Defender's Blood The Turning (An Urban Fantasy)

by A. K. Michaels

  Zach shouted “Vlad, come on, we’re going home.”

  The Alpha then made his way over. “I can’t thank you enough … words can’t express what is in my heart. If you need anything – ever – just call.” He stopped talking then as his throat had obviously closed up with emotion. Zach, Alex and Vlad just nodded. There was nothing else to say.

  A second later they were standing in the street outside Vlad’s house. He said “I’ll send some Guards for my vehicle. I just wanted to get home. They can go get it tomorrow some time. Okay – see you two later. Bye.” He turned and started to walk up the path to his front door.

  Alex and Zach were just about to walk away when they heard a scream!

  Chapter 28

  Vlad took off fast, Zach and Alex right behind him. He literally broke the door to get inside, screaming “Irina – IRINA – where are you?” There was noise from upstairs and he ran, desperate to get to his mate.

  Zach and Alex found him on the floor next to Irina. She was shaking and crying and obviously in pain. “Why didn’t you call me? Why didn’t you get to the clinic? You know all the Guards are aware to come if I’m not here – why?”

  She looked up at her mate with such love and fear that it tore at Alex’s heart. “I wanted to try and wait … for you … I didn’t want to go on my own,” she managed to get out.

  Vlad picked her up and carried her down the stairs, straight out to his car. He placed her very gently inside, got in and drove off, forgetting completely that Alex and Zach were there.

  Zach pulled his phone out and phoned one of the Guards to come and fix the door, then he and Alex started walking towards the medical centre. A thought hit him – it was after hours, the doctor might not be there. So Zach called David on his cell. “David, Irina’s on her way to the clinic. She looks pretty far on, you better get there fast – or Vlad’s going to wring your neck.”

  He didn’t wait for an answer, knowing David was too busy to talk!

  Alex and Zach continued onwards to the clinic. The thought of going home never entered their minds. Their friend would probably need some support. Irina was excitable at the best of times and the way in which this pregnancy had come about, they hoped that with the birth Vlad and Irina could put it behind them.

  As they neared the clinic they spotted David’s car. He was there – thank goodness! They walked in and heard Irina’s screams. Christ, she sounded in a lot of pain! They moved forward towards the noise and could hear David talking calmly to Irina, telling her not to push as he had to examine her.

  Zach moved forward. He knew that Vlad would be wanting to tear into David for touching his mate!

  As they entered the room Irina shouted “Alex – oh Alex I’m scared.”

  Alex moved to the opposite side of the bed. Zach moved so he was directly behind Vlad. He placed a hand on his shoulders and speaking softly into his ear. “You need to let David do his job, Vlad.”

  Vlad snarled, it was a menacing sound and once more David’s professionalism overtook his fear.

  He looked up and shouted “Shut up, Vlad – I need to concentrate and help Irina!”

  Again Zach was taken aback at the courage this small human showed in emergencies!

  After an examination that had David making noises that didn’t entirely sound good, he stood up straight, took a breath and said “Okay, I don’t want anyone to worry but the baby is breach. I need to do a C-Section. I’m doing it now, so Vlad please step back, I need to put Irina to sleep.”

  Vlad wasn’t happy, didn’t want to move and Irina was crying. “No please, I don’t want to go to sleep!”

  Alex was stroking her hair. “You need to let David do what’s best, honey. You won’t be out for long.”

  David nodded. “If I had gotten to you earlier, I could have done a spinal – numbed you – but with you so far along, I don’t have the time and I can’t take the chance you’d jump with a contraction, Irina. That could cause a lot of damage. So here, put this over your face and take a few deep breaths.”

  David placed a mask over Irina’s mouth and nose and she breathed in, the chemical smell assaulting her nostrils.

  She was out in a few seconds and David got to work. “If the three of you want to be here, you all need to go next door, clean yourselves and gown up. Vlad, if you can’t stay calm, you should go outside, I can’t have you distracting me.”

  Vlad shook his head – he would be staying beside his mate. Moving as fast as possible, Zach, Alex and Vlad removed their blood-splattered clothes and scrubbed themselves clean. They put on surgical gowns, gloves and masks like those David wore. They were back inside the surgery and by Irina’s bedside just as David finished prepping her.

  David lifted a scalpel and cut into Irina’s swollen belly. Very quickly, in Alex’s opinion, he was pulling a baby out. Alex went to help, getting a towel from a stack on the side counter. She took the baby from David and he started to close up Irina.

  The baby was struggling and seemed to be having trouble breathing. David noticed and spoke calmly. “Alex, that thing over there – it’s similar to a very small turkey baster. Pick it up and use it to clear the nose and mouth. Gently … yes that’s it … keep doing that until everything’s clear.” Alex did as she was told and David continued working on Irina.

  Just as he was finishing, Irina seemed to be coming awake and David sighed. “Thank goodness. I only gave her a little, wanted to get this done before she woke. The anaesthetist is away so I couldn’t give the proper dose without her present. Alex, let me have a look, see if everything’s clear.” David checked the baby and found it was breathing okay on its own.

  Alex walked over to Vlad and held out the child. This was the moment she had been dreading. Would he accept this child? Another man’s seed in his mate’s belly – not her fault of course – but still, Alex held her breath.

  Vlad looked down at the little bundle and his finger traced down the side of the face. “What is it? A boy or girl?”

  Alex smiled. “A girl, Vlad – a daughter.”

  Gently, as if he was holding fine china, Vlad took the baby and hugged her close. Taking deep breaths, marking her scent to his memory, so he could know his daughter no matter the circumstances. Find her in a crowded room, in the nursery, at the park – anywhere.

  He looked at Alex and she actually saw tears in his eyes. Christ, to see this impressive warrior killing machine so vulnerable with the baby in his arms … Alex’s eyes teared up too.

  Irina was making noises, and they looked down. She was coming awake fast, her Wolf metabolism ridding her system of the anaesthetic. Her eyes opened and saw Vlad standing with the baby and she smiled. “Boy or girl?” she asked quietly.

  Vlad smiled. “We’ve got a daughter, Irina, and she is gorgeous.” He moved down a bit and placed the child in Irina’s arms, staying close to make sure the baby was secure. Irina was staring at the child. Alex had been worried also that Irina might not bond with the baby once born due to the circumstances of it’s conception. She needn’t have worried. The look of pure love that Irina had on her face was something magical to see.

  She looked at Vlad. “We’re a family now, my mate.” Vlad kissed her – very gently.

  David was all business. “Okay, Irina needs to stay here, at least for a few hours. I know Wolves heal quickly but I’m not budging on this, Vlad. She stays here for now.” David had a testy look on his face, as if daring the large Vampire to argue.

  Vlad nodded. “Yes David – I think that’s for the best.” He turned back to Irina.

  Alex took Zach’s hand. “Come, my Vampire. I want to go home now.”

  Chapter 29

  Alex and Zach strolled slowly, taking in the night as they headed home. The babies were at Tatiana’s so there was no hurry. When they got home they showered together and then lay quietly in bed, both overcome with the day’s events.

  From finding out why the Wolf kids had been taken, to the mission, to the torture of the Vampire … it w
as all rolling through their heads.

  “Zach, if anyone tried to harm our babies I would kill them … slowly,” Alex said quietly.

  Zach pulled her close. “I know hon, I would be right there with you. It scares the hell out of me that there are people like that out there.”

  Alex nodded into his chest. “I know. After this mission I think we should set up a special unit dealing with this sort of thing. Something tells me this wasn’t the first or the last.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to Thadius … see what we can do. I take it you want to be part of that unit?”

  “Yeah Zach. Hard as it was today, I also felt great at freeing those kids. I think this is where we should concentrate our efforts. What do you think?” she asked Zach, knowing it would be a change from his usual work.

  But obviously the day had affected him too because he answered “Hell yeah.”

  Then Alex’s thoughts went to Vlad and Irina. Boy did they look happy, she knew instinctively that they were going to be okay. Zach answered her thoughts. “I was worried too, little one. I’m glad it’s worked out for them. Most of it down to you, of course.”

  Alex just shook her head. “No Zach, my imagination helped a bit, it was those two who made it work. I can’t wait for the babies to get to know each other. Just think, they’re going to grow up together. Isn’t that wonderful?”

  Zach laughed. “Indeed,” and Alex gave him a little punch – there he goes with that word again.

  Very quickly Zach’s thoughts changed and his lust was clear for Alex to feel, smell, and touch! Their lovemaking was slow, soft and gentle, affirming their love for each other.

  Finally they both rested and were soon awakened by Tatiana shouting “Zach, Alex – you home yet?”

  Alex rose, getting a robe before going through. Tatiana was in the nursery and the twins were lying on a mat in the middle of the floor. God she had missed them. She picked up one then the other and cuddled them tight!

  Tatiana had a sad smile on her face. “Thadius told me about the mission. I thought you might want your babies home sooner rather than later.”

  “Yes, that mission was awful, and then coming back to Irina … well let’s just say I was missing my little ones.”

  Tatiana frowned. “Irina – what’s wrong with Irina?”

  “She had her daughter last night, bit of an emergency, so was quite an end to the day. All was well when we left them.”

  Tatiana was laughing. “Oh good, I’ll go and see them now. Is she at home or the clinic?”

  “Not sure. David wanted to keep her for a few hours, so maybe you should phone and check first.”

  Tatiana nodded before she spoke. “Okay, I’ll do that on the way. Oh my, another baby – isn’t this exciting!” She was still talking to herself as she left.

  Alex sat down on the mat beside the twins and Zach soon joined her. They were staring up at their parents with such knowledge in their eyes that it sometimes scared Alex. She knew they were special – she just didn’t know how special they were.

  Finally she stood up. “I’m going for a shower. Keep and eye on them for a bit?” she asked Zach, who just nodded so off she went.

  Alex enjoyed her shower and remembered she had bought a present for Irina and the baby. She would get it out and they would go visit.

  As she was getting dressed, Zach’s phone started ringing. She shouted “Zach – phone.” He appeared in the door and picked it up. It was Thadius saying that there was no hurry for the mission report, he knew how badly it had affected them.

  Zach hung up and Alex stopped dead, just after pulling her top on. Something was wrong. She could feel it.

  She turned to her mate quickly. “Zach, I feel something ... something’s wrong ... very wrong. Where are the babies?!”

  She was screaming and both of them made for the door. Just as they got to the nursery they saw the twins lying on the floor, holding hands. How did they get so close to each other to hold hands? The thought ran through Alex’s mind at the same moment that she thought: It’s okay, they’re still there and okay.

  At that precise moment, there was a bright light, so bright that Alex closed her eyes and let out a little scream. When she opened them – the babies were gone!

  She screamed “NOOOOOO!” Zach was roaring like a wild animal caught in a trap.

  They felt the floor where their twins had lay and still felt residual heat from their bodies!

  “Oh dear God this can’t be happening! Zach, where are our babies? WHERE ARE THE TWINS!”

  …To be continued in Book 4: The Return

  Author’s Note

  Many thanks for reading Book 3 in the Defender’s Blood series. Book 4, Defender’s Blood: The Return is available now, check it out and find out what happened to the twins! You can also find details of some of my other series in the following pages.

  If you could use a couple of minutes of your time to leave a review I would be very grateful.

  You can find me at my Facebook page, Twitter and my Website. I love chatting with folks on my Facebook page so please pop along and say ‘Hi.’

  http://akmichaels.com/

  https://twitter.com/AvaKMichaels

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/AKMichaelsauthor/1380235792229218

  Other Works by A K Michaels

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  Before she can use the vast magic required two males appear and aid her. One a wolf, one an ancient vampire.

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  As Director of the Supernatural Enforcement Bureau, powerful Vampire Ronan, thought he had seen it all...until he discovers that Dragons actually exist. Can he help the Dragon being hunted on his patch? He certainly has the means at his disposal...if they can find it first...before the dark magic-wielding Witches and their Vampire cohorts.

  After seeing the magnificent beast with his own eyes he can't turn from the task, even if he wanted to. Especially as his Sire, Josef, gives him a direct command to find the Dragon and keep it safe. No matter the cost.

  With rogue Vampires and Witches on its trail, it's only a matter of time before they capture it. That's not something Ronan will allow...not on his watch! He will do whatever it takes to find and save the Dragon, using every powerful being at his disposal, including the dark and dangerous Creed.

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