian or his thugs, so we’re holding strong. Each of you has been given a task to take care of once we arrive.” Zane systematically pointed to us, one by one. “Wade, you will join Mason and together you well secure Darcy before attacking Julian. Devlin and I will ensure our Enforcers and your Pack members, Mason, are defended; but our main focus will also be on removing Helena from the equation before attacking Julian. She will be fueling his strength with her magic. The sooner we can cut him off from that power source, the sooner we can weaken him.
“Moses and Vlad, you are responsible for keeping Vivien and her witches sheltered and safe. I cannot stress this enough . . . Vivien’s magic is what will prevent Julian from breaching the strongholds set up around the Vortex. She will be siphoning some of that energy directly from that ley line. Julian will be doing everything in his power to crush that barrier . . . to kill her. She is what ultimately stands between him and his goal.” Zane’s stare zeroed in on Vlad and Moses, his face the perfect mask of absolute seriousness. “You will protect her at all cost. If it means sacrificing your life, you will do it.”
I didn’t blame Vlad for the way his Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. He’d been given an important role in the fight—one that didn’t allow any room for error. “I won’t let you down, my liege.” Banging his fist on his heart, he dropped to his knee, bowing his head. “My life for hers.”
Those were the same words I’d heard Devlin repeat for Darcy. As Vlad quickly rose, gone was the awkward young vampire everyone liked to tease; and in his place, stood a warrior.
“I accept that oath, Vlad. While my heart begs that I be the one to guard Vivian, the love of my life, as King, I must lead on the front line.”
“It’s about time he acknowledged that openly,” I murmured, not surprised over Zane’s candid honesty.
His attention turned to me and he smiled, having heard it from where he stood. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from you and your Darcy, it is that life is too short to ignore how you feel. We fight hard. We love hard. There must be balance.”
“If we’re taking a few moments for confession, maybe I should say something as well?” Despite the pressure that rested on her shoulders and the vast amount of magic she would be harnessing, Vivien’s face all but glowed as she took Zane’s hand in hers. “You have been my friend for so long. You have owned my heart even longer. I love you, Zane Davenport.”
Vivien’s sudden arrival from the hallway didn’t cause the stoic vampire to stumble as he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her in, and kissing her without reservation. It was a kiss worthy of such a poignant moment—the kind of kiss a knight gives a woman on the eve of battle, just in case it was their last.
It was Vlad who began clapping first, stomping his foot to the sound of an invisible drum. “For love!”
“For truth!” Wade called out.
“For honor!” Moses added, followed quickly by Devlin’s boisterous holler of agreement.
“Here. Here.”
The last few weeks had been difficult—testing each of us against the crucible of patience—pushing us almost to breaking point. Yet, here we stood, ready to defend those we loved.
“It’s time to go.” Zane grinned, giving Vivien one more kiss before releasing her. “Whatever comes next, may we never forget why we fight.”
My thoughts instantly sought Darcy’s through our connection. She was back in the cell with Thorne, but she shared the same belief that now strengthened me.
It wouldn’t be much longer before we were reunited.
Julian was ready to claim what he felt was rightfully his to take.
Sending her my unwavering love, for the first time, my goals aligned with his—only unlike him, Darcy was mine, and I was ready to bring her home.
****
It always amazed me how quickly things changed—that we never really have the luxury of time because it doesn’t serve us.
We answer to it, bend to it, scramble to adjust our well-laid plans to it, but in the end, we never really have any control over it.
The call that Julian had been spotted only moments from the Vortex came only seconds before Darcy’s frantic w
arning blasted through my mind. The fact that the fight was on the verge of finally happening didn’t bother me. I welcomed the way the adrenaline coursing through my veins heightened my senses and gave me the edge I needed.
Yes, we’d hoped to be there waiting—weapons at the ready—showing him that we were nowhere near the weak victims he’d foolishly labeled us. But we were still a force to be reckoned with. I would personally crush him, shattering all his delusions, and casting them to the winds.
“We’re still about five minutes away.” Each vehicle had been fitted with a radio system that allowed us to communicate over a private frequency. Picking up the handheld microphone, I pressed the side button, my gaze still fixed on the road. “Perfect timing. Once you get there, Vlad, make sure you block anyone trying to breach the van. Wade and I will be there shortly . . . maybe two-three minutes, at most.”
Devlin’s voice crackled over the airway. “Zane and I are right behind you, Mason. Reports are coming in . . . Julian—” His message cut out, only to come back a few seconds later. “Did you get that?”
“No, you need to repeat it, Devlin,” I answered. I didn’t need to ask, however, as Wade’s sharp exhale cut in, his foot hitting the gas harder. “Never mind. We see it.”
Under normal circumstances, the property that housed the Vortex was quiet and average. Humans passed by every day, unaware that they were in the presence of a magic so old that it was rumored to have destroyed civilizations and those whose greed tried to possess it.
While we didn’t talk about it at length, Zane had planned for the worst-case scenario. Should Julian actually succeed in using the artifact, the only way to stop him would be to obliterate the Vortex completely.
That was why Mikey, our reclusive dragon shifter friend, was currently flying as quickly as possible in dragon form, the fire contained in his breath the only known way to put an end to the threat. The fall out would be rough—the shockwave that would pulse outward would be difficult to hide from an unsuspecting human world.
Detective Manning was on standby to field panicked calls, especially when Mikey arrived. I’d seen his dragon form. We weren’t fortunate to have the protection of night and clouds to hide him until the last moment.
We would simply need to do the best we could.
Like now, because the battle had already begun.
“He’s arrived. I don’t see him, yet, but it’s started. Don’t hesitate,” I barked, each word coming out rapidly. This was it.
As Wade brought our vehicle to a screeching halt, I dropped the handheld, threw open the door, scanning the area. There was only one person I needed to find—one target I needed to locate.
Where are you, sweetheart? I yelled inwardly, looking for any telltale sign she was here. When I didn’t hear her, I shouted above the noise. “Darcy!”
“Mason!” That’s all I needed—the sound of her voice and my gaze found her.
She was chained, dragged closely behind Julian, who walked amongst the fighting groups as though he was the proud ringmaster of this crazed circus. While she looked in one piece, the haggard expression on her face told me he’d kept her drained of strength—both wolf and vampire. She’d warned me about him suppressing her vampiric traits when I’d shared my plans for her rescue.
Thankfully, Darcy hadn’t argued with my insistence that Julian would wait until I knew she was safe. Pushing through the crowd, my hands already shifting into claws, she didn’t take her eyes from me.
Quickly searching for Thorne, I almost missed him, his battered body chained tightly to one of the property’s trees. He wasn’t moving, his head hanging to the side as his weight tugged on his restraints.
He’d been there to help Darcy—offering her blood even though it went against his deep hatred for others. I owed him a debt. I’d do everything in my power to see that he survived this.
“You know what to do, Wade,” I shouted, feeling the wild predator magic tingle across my skin as he dropped onto all fours and became wolf. Anyone in his way was viciously removed, his sleek form racing through the crowd toward Julian and Darcy.
So far, the building remained unbreached, armed Enforcers inside, guarding the entranceway. A different kind of magic burst through the air, catching my breath for the few seconds it took to adjust. Vivien was here, and God willing, surrounded by her own private army.
“Julian!” I roared once he was within hearing range. “You have what’s mine!”
When two of his thugs stepped in front of me, huge grins on their faces, I didn’t bat an eye. Cocking back my fist, I pummeled the first guy’s head, whipping around so that my sharp claws sliced against the second one’s throat. Both of them crumpled to the ground and I stepped over them.
Effortless.
“So nice of you to join us, Mason. I trust you remember, Helena.” Gripping the back of Darcy’s neck, Julian squeezed, moving so they both stood behind the witch who’d taken such delight in my torture.
Fury filled me as I watched him manhandle my mate, seeing the way she flinched from pain. “Give me my wife!”
Helena’s lips began moving, her hands rising up above her head, slanting backward as she prepared to launch her magic at the barrier shimmering over the exterior of the building.
“Someone stop her!” Zane yelled, his fighting form to the left of me. Three large wolves busily engaged him—those from Michael’s Pack who had switched their loyalty once their Alpha had been defeated. They hadn’t shifted yet, but something told me they still wouldn’t be a match for the dominating prowess of Zane.
Everything seemed to slow down as I guesstimated the distance between Helena and me.
I wouldn’t be able to reach her in time to stop the initial blast, but if I switched the path I was currently on and headed toward her, instead of Darcy, I could take her down.
In the midst of that split second decision, Devlin entered my peripheral vision, his hand angled backward. He’d seen the threat, heard his King’s order, and stood ready to answer.
Releasing one of his throwing knives, it hurtled through the air like a bullet, every ounce of Devlin’s strength powering it. His aim was accurate, as well. As Helena let her energy ball fly, it was only a matter of seconds before the dagger would hit its mark.
“No!” Julian thundered, dropping his hold on Darcy, and thrusting his own hands outward. Magic sizzled from his fingers, one shockwave knocking Devlin up into the air before sending him sprawling yards away. There was no time to rush to his defense, to check if he was okay.
A scream of absolute horror erupted from Darcy, giving me only seconds to turn and see what held her attention.
Devlin’s knife, the one intended to stop Helena, was now deeply embedded in Zane’s back, the force knocking him forward. Before there was even time to blink, Zane abruptly stiffened, his body disintegrating, the slight breeze already catching the grey ash.
It was too surreal to believe.
In saving his most prized and loyal witch, Julian had deflected the blade and killed Zane, instead. The vampire king was no more.
All in the blink of an eye.
Time sped up again, Wade’s savage growl dragged my attention back to Darcy. I needed to hurry. Racing toward where my Pack Enforcer now openly engaged Julian. Each stride was torture as I pushed back the fear I wouldn’t reach him and pushed harder.
Helena sent another deafening blast at the protective barrier, bright sparks exploding where her magic came in contact with Vivien’s. It was up to Wade and me to stop her—to keep her from weakening the force field.
“It’s too late,” Julian yelled scornfully, his eyes blazing with hatred and malice. “How many must die before you bow in submission, Alpha?”
I didn’t hesitate. Shifting mid-step, I gave myself over to my wolf, my human form exploding into black fur and fury.
Wade’s loud whimper trickled through the Pack bond as he took a hard blow from one of Julian’s supporters, bones crunching as he skidded across the jagged grave
l. With each breath, more thugs surrounded their master, shielding him, but none of them stood a chance against me.
Dodging another blast from Julian, I was finally close enough to attack, my jaw ready to latch around the bastard’s throat and shake. Pushing off from the ground, I barreled at my enemy, teeth bared.
“Mason!” Darcy screamed, her voice already hoarse.
Excruciating pain rippled through me—first in my gut and next in my chest. Something had happened—something powerful enough to drop me from the air to the ground, fire burning through every cell in my body.
Silver. It was the only thing that could have such a rapid effect, each brutal inhale agony.
Scrambling to stand, my jaw snapped furiously to find the blade, only to see blood gushing from two bullet wounds. My wolf surged to take control, its natural instincts kicking in as I staggered on all four paws.
My injuries would wait. Darcy still needed me, her constant shriek for help echoing in my mind. I wouldn’t leave her to the mercy of Julian.
I would die, first.
“Where do you think you’re going, Mason O’Connor?” Helena asked, completely aroused by the power she held in her hand. Aiming the gun at me again, her finger pressed against the trigger, and my leg crumpled as the bullet shattered the bone.
Gathering every ounce of magic and strength I could, I lunged at Julian, determined to at least kill him before the silver completely stole my energy. Taking advantage of the confusion, Darcy began tugging at her restraints, using it to whip at her captor.
My girl.
She was fighting.
She was beautiful.
Another shot rang out, this one forcing me to acknowledge the damage my body had already taken. My muscles convulsed as blood sprayed from my mouth.
I was so close. I would never give up. Even with my dying breath, Julian would know the only way he’d stopped me was through a coward’s use of a gun.
Last Wolf Standing (#7, The Mystic Wolves) Page 23