by A. E. Via
Mac took a slow breath, then in a careful measure he started, “Bell and his army landed in North Yorkshire thirty minutes ago, and already something isn’t right. Justice and Wick are watching a live feed of the mission at a coven that’s about ten miles north of Conway Airport. I slipped out as soon as the army started their trek through the Dales on a path that Bell kept saying was well trampled… recently. By hundreds. Not the few like we saw on camera early this morning.”
Wrath took a stuttered breath and opened up his link to Alek and Wolf.
They were arguing of course.
HEY! Wrath bellowed, breaking them up. He didn’t even care what the feud was about. Most likely him. Listen to this.
Alek snapped, what is my brother still doing here? Did you do any—?
SHUT UP, ALEK, AND LISTEN!
“There could be hundreds there waiting to ambush him, Wrath. Belleron only took sixty vampires with him. If the rebellion already has hundreds… then…”
Wrath didn’t fire off. Not with Mac’s human flesh only feet from him. But, gods was he furious. He held it in while Alek and Wolf staggered at the implication, and what this meant. Bell could very well be walking directly towards his death. Exactly as Wrath had warned. For a moment the three of them felt the exact same feeling—regret, then determination.
We have a deal, Alek. I’m going to fall back and let you handle this. Get us to that coven. Then you do whatever is necessary to get us to Belleron.
Is there still time? Wolf asked him.
I can’t say for sure.
“Why are you so quiet now? Are you talking to Alek? Let me speak to—”
“QUIET,” Wrath barked at Mac.
Mac threw his hands up. “Okay. Okay. I was just…”
There has to be time left. Because if Belleron is already dead… we’d know. Just before Wrath retreated, he added, you remember our deal. When it’s time for me to come out. Don’t stand in my way. I can save him if you just get us to him. Trust me next time.
Wrath relinquished the hold the moment he felt Alek’s acceptance.
They’d been moving for over an hour since the bumpy landing on a piece of private property in Tunstal. Bell and his men knew how to operate without being seen. They broke into small battle groups and flashed in intervals towards the isolated hills that no hiker dared explore, well aware of the known vampire territory. The closer they got to the tombs, the more the smell of death encased them. The stench was thick and choking, causing a strain on their senses. Bell stopped when they finally reached the trenches of the Rawthey Valley, far beyond civilization. Inside the vast hill was their largest tomb. It was heavily guarded, and so far they’d yet to see any disturbances on the surveillance around the tomb, so he’d been confident they’d arrived before the rebels. However, as Bell got his first clear view of the hill’s entrance, Bell reported that six of the guards were down. Killed. Dismembered, and there was destruction, as it appeared explosives had been used to get inside. Twenty vampires had protected this property. Now they were gone. Bell was furious.
He pressed his ear piece deeper in his ear canal. Even through the staticky feed Wick’s concern was loud and clear, “I don’t like the looks of this, Belleron. You should abort. Intel is incomplete. We’re still watching a supposedly live footage of the entrance and it shows the guards still in position. They must have a recording running on a loop. Lord Vega believes our systems may’ve been hacked, which means were dealing with a far more sophisticated group of rebels than we assumed, and we need to regroup.”
“Negative.” Bell hissed. “The tomb is compromised and there’s carnage everywhere. We can’t leave it like this. Send in the reserves and allow me to gather a few suspects to bring in for interrogation, at minimum. This all can’t have been for nothing.”
Bell may have lost his fated. He wanted some heads to roll. Wanted to see justice for his brethren brought before their counsel.
“Granted,” Wick answered tightly. “But be careful.”
Bell cleared the line and motioned his team forward. He tried not to stare at the mutilated vampires on the ground as they carefully stepped over the scattered bodies and severed limbs. “Whoever did this is going to pay severely. This is a blatant declaration of war against the king.”
The moment Bell uttered the words, half-dead vampires descended on them from all directions. They came out of the earth, from shallow graves. They dropped down from the tree tops, so many of them that it looked as if it was raining darkness. The putrid funk of decayed flesh and desperate souls made Bell gag right along with the rest of his men. They formed a protective ring and got into a fighting formation.
“My Lord.” His second handed Bell his weapon—a sword cane that he’d carried since he was young. The outer casing was crafted out of metallic black rhodium, and on the inside it held a twenty-five-inch titanium blade with a poison-tipped carbide edge. A sure death maker.
Bell opened the communication on his earpiece. He was calm as he watched the rebels close in on them. The best he’d be able to do was report as much accurate information as he could so that their backup would have a chance, and not receive the same fate. “We’re being ambushed.”
“I knew it. Get the hell out of there!” Wick yelled.
Bell ignored the panic in his best friend’s voice. “It looks to be roughly a couple of hundred on the outside. We can hear more inside the tomb. They have no weapons.” Bell spoke quickly. “Most are only partially awakened.”
“Got it. Now get the hell out of there,” Wick snapped.
“They were hiding beneath the ground and in the trees. They’re masking their scent with… I don’t know. All that can be smelled for miles is death. Tell the second battle group to proceed with extreme caution.”
“Belleron don’t do this,” Wick warned. “I said abort. That’s an order!”
“You know I don’t run away. I’ll see you on the other side, old friend.” Bell killed the link before Wick could yell again. There was no time for sweet sentiments for his best friend. No time to leave a message for his cherished who he’d left behind. Instead, Bell yanked his blade out of its case. The sound the sleek metal made when it cut through the air was a whisper-soft promise of annihilation. Knowing this may be the last fight of his life, Bell pulled on every ounce of strength he’d acquired over almost a century of living, and started to fight.
His men—the best of the best—fell quickly around him.
“Protect our Lord!” Several of them shouted right before they were all killed. Bell felt the regret just like he knew he would right before he was overcome.
Back at his house, it’d only taken Alek a few minutes to pack a small duffle bag with his essentials. Mac paced back and forth across his bedroom floor, eyeing him warily as if unsure who was on the surface.
“Mac you can relax. It’s just me right now.” Alek zipped the bag and tossed it over his shoulder, hurrying through his home. “I’m sure Wrath will return, soon.”
“So you can lock him away again. I thought he’d gone, Alek. Why do you do that to him?”
“He’s dangerous,” Alek grumbled.
“He’s misunderstood.”
“What’s the difference?”
Mac shook his head. “He’s gonna fix this and I’m standing with him… with you. Are you really going to London… on a jet?”
Alek didn’t answer for a moment. If he was being honest, the thought was frightening, and it made Wolf shift anxiously inside of him. He’d never been on an airplane in his life. He didn’t even have any shifters he could ask about the experience. Wolf wasn’t outwardly objecting, knowing what needed to be done, but he wasn’t excited about it. “If that’s what it takes.”
Mac followed Alek out of his cabin towards his late model F150. “If you go… I’m going too.”
Alek frowned, turning to face his little brother. Neither Wolf nor Wrath liked Mac’s declaration. “Absolutely not. I’ll have more of Bell’s army with me. And Wrath. Tha
t’ll be enough.”
“I said I’m going. You forget I’m an alpha as well,” Mac growled, his head held high, making direct eye contact with Alek.
Alek didn’t see it as a challenge. Instead, he pulled his little brother into his arms and hugged him. Mac had disobeyed Justice and had come to find him—as Justice’s second beta—he’d risked demotion and punishment. According to Mac, he’d been searching around for two hours where Wrath’s trail of ashes had ended.
“You sure are.” Alek squeezed Mac’s shoulder, pressing their foreheads together as Alek soaked up the goodness Mac pushed towards him. “You are one of the bravest alphas I’ve ever met. The only one brave enough to face Wrath. Thank you, for coming to get me, Mac.”
“You know I got your back. Always.”
“I know.”
Mac swiped the keys out of Alek’s hand, “I’ll drive. I know a shortcut.”
“Alek!” Farica bolted from her position at the conference table and slammed herself into him. He caught her easily and wrapped his arms around her. “I was so worried.”
He held her until she was ready to release him. “I’m okay.”
“Really? Because that was some display of power this morning.”
“Tell me about it,” Justice said, coming up from behind their sister and yanking Alek to him. There wasn’t a hint of fear or trepidation in the AZ’s voice, regardless of the fact that he’d just had a taste of Wrath and Wolf’s combined power. “I knew you wouldn’t stay away long. All you had to do was get your Wolf under your control.”
Alek embraced his brother. He was so damn sorry for not being able to stop Wolf from knocking him down, but he believed the three of them had a sort of understanding now. “No. I don’t need to control anyone, especially Wolf. I need to trust him more… both of them, actually.” Alek had their connections wide open. No more shutting each other out. Wolf and Wrath were fully aware of what was going on around them, riding extra-close to the surface, watching everything through Alek’s eyes and linking closely to his mind. And for once, it didn’t feel chaotic. Each of them had a certain gift and a specific job to do. Alek felt they were finally on the path to figuring out those roles and syncing them back together. “I’m here for my mate. Where is he?”
“The second reserves are in pursuit.” The Lord Protector, Ramon Vega said, drawing Alek’s attention.
He released Justice and hurried over to a large oak conference table that’d been covered with maps and blueprints. Vampires were everywhere, talking and flashing in and out so fast Alek stopped watching them and focused on the one who could give him answers. “Wick, where is my mate?”
Wick shook his head. His eyes were bloodshot.
“Wick.” Mac stepped up beside Alek. “I already told him Bell was outnumbered and was in trouble.”
“You disobeyed me?” Justice frowned, stating the obvious as a question.
“I had to. But, I’m willing to accept the consequences,” Mac stated with his chin up.
“Let’s just focus on the task at hand for now,” Justice warned. “We’ll discuss this later, Macauley.”
“He was ambushed… and taken,” Wick said, looking dejected. “We lost communication with him.”
Alek closed his eyes and took a long, calming breath, as he began to shake from Wolf’s concern and Wrath’s fury. WHY AREN’T THEY DOING ANYTHING?! HE’S NOT DEAD. MOVE IT!
Alek jolted from Wrath’s anger, then steadied himself. He had to keep control. Remember we have a deal. Now settle. Alek breathed. I’m going to get them moving right fucking now. “How fast can you get me there, Wick?” Alek asked as calmly as Wolf allowed.
Wick didn’t answer, his eyes glazing over as if he was traumatized. Alek could understand, Bell was Wick’s best friend, had grown up with him. Imagining life without him appeared to be doing a number on the king’s mentality, but now wasn’t the time to lose it.
“Chadwick!” Alek growled.
The Lord Protector intervened when Wick still didn’t answer. “I’m coordinating with a coven a few miles from here that has a group of pretty lethal mercenaries.”
“Meaning?” Alek rushed.
“That means I believe I should take them along with me. They know how these kinds of rebellious groups operate and organize because they’re used to hunting them. Belleron—of all vampires—walked directly into an ambush. That’s unheard of. We’re certainly not going to underestimate them again. The only jet we have access to immediately is the king’s private jet. It only carries sixteen. I want to bring a few guards, yes, but we also need to bring some bad guys in order to catch some really bad guys. They’re meeting me at the airstrip at four-thirty. That’ll put us down roughly at dusk. At six we infiltrate. This is a search and rescue mission now, first and foremost. Everything else comes second. If we’re able to detain some of the rebels for questioning that’d be good, but my orders are to kill at will and retrieve our Lord High at all costs.”
“They killed all the other guards, Lord Vega. What makes you think Belleron is still alive?” A vampire with blond hair and a smattering of freckles on his pale face ventured forward, biting his lip and gently asked a very tough question, trying to appear as respectful as possible.
“Two reasons,” Ramon Vega declared. “One. His mate is still standing. If Belleron was dead, Alek’s wolf would be, also. Two. Because Belleron would be far too big a leverage tool to destroy. Now let’s move.”
“I’m coming with you,” Alek said sternly, because it wasn’t up for debate.
“What?” All four of his siblings said at once.
“And I’m going with him, too,” Mac added.
Alek now had Wick’s full attention. “Do you really think he’s alive?”
“I know he is. I may not be able to sense him… but Wrath can. When we get there, he’ll take over.” Alek prayed he was doing the right thing. He was putting his trust in one of the deadliest, most vengeful demigods ever, so he wasn’t surprised to be met with skepticism.
“Justice, tell him this is crazy. I know he wants his mate home and safe but killing himself isn’t the way to do it.” Taleb was the first to note his objection, always the one to look at things rationally.
“If he and Mac are going then I am too. I’ve never flown on a plane,” Farica said, smiling.
“And there’s a reason for that,” Taleb said. “Our wolves don’t like it.”
“Times change, brother,” Alek told him. He liked how cooperative Wrath and Wolf were as Alek took the reins and fought for their mate, “It’s risky, yes. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take. Belleron is still alive and I’m going to get him. He’s my mate.”
“And risk your brother’s and sister’s lives in the process.” Taleb frowned.
“I make my own decisions,” Farica said, adding some bass to her sweet tenor. “And they’ll need my wolf’s comfort if either of them freak out up there.”
“Um, yeah, sis. I’ve come to know Wrath a little over our ten-minute conversation, and he can be quite defensive of our gifts and reject them. I mean he let me close. But, that’s because my wolf is badass and everyone wants to know him,” Mac said, with extra confidence.
Alek turned and smirked at him; as if Mac and Wrath now had a special connection. Hell, maybe they did. Alek hadn’t been privy to the conversation after Wrath had blocked him.
“Then I’ll get to know him too,” Farica said through clenched teeth, making Taleb and Mac back off. She turned and faced Justice. “With your permission, of course. But you know I can take care of myself, Just, and don’t forget I’ve watched your backs and fought right alongside each of you and have never fallen. Because I’m female, the three of you always try to give me lesser tasks, but you all seem to forget I am an alpha as well.”
“I never forget,” Justice said proudly, draping his arm around Farica and pulling her to his side. “If you want to go then I will not stand in your way. I know you’ll take good care of them.”
“I will
. And I’ll also keep them in line for you.” She turned her fierce blue eyes on Alek. “I’m going to get my bag and I’ll meet you at the airstrip. She stepped closer and pointed at Alek’s forehead, “And Wrath, don’t you even think about leaving me. I’m going, and that’s that.”
Alek scoffed as she spun on her white and purple Nikes and hurried to her tiny Smart car. He had no doubt his sister would handle this trip better than any of them. Alek took solace in the fact that her composed wolf would be there. He faced the acting leader of the vampire army and addressed him respectfully, “Lord Vega, I hope you’re okay with us tagging along, but I believe you’re going to need my help.”
Ramon Vega was an intimidating vampire. He stood over six feet, with a broader build than most of the vampires around him. His Spanish heritage was evident in his accent, his tan complexion and wavy, deep-brown hair. He had nice full lips that covered his sharp fangs when he spoke. “I have a feeling you’re humoring me, because no matter what I say, you’re getting on that jet.”
Lord Vega was also a smart vampire. He continued moving around the conference table, “I’ll only bring four guards instead of eight to allow room for you and your siblings, but…”
“You have reservations,” Wick finished. He stood but his usual regal posture was absent as he slumped over, weighted down by his grief, and braced his hands on the table. “Ramon, I understand. But, we’re going to have to work together. Make it work. Go. Get. Belleron. Now,” Wick practically growled.
“Yes sir,” Lord Vega said, and fired into action. He ordered everyone back to the caravan, to take them to the small airport. “Alpha, I’ll brief you more when we’re in the sky.”
Alek felt Wolf’s stomach drop at the mentioning of sky, but Alek worked to show no outward discomfort. “I appreciate it.”
Knowing that he was about to be flying thousands and thousands of miles, above fucking water was already messing with Wolf’s head. Alek watched from the back seat as Justice drove them right onto the secluded airstrip. It was dark outside but he had no problem seeing what he was headed towards. Mentioning the word jet and then actually seeing the large aluminum can with wings was a whole other experience all together. Alek took a deep breath and heard his brother Mac do the same.