by Brenda Trim
“You think we want money?” sneered one of the skirm as he bared his fangs. The female screamed when her gaze landed on pointed teeth.
Kyran flashed toward the scene. In the next blink, he was standing between the skirm and humans. When supernaturals transitioned from stripling to adult, their abilities enhanced, and some gained extra powers. Kyran possessed the ability to flash, which meant he could travel distances at the speed of light. It was a handy power to have during instances like this one.
“Get back,” Kyran yelled over his shoulder toward the couple who quickly scrambled behind the dumpster.
“Hey, he’s one of the Dark Warriors,” a black-haired skirm muttered to his buddies.
Over the years, they discovered skirm had infrared vision, and could detect a Dark Warrior because of their warmer body temperature. It made surprise attacks almost impossible. You’d think skirm would stick around to fulfill their mission of destroying the Dark Warriors, but too often they ran away before the warriors could get close to them. Luckily, the skirm were occupied with the humans when he and Mack discovered them, which gave Kyran an advantage.
“You bet your arse I am. And, I’m about to ash you motherfuckers,” he growled as he brandished his sgian dubh and stalked toward his target. He couldn’t wait until his blade sank through flesh and bone, triggering the skirm’s ultimate demise. Only titanium killed a skirm in a flash of ash. If he had his claymore he could chop heads off, but that left messy clean-up.
“No, Kyran!” Mack shouted as she ran to his side. “They may have the information we need,” she explained as she grabbed his arm, stopping his movement.
That was a first, he thought. Mack was more of a kill first, ask questions later. But she had a point. If the skirm knew anything about the missing stones, they needed to find out what it was. Skirm weren’t the smartest creatures and were easily tricked into revealing what they knew.
“What information? Perhaps, we can strike a deal,” bartered a skinny male. He looked like he was thirteen, at most, and Kyran wondered if the archdemon had started going after younger victims.
“Do you know who I am?” Kyran growled low as he tightened his grip on the knife handle.
“Uh, yeah. You’re a Dark Warrior, duh. I said that already,” the black-haired skirm answered with a roll of his eyes.
“Nay. Do you know my name?”
“There’s a bunch of you warriors. I don’t know. Happy? Sleepy? Or, better yet, Dopey?” interjected the third skirm with a laugh.
Kyran lunged and stabbed his blade into the chest of the skirm. A bright flash of fire was followed by the creature turning to ash before his remains drifted toward the sky. Kyran placed his blade at the throat of Skinny and stepped closer to the young male. “Do I look like a fucking dwarf to you?” he spat as his six-four frame towered over the male.
Mack drew her blade and squared off against the dark-haired skirm. “Don’t even think of running. I’ll gut you before you take two steps,” she threatened. Kyran met her gaze and winked. There was his feisty female.
His inattention cost him. Skinny ducked and thrust a blade into Kyran’s gut. Oh, it was on now, Kyran thought as he darted to the left before hitting Skinny upside the head.
Movement next to him told him Mack was subduing her skirm. When she grunted, he grabbed Skinny’s knife and tossed it into a trashcan then used his forearm against Skinny’s throat to keep him from attacking again. By the time Kyran checked on Mack, she had her skirm under control.
His focus returned to Skinny, and Kyran raised his brow in question. The male’s eyes widened to saucers, and he gulped. “N-n-n-no, sir. You don’t look like a dwarf,” he croaked.
“Good. Listen verra closely. Do you know what a mating stone is?” Kyran muttered as his blade traveled from the skirm’s chest to the corner of his eye.
“Huh? M-m-mating stone?” Skinny asked then his gaze slowly shifted to his buddy. “Do you know what he’s talking about, Randy?”
“No, can’t say that I do. But, I have a better question, warrior. You ever heard of an ambush?” Randy countered with a leer.
Suddenly, a group of skirm bolted from the shadows, and charged toward Kyran and Mack. Kyran quickly ashed Skinny, and Mack’s blade found purpose in Randy’s chest.
The human female let out a scream as a battle ensued. There were at least a dozen skirm, each holding a weapon. Kyran tried to make his way closer to Mack, but three creatures blocked his path.
Charging forward, he grabbed another sgian dubh and sliced one blade across the face of a new skirm while his leg shot out and kicked another. The creature went sailing through the air and crashed against the wall.
Kyran headed toward the downed skirm but a third skirm jumped on his back. When an arm wound around his throat, Kyran reached back and tried to get a hold of the fucker’s hair. He kept out of Kyran’s reach. Tired of the game, Kyran stabbed his weapon through the skull of a skirm. The edge of his beard caught fire when it ashed. Lifting a hand, he patted the scruff on his face. Another skirm approached and Kyran acted in an instant, stabbing another. The last thing Kyran saw of the creature was his bloody face before fire flashed and the male’s body turned to dust.
A ball of fire suddenly flew past Kyran’s head, and he turned to see Breslin and Bhric had joined the fight. His siblings were a force to be reckoned with as their powers took front and center. Breslin’s fire shot out in every direction, burning her enemy on the spot while Bhric threw shards of ice, piercing the skirms’ chests. It was a beautiful sight, and Kyran thanked the Goddess they were on his team.
He scanned the scene, searching for Mack. She was fighting off two larger skirm, and they had her cornered near the humans. Kyran’s heart stopped when he watched her swing her blade but miss the skirm’s chest. Her knife sliced through its jacket but didn’t seem to injure the creature. Mack swung again and missed the skirm altogether.
She never missed, Kyran acknowledged and knew he had to get to her before it was too late. Her mistake was costly, and the male snatched her blade, and tossed it to the ground then pinned her against the wall. Before Kyran could flash to her, the other skirm bit Mack’s neck.
Two things happened at once. Mack screamed out in pain, and Kyran flashed to her side as his fury erupted. No one fucking touched his mate. Dropping his blades at his feet, he was ready to rip the asshole’s head from his shoulders. These motherfuckers didn’t deserve a simple death like ashing. No, they would suffer a much more painful demise.
He snatched the skirm that was feeding on Mack and squeezed its throat. He relished the fear he saw in the male’s eyes as his air supply dissipated. The skirm’s face reddened then turned blue as Kyran tightened his grip.
Kyran turned his body and kicked a skirm that was trying to sneak past him and get to Mack. A blade landed in his thigh, making him grunt. For a second, he wished he had Rhys’s telekinetic ability to call weapons to his hands.
He stared into the creature’s eyes and twisted his wrist, relishing the snap of its neck. Hissing, Kyran tossed the creature to the ground then grabbed another male and lifted him into the air. He body-slammed the skirm onto the concrete, and the sound of bones snapping echoed in Kyran’s ears. But he wasn’t done. Kyran proceeded to beat the ever-loving shit out of the male until its heart stopped beating.
When Kyran was certain the skirm was dead, he rushed toward Mack. She was holding her neck and coughing up blood. “Shite! Let me take a look,” he ordered and moved her hand so he could inspect the wound. “‘Tis verra deep. We need to get
you back to Zeum before the venom takes effect,” he informed her then quickly scanned the area, looking for Breslin and Bhric.
His brother and sister had killed the remaining skirm and were ashing the dead carcasses. Thank the Goddess for the easy clean-up. They didn’t have time to linger. “Och, can you two take care of them?” Kyran shouted with a tilt of his head toward the humans who were still cowering behind the dumpster. “Mack needs an injection asap,” he explained.
“Aye, we got this,” Bhric replied with a wave of his hand as he helped the humans to their feet.
It was imperative they wipe the humans’ memories of the night. The existence of supernaturals had to remain hidden from humans per the Goddess’s edict. Additionally, the Dark Warriors were responsible for keeping all humans and supernaturals safe from the demons that plagued their world.
“Come on, lass. I’m taking you home,” he murmured as he turned to Mack. He placed a kiss on her forehead then bent to pick her up.
“You know, you didn’t have to protect me from those assholes. I would’ve beat them eventually,” Mack muttered but he could tell she was embarrassed by her mistakes during the fight.
“I doona protect you because I think you’re weak. I protect you because you’re my world,” he confessed, and kissed her gently on the lips.
“You’re quite the charmer, leech,” Mack teased then nuzzled against his chest. She didn’t have to say more than that. He could feel her love and appreciation through their mating bond.
Without warning, Zander’s voice blasted into his mind. Get home! Right fucking now! We have an emergency!
Kyran stumbled from the force of Zander’s command, and almost dropped Mack. His brother was king and because he held the mantle of power he could communicate telepathically with the Dark Warriors. Kyran wasn’t sure what happened but knew it must be serious. He glanced to his siblings, and they nodded. They received his message, as well.
“We’re right behind you,” Bhric informed him then turned back to the humans. Luckily, it took only minutes to erase their memories.
“Kyran, I’m scared,” Mack admitted, and her gaze met his.
“Why?”
“I know why I fucked up during the fight,” she explained with a shake of her head.
“What are you talking aboot?”
“It’s because of my mating stone. The Goddess said it protects my sword arm. That my aim would always be true. But now, the stone is gone. What if we don’t find it?” she croaked. Her body trembled in his arms, giving Kyran the full effect of her terror.
“That’s no’ what happened. You were preoccupied, that’s all,” he reassured his mate, but he could see his words fell on deaf ears. Mack was convinced the Mystik Grimoire was prophetic, and the stones held significant power.
Unfortunately, Kyran believed it, too.
4
Mack gritted against the pain as Kyran lifted her out of his SUV and carried her toward Zeum. She pressed her scarf against the injury, trying to stop the blood, and cursed her ineptitude during the fight. It had been years since she was bitten by those nasty fuckers.
It seemed like a lifetime ago when she founded SOVA (Survivors of Vampire Attacks) and hunted what she believed were vampires. Then she met Kyran and the others at Zeum. That’s when Mack discovered the violent creature that attacked her and left her body riddled with scars was, in fact, a skirm. Since then, her path had been paved with the ashes of her true enemy. Until tonight, that was. How the hell had she let the creature get the best of her?
Oh, who was she kidding? She knew the answer. Mack was being punished for not taking better care of her mating stone. Why had she kept it in a drawer with her socks and underwear instead of a locked safe? Her mating stone was the most valuable item she owned, for fuck’s sake. If she ever got it back, Mack vowed to store it in a secret vault, and no one, except her and Kyran, would know its location.
Kyran hurried through the enclosed patio and entered the large kitchen. “Zander!” he called out just as Nate walked around the corner. “Where’s my brathair?” Kyran barked.
Suddenly, Zander’s deep voice echoed throughout the house. “Hurry up, Nate!”
Nate scrambled to the cabinets and grabbed a hot water bottle. “He’s upstairs with Elsie. She’s been in pain for the past couple of hours, but it’s getting worse. Jace should be here any min––. What happened to you?” the dragon shifter asked as he turned around, and his gaze landed on Mack.
“I got bit by a fucking skirm,” Mack grunted as Kyran set her on her feet. “Don’t worry about me though. Take that to Elsie and we’ll be right there,” she instructed Nate as she headed toward the medical room located in the basement.
Kyran held her arm as she hobbled down the narrow stairway. When they walked into the medical room, Mack spotted Tori rummaging through a cabinet on the wall that contained prescription medications. If the grimace on Tori’s face was any indication, Mack guessed she was searching for pain killers. But why?
“You okay, Tor?” Mack asked as she walked to the refrigerator where the serum to counteract skirm venom was stored.
“Not really. My wing has been bothering me for several weeks. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but the pain has become unbearable. When Jace read from the grimoire, I realized what was happening. My mating stone protected my wing,” Tori explained as she opened a bottle and popped a small pill into her mouth.
“So, I’m not crazy to think there’s more to the missing stones. It’s why all this freaky shit is happening,” Mack divulged as Kyran grabbed a bottle of antiseptic, along with, a cotton swab.
“No, you’re not crazy,” Tori answered and placed the pills back into the cabinet. At least she wasn’t taking the bottle with her, Mack thought. Addiction to pain pills wasn’t what she wanted to see happen to her friend.
Mack glanced at Tori’s black wings tucked against her back, and recalled when the vile sorceress, Lady Angelica, severed the Valkyrie’s wing and arm. They all thought Tori wouldn’t survive the attack, but Jace reattached both. Unfortunately, both were forever deformed, and Tori’s wing remained a sharp, constant pain after the surgery.
During Tori’s mating ceremony to Santiago, the Goddess let Tori choose what her mating stone would protect. Her arm or her wing. Mack was shocked when Tori chose her wing because painting was the female’s passion. She later told Mack her reasoning. Tori said she could try to paint with her other hand but couldn’t endure the excruciating agony she suffered daily from her injured wing.
“You ready for this, Firecracker?” Kyran’s voice intruded as he removed the scarf around her neck. He swabbed antiseptic on the area where she was bit, then filled a syringe with the serum. “It’s going to burn like a motherfucker,” he added.
“Do it,” Mack ordered and bit her knuckles as he injected the thick liquid into a vein at her neck. Mack closed her eyes and hissed as the cold sensation quickly morphed into what felt like fire rushing through her system. It was worth it though. She carried enough scars on her body from skirm. At least now with the serum she wouldn’t be adding to her collection.
“One, two, three,” Mack grunted, needing to focus on anything but the burn. She was grateful when she stopped at the number eleven as the pain subsided.
A palm landed on her shoulder, and Mack opened her eyes to see Kyran staring at her. She couldn’t help but laugh at his worried
expression. Inside that tough exterior, he was nothing but a cream puff. Well, with her, anyway.
“What’s that goofy look, leech?” she kidded with a smile.
“I’m just making sure the serum doesna have bad side effects. Last thing I need is for you to sprout a second head. You’re scary enough as it is,” he countered with a smirk.
Mack punched his stomach, and Kyran bent at the waist and groaned. “You’d still love me even if I had ten heads,” she declared.
“Aye. And, just think of all the dirty things you could do with ten mouths,” Kyran replied suggestively as he waggled his eyebrows.
“Ha! More like ten f-bombs dropping simultaneously,” Tori interjected, and they all laughed. It was no secret that Mack cursed like a sailor.
“Guilty as charged,” Mack confessed as Kyran bandaged her neck. “Let’s go check on Elsie,” she added.
“Aye,” Kyran agreed and twined their hands as they left the medical room.
Kyran heard Elsie’s groans before they entered the suite of rooms. It seemed the saga of the missing mating stones would never end. What worried him most was the unknown. To what extreme would they suffer?
They entered the crowded living room, and he noted most of the inhabitants at Zeum were there. He scanned the room and his gaze snagged on Bhric. “Everything go okay with the humans?”
“Aye. We got back aboot ten minutes ago. You good, Mack?” Bhric asked as his mate, Alex, handed him a water bottle.
Kyran remembered when Bhric’s choice of poison was straight bourbon. The whole fucking bottle. Now, his brother didn’t touch the stuff since he suffered a blade to the skull, resulting in temporary memory loss, and a change in his taste buds. The hard stuff made Bhric want to puke now. Thank the Goddess Alex was on staff when Bhric was taken to the hospital, or no telling what might’ve happened to his brother.