Releasing Chaos

by Lexi Ander

  Soon.

  Taking out the blowers and the remaining belt, I closed the case and then the trunk. The first thing that met my gaze was Felix on his knees with Daniel standing behind him, a knife pressed against Felix's throat.

  A manic grin pulled Daniel's lips over his teeth. "Who do you belong to?" he asked me.

  I held his gaze. "You."

  When Daniel slit Felix's throat, neither Jonas nor I flinched away from the impressive spray of blood. I hoped Felix had told us everything pertinent, otherwise we could be fucked.

  Daniel let go of Felix's hair and the body dropped like a ton of rocks as Felix gurgled his last breath. Stepping over the supine figure, he crossed to me. His hands were wet with warm blood when he cupped my face and kissed me, first tenderly, and then with the biting possessiveness I'd become used to. I responded with vigor, knowing we wouldn't cross over onto the ranch until Daniel satisfied himself. I thrust the belt and pipes at Jonas. When he took them, I dropped to my knees and scrabbled at the button and zipper of Daniel's pants.

  Soon, I promised myself. So very soon.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Stanley Kendall

  The Shadow Movers were preoccupied running errands for Tristan, so no one was available to take us home. The preparations for the coronation were well underway, the road to Bahbelle completed. Sanctuary was pristine, a fitting place for Tristan to be crowned before our people. Warriors had been sent to Bahbelle to help Alpha Rory handle the influx of Lycans from all over the world. The city was bursting at the seams, and the extra security was desperately needed to keep the peace.

  I didn't need a Shadow Mover with a gateway nearby. Randy, Dawn, and Neoma would stay a little while longer. Neoma and Dawn wanted to spend more time with Theo. Randy napped. Even though he looked considerably better than he had just days ago, I didn't wish to wake him yet. He worried he wouldn't be well enough to stand by Tristan at the coronation. I suspected the healing energies of Sanctuary were working their magic considering how quickly he was filling out, losing the emaciated look.

  Justus on the other hand, elected to tag along. His uncharacteristic silence spoke of his conflicted emotions. Unlike his sister's wholehearted acceptance of Theo's return, he was reserved. Tristan had always said Justus was more mature than his age. He speculated that losing his dad and being abused by Daniel had forced Justus to grow up faster.

  Walking to the Anunnaki Gate sitting on the edge of Sanctuary, Justus kept pace with me. Patient, I waited, knowing he'd tell me what was on his mind when he was ready.

  "My dad was the red bird, wasn't he? That's why Dawnie couldn't feel him, because he's no longer Lycan?"

  I'd noticed Justus's fascination with the firebird before leaving Sanctuary with Brian.

  "Yes, he was watching over you and your sisters while I was gone. As for why Dawn can't sense him, your guess is as good as mine."

  "The Twin Flame bonding everyone was excited about, was that you and dad? I saw the bite marks on you both." Justus glance up at me, no embarrassment, only curiosity in his questioning gaze.

  I couldn't help but to smile broadly. "Finding your Twin Flame is a wondrous thing."

  "Does that mean we're going to be…" Justus stopped, planting his fist on his hips as he stared up at me, his stance challenging. "Before Dad… Before we came here. We were a family, Dad and Dawn and Neoma and me. Daniel wasn't so bad back then, and we were happy. Then Dad… didn't come home and Daniel turned mean and I had to be the one to take care of my sisters, do what Dad would have done to keep us safe. Then Uncle Tristan and Uncle Ushna took us away from Daniel and made us a family again. They kept us safe." Justus's face momentarily screwed up as if he was holding back some great emotion, his eyes squinting closed. "I didn't have to always be the strong one. Randy came, then you, and our family grew bigger with Christie and Mary Jane, and there was no way we could be alone again."

  "You're afraid you'd have to leave this big new family you love because your dad returned and we bonded." I watched him carefully, sure I'd guessed correctly. "Your dad and I don't want to take you away from the people you love."

  "So we aren't going anywhere?"

  "No, squirt, we're staying right here."

  Justus's lower lip trembled and he nodded his head fast, the relief in his expression telling. He'd been worried his life was going to be turned upside down. I was grateful I'd spent time cultivating an open and trusting relationship with Justus and his sisters. He knew he could talk to me about anything and I'd take him seriously, not blow him off.

  "Now, let's get back to the ranch. We have a lot to do today." Clasping him by the shoulder, I steered him onto a faint path leading to a set of short stone pillars.

  "Stan, when will Randy claim me as his Twin Flame? How would he do it? He can't change into a wolf, so I don't think he'd bite me." His nose wrinkled, his expression pained. "He'd have to bite me really hard because his human teeth aren't sharp at all. That's gonna really hurt."

  I almost swallowed my tongue. "You don't have to worry about that for a very long time, kiddo. You have to be at least twenty-five or older."

  "Twenty-five? I'll be ancient by then."

  "Hey! I'm older than twenty-five and I'm not decrepit yet."

  Justus laughed. "You're just well-preserved."

  I mock-lunged toward him and he ran ahead, his loud giggles carefree and unrestrained. When we crossed over to the ranch, Justus sprinted through the field, excited to see if Saéna and the pups were back home. There was minimal activity in the Northwest corner, and absolutely none around the big house. Foreboding crawled up my spine. I halted at the edge of the fence line. He had already disappeared into the house; it was too late to call him back.

  With one sweeping gaze, I took in both barns, the apartments, cafeteria, and bunkhouses. Even with the reduced staff, there should be someone visible. I considered going back to Sanctuary and grabbing warriors, but Justus was here. I couldn't leave him. Cussing under my breath, I realized I couldn't call anyone. My cell phone hadn't survived the accident. Brian's had, but I'd already returned it to him. I considered running out to the tents and pulling together some men, but they were traumatized warriors, and I wasn't sure how much help they would be. Besides, I couldn't make myself leave. Justus was in the house. If the heirs had returned home, they too would be inside. Tristan had installed a panic room in the basement. I could secure the kids there and use the landline to call Tristan. Besides, I was quieter alone than with a handful of men trailing behind me.

  I pulled my knife instead of my sword. The sword would be useless in such close quarters, and a gun could be used to hurt the guilty as well as the innocent. The distance between the edge of field and the back door was open ground with no place to take cover. I ran in a low crouch. Peeking into the kitchen window revealed the room was empty. The back door didn't make a peep when I slipped inside. The space smelled of a delicious soup or stew. At a cursory glance I didn't see anything out of place, no signs of a struggle.

  When I walked to the pass-through, I heard nothing. The house was preternaturally still. Instead of checking the front rooms, I crept down the hall to the back of the house. Several bedroom doors were closed, and I hesitated. I was loath to have any uncleared rooms at my back. The nursery door was open, as was the door to the basement. Ahead I heard claws on hardwood. With the bedrooms carpeted, the noise had to come from the basement stairs.

  The door to the left cracked open an inch. My skin crawled and I considered my next move. If I moved quickly, I gave up my stealth for speed, announcing my location and wasting my only advantage if there was someone on the other side.

  Slowly I pushed the door open until it was almost flush with the wall. This used to be Nathan's room, but Ushna's parents had been using it. No one occupied the space, and I straightened. Moving away from the wall, I took a half step inside, searching for signs of a struggle. Movement at the open doorway of the walk-in closet caught my attention. Something pinched my neck
and a wave of dizziness caused me to sway. I grabbed the doorjamb and brushed my hand underneath my chin. Feeling feathers, I plucked it out of my skin. My neck went numb, the sensation spreading quickly. Stupidly, I stared at the small dart, falling to my knees. Glancing back to the closet, I slurred a string of cuss words when Nathan stepped from the shadows. He tucked the blow gun into his belt. My gaze came to rest on the blue cowl looped around his neck.

  Without a word, he crossed to the dresser and moved it away from the wall. Reaching behind it, he pulled out a Ziploc bag. If my eyes weren't lying to me, he retrieved a garrote from the plastic. My gaze went back to the familiar material draped around his neck. How had Nathan acquired a blue cowl? I attempted to rise to my feet, but I was completely numb. Instead, I fell onto my side.

  When Nathan crouched next to me, the thin coiled wire dangling from his fingers, I knew I was going to die. No one looked upon the face of a Vikrum and lived.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Nathan Janick

  After pulling Stan's body completely into the room and closing the door, I stared down the hallway. While Daniel took care of the guards in the outlying buildings, I'd entered the house and darted everyone inside, pulling them out of the way in case Daniel missed someone outside and they happened to peer in the windows. We didn't need anyone raising the alarm. I was concerned about the people in the northwest field, but they were far enough away they shouldn't notice anything amiss unless Daniel fucked up. Felix had previously mentioned the warriors in the tent city didn't venture onto the ranch proper. For everyone's sake, I hoped he was correct. We were at a point in our plans where there could be no mistakes.

  Before I stepped into my room to retrieve the hidden garrote, I'd seen movement. Tristan's room sat across from the nursery, with the basement door situated between them. An enormous copper-feathered dog-headed bird crossed from the nursery to the basement carrying a blanket-covered bundle dangling from her massive jaw. Justus hastened along behind Saéna with a squirming babe in his arms. I wasn't enthusiastic about facing down the Simurgh, especially when I wasn't sure what she had in her arsenal. Quickly withdrawing my blowpipe again, I darted her hindquarters as they disappeared down the steps. Now I cocked my ear and stood listening. If Justus was here, there was a good chance Neoma and Dawn were as well. But I heard nothing. Either the girls hadn't arrived yet or they were already in the basement.

  At least Felix had told the truth. If the Simurgh was here, then Tristan's children were as well. She never ventured far from them. With the panic room in the basement, I hoped Justus was smart enough to lock them into the room. It wouldn't do to give Daniel more than he absolutely needed.

  As I watched and listened, the front door opened and closed. Justus dashed from the basement back into the nursery. Daniel's familiar, confident tread made its way through the front of the house, his unrestrained glee announcing his presence. Not that his scent hadn't already given him away, although from what I understood, there were very few who could detect Daniel was dying from the inside out.

  Tucking the garrote in my back pocket, I waited for Daniel to join me. In my other hand I held a couple of cowls. After he'd finished disposing of Felix, I made him change his clothes, counseling that the scent of fresh blood would draw attention to us. Our ultimate destination was Sanctuary, where it was rumored the King's Tomb was now housed. With Tristan's coronation tomorrow, the place would be teeming with Lycans. Daniel didn't exactly blend in with his bleach blond hair or very recognizable face.

  Several times we'd discussed the need for secrecy, which Daniel's ego balked against. The Goddess Inanna backed my suggestion, making Daniel agree, quite painfully, before she rewarded him with hours upon hours of sex. I didn't envy him. Her attention could be intense. She forced us to come even when we weren't aroused, which fucking hurt and was something I avoided. After she spent extended periods of time taking pleasure, we were physically drained and as weak as day-old kittens. She pulled as much vitality from us as she could without killing us. More than once, I wondered if she'd gone too far and I'd die anyway, but she appointed guards to watch over us while we were vulnerable. They ensured we had the medical care necessary to keep us alive.

  Jonas followed Daniel and I handed him a white cowl, showing him how to wear it. There were humans who lived among the Lycans, but Jonas looked abused. Innocent Lycans would respond to his appearance, giving us attention we couldn't afford.

  "Are the children secure?" Daniel asked, fumbling with the brown material I'd given him until I stepped forward and helped him wrap his head.

  "I just finished clearing the rooms. The only ones left are Tristan's room and the nursery."

  The slap was unexpected.

  "You've been in the house all this time and haven't checked on the pups?"

  I refused to touch my stinging cheek. "And what, have warriors jump me if I'd missed someone? What are the kids going to do? Crawl around their crib?"

  Daniel's thunderous expression morphed into one of contrition in the blink of an eye. "Oh, baby, I'm sorry."

  When he reached to stroke my inflamed cheek, I flinched and dropped my eyes just enough to let him know I was suitably cowed. He made a wounded noise. "Don't be afraid of me. You're the only one who isn't, who loves me as I am," Daniel crooned in what he believed to be a soothing voice.

  While placating Daniel, I noticed Jonas staring, not at me, but my deep blue cowl as he fingered his own white one. My heart thudded to a stop for the briefest of seconds. Did he know what the colors meant? A spike of suspicion sliced through me. He was human, yes, but those who lived among us knew of the Lycan culture and history. A noise from the nursery pulled our attention back to our task. I accepted Daniel's kiss, giving back to him the passion he expected before following him down the hall.

  Inside the children's room, Daniel stopped in the middle of the floor, staring grimly at Justus. The boy held one of Tristan's babes, who wore only a diaper. The snake wrapped around the pup's body visibly writhed against his pale skin. As the serpent emerged from him, the boy whimpered. Tristan once told me the sensation was nauseating but had never hurt him.

  Justus's blue eyes snapped with loathing when he stared at Daniel, but turned to one of betrayal when he glanced at me. The babe was almost too big for him to carry easily. But he tilted his chin in defiance, holding securely to the squirming pup.

  A quick glance around the room told me I was correct, Justus and Saéna had moved two pups to the basement. Daniel noticed their absence at the same time, his lips pressing in a grim line.

  "Where would the brats go?" Daniel mocked, shooting me a glower promising pain.

  "Don't be angry with me," I snapped. "You're the one who killed Felix because he was obviously wrong. If all the pups had returned, then where is the Simurgh? She doesn't leave their side, especially Atar's."

  Jonas peered around me and made a small noise. I didn't know if his reaction was because there was a snake twined around the babe or the sight of the two children huddled in the corner. That he had a reaction at all was an anomaly. Jonas only spoke when spoken to and had been curiously blank-faced since I'd first met him. I'd thought Daniel had broken the man's mind. Perhaps his actions were a ruse. I'd keep the knowledge to myself as long as Jonas didn't do anything to ruin my plans.

  Daniel screamed in raged and toppled the changing table. "I want all of them. He owes me! I told him what I would do, that there would be consequences for stealing what was mine."

  Justus jumped and edged along the wall toward the door. I shifted to block his route. When I caught his gaze, I shook my head minutely. I had no idea what Tristan had told Theo's pups about me since I'd been gone, if anything, but I hoped he trusted me enough to mind me. It was a crap-shoot hope, I knew. Justus was fiercely loyal and twice as protective. I was well aware what happened when Daniel came face-to-face with him the last time Daniel came to the ranch. The children had fought back and to protect his sisters, Justus had stabbed Daniel in the le
g. I hadn't been around the last couple of months to see what kind of bond Justus had formed with my nephews. By the way he stared balefully at Daniel, his protectiveness told me Justus would fight for this pup as if he were one of his sisters.

  Daniel was making a fine mess of the nursery in his juvenile rage, wasting our time. Motioning for Jonas to watch Justus, I went to Daniel. When I touched his shoulder, he swung at me, clipping me on the ear. His eyes were wild as he snarled like a human would, evidence he no longer had his wolf soul. Grabbing a bottle of baby powder, I threw it at him, clocking him on the brow. The hit startled him out of his anger. No one dared raise a hand to him.

  "Enough!" I yelled, holding my ear. "You only need one of them to get into the tomb. After we've completed our task, then we can track down the other two!"

  Daniel's hands shook and his breath heaved in and out, but I could see him gathering himself back together. "Did I hit you?"

  "Yes, but I'm fine." Tentatively, I approached him, but he moved away before I touched him.

  "Which babe do you have, Justus?" Daniel stormed across the room, intent, I was sure, on taking the pup from Justus. The guardian snake hissed and struck at Daniel. He barely dodged in time.

  When I was very young, Father had taught me the lore of the snakes who were guardians of the royal bloodline of king and heir. They were a thank you gift from a being who'd come through one of the rarely used Anunnaki Gates in payment for a favor. Father never said much about the person or the deed, only that the snake's venom had no antidote and would kill whatever it bit, even a God. Daniel had a right to worry. Even carrying Inanna's blessing, he wouldn't survive.

  "Motherfucker! Nathan, you take the boy. He knows you." Daniel gestured for me to go to Justus.

  "No." My voice was firm. "The knowing isn't enough. The snake can smell intent. If it deems we'd harm the child, the serpent will do everything in its power to kill us."