by Nikki McCoy
Saden summoned a burst of power but before he could send it, the third man stumbled and dropped to the ground. What the hell? Daneya couldn’t have taken him down. She was already in the car and fishtailing out on the dirt road. In the next moment, searing pain tore through his midsection. He turned to find the female guard standing on the other side of the room with her gun trained on him. She shot another round that hit him in the shoulder.
The ground met his back hard and his vision spun sickeningly. The woman yanked him out of reach of the sun’s rays, knelt down then swung a wickedly curved blade at his neck. He managed to deflect it enough so that it sliced across his collarbone. When she tried a second time, however, the knife never even got close. Her eyes glazed and body stiffened before collapsing on top of him. He shoved her off and found a tranquilizer dart protruding from one of her arms.
Someone was helping him, he realized. Only problem was, no one else except Blade knew about this mission and he was busy protecting Mckenzie and Cherri. Who, then? His thoughts scattered when he heard Gabriel shout for his leisonguardes.
Time to go.
He lurched to his feet and stumbled outside to take his dragon form, teetering dangerously to one side when he flapped his wings to gain altitude. His right shoulder and side blazed from the strain of movement and made it nearly impossible to concentrate. With determination, he pushed himself on and ignored the mounting sensation of weakness from blood loss. This wasn’t the worst he’d been through, and he’d be damned if he let Serrakus win this way.
* * * *
From his hidden perch in one of the distant trees, Phoenix lowered his tranq gun and watched Gabriel Aikins turn away from the window at the mansion. He shook his head grimly and sighed. Whatever had possessed Saden to take along his human companion on this mission was beyond him. And a female at that! She had likely been the cause of their delay in getting out in time. They were emotional creatures that never made sense in the best of situations.
Sasha let out a small surge of indignation at his thoughts. He smiled and sent an apology. Although any Djinn could assume either a male or female role, she had always identified herself as female.
“He won’t succeed at this rate. He’s too close to the target and his relation to the human woman is only complicating matters.”
Phoenix felt her bristle inside him. Since deciding to help Saden against his better judgment, Sasha had remained aware the entire time he’d been observing the other Drakon. She was especially interested in the human called Daneya and her daughter, Mckenzie. Something about the pair and their intimate connection to Saden brought out a yearning in her. Phoenix suspected it was, in part, due to her own cravings for a family. Though she wouldn’t admit to it.
For her, it had been an agonizing struggle to give up all hope of regaining the peaceful life she’d once lived. To face a future devoid of the happiness she had enjoyed until her fellow Djinn had destroyed everything and everyone important to her. It was still hard on her at times. Her memories the only things he couldn’t protect her from.
If her reason for wanting to see this through with Saden stemmed from an echo of her previous life, he wanted to give her that happy ending through the Drakon. But wishes and reality hardly ever coincided. Saden had refused his help and any further interference by him would alert Serrakus.
“There’s nothing more I can do,” he told her gently.
“You can go to him.”
It didn’t take clarification to know just who she was referring to. “No. Out of the question.”
“He’s the only one.”
“Not that. Ask me for anything else, sweet, and I’ll do it.”
She sent a tendril of longing through him that pushed at his opposition.
“No,” he repeated.
Her persistence grew until it was near suffocating.
“I won’t do it. If Saden wants to be a stubborn asshole, he can fight this battle on his own. You’re not going to convince me. I said no. No means… Damn it, all right!” He growled and jumped down from the tree branch. “You owe me for this. The next opera is mine to choose and you’re singing every song in it.”
She preened excitedly as he changed forms and took to the skies. This was not going to end well, he was sure of it. How was he going to ask a brother he hadn’t seen in over three centuries for help? Let alone try to persuade the chief of a Rakshasas clan to assist a former Vampyre turned Drakon.
Phoenix laughed inwardly, cursing himself as he flew toward his new destination.
* * * *
Daneya brought the car to a screeching halt and jumped out. She burst through the manor’s front door and called out Saden’s name. He had to be here. The last she’d seen of him, he’d disappeared from her rearview mirror amidst rounds of gunshots. It had taken all of her willpower to keep from slamming the car in reverse and going back for him.
“Mom!”
Mckenzie ran to her and she caught her daughter in her arms, but her attention was centered on Blade.
He strode into the foyer with Cherri following at a more sedate pace. “Is everything okay?”
“Tell me Saden’s here.” When he shook his head, the apprehension clogging her chest increased. The fact that Saden couldn’t die was little consolation. It had been her mistake, her emotions that’d put them in danger. Sure, she wanted to make him feel the pain for lying, but on her terms, not Gabriel’s.
Blade’s dark blue eyes glossed over then snapped back to her. “He’s close…and hurt. His energy is fading fast.” He hurried outside with Daneya on his heels.
They all waited anxiously on the porch as long seconds stretched into minutes. Finally, the air in front of them shimmered, darkened and took on the form of a man. Saden hit the ground rolling and came to a stop on his back. Daneya dropped the stack of folders in her hand and raced to him, hiking one of his arms over her shoulders while Blade got his other side. Cherri and Mckenzie rushed out of the way as they half-carried him in. Blade navigated them to the guest bedroom beside Cherri’s and pushed Saden onto the bed.
Or tried to.
Saden sat down on the edge and wouldn’t budge until he had Daneya standing in front of him. “Are you all right?”
Daneya wanted to laugh at him. His face was deathly ashen and bruised, lips pale and shirt soaked through with blood, and still he was worried about her. It made her heart ache with an emotion she didn’t want to contemplate at that moment. “I’m fine. I thought I’d lost you out there.”
He chuckled as she helped him strip off his coat and throw it to the floor. “It would take more than that to bring me down.”
She pursed her lips, cut his shirt from him with one of her blades then pushed him onto his back to inspect his injuries. There were two relatively small bullet wounds with no exit holes, which meant the bullets were still lodged inside.
“Saden.” She shook him slightly to keep him from losing consciousness. “Stay with me. I need to take the bullets out before you can heal yourself.”
“That’s not how it works, sweetheart.”
She turned to see Blade re-entering the room carrying first aid supplies, only then realizing he’d left. “What do you mean?”
“The bullets have to come out, but he can’t heal himself,” Blade said. “It’s against the rules. Only our Drakonem can use the power they gave us to do that.”
“He healed me, though,” she protested.
Blade moved between her and the bed to put the supplies on the nightstand. “And he’ll pay for it when he’s done with this assignment. Serrakus takes personal offense when we use our power without permission. Hold him down on his other side. This is going to hurt.”
Daneya swallowed heavily and climbed onto the bed beside Saden, her thoughts in turmoil. It didn’t make sense for him to risk so much for her. Let alone commit an act that guaranteed consequences. There were still more pieces to the puzzle she hadn’t found yet. Her instincts told her they were connected to the fact that he’d
lied to her about seeing her profile.
“So what happened out there?” Blade asked while he cleaned the wounds. “I thought you two were going for information only.”
“We were. We did. Things just got out of control.” She hesitated then took a deep breath. It wasn’t often she made a mistake to own up to. “I got angry and raised my voice which drew the leisonguardes to us.”
He chuckled sarcastically. “Do this for a living, do you? Next time you might want to check your emotions at the door before playing with the bad demons.”
“I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“We’re temporarily immortal, not indestructible,” he continued angrily. “Maybe you should keep that in mind if you’re going to tag along—” He was cut off abruptly by Saden’s hand around his throat.
“Say one more word to her and see what I do to you,” Saden growled. The menacing threat in his tone sent a chill down Daneya’s spine.
It was Blade’s turn to swallow heavily. His expression when he looked at her was completely out of character for him. Apologetic and contrite. To Saden, he said, “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I hope Daneya knows I was only talking out of my ass. And that I like my balls where they are.”
Daneya coughed to hide her grin. When Saden lowered his hand, Blade started on his arm with a pair of long tweezers. There wasn’t much need to hold him still. Other than the tightening of his lids and rigid muscles, he didn’t even appear to be aware of what was going on.
She got the impression that this happened often in their line of work. It made her wonder again about the degree of loyalty and compassion they held. In a life that would drive most people insane, they seemed the exception.
For the first time, it dawned on her how lucky she was to have them watching over her and her family. To have Saden willing to let her stand at his side in this. Whatever the reason for his lie, she was grateful he was here.
Blade quickly removed the second bullet then wiped the wounds clean. Gradually, Saden’s breathing leveled out and his body relaxed in rest. After applying the stitches and bandages, Blade got up and poked Saden to make sure he was sleeping. “Saden cares for you more than he should, and in the field, that’s a distraction. I hope you keep that in mind if you insist on going out with him again.” His tone was firm yet gentle.
She recalled the night she and Saden had spent together. Her desire to comfort him and her need to feel his strength surrounding her. With him, it hadn’t been about power or control. They had been equals in everything. Even the horrors of their pasts. He had trusted her when she hadn’t fully trusted herself. The patience he’d shown her was unlike anything she’d ever experienced.
For so long she’d kept her heart caged for fear of it being bruised. Yet, here Blade was telling her she was the one who could so easily deliver the pain. For some reason, she believed him.
“I have no intention of hurting him.”
Blade dipped his chin then gathered the supplies and left. Daneya found another blanket in the closet of the room and laid it over Saden. Afterwards, she pulled up a sitting chair to the side of the bed and got comfortable. She owed him for the mess of his injuries, though she knew that wasn’t why she was staying. He wasn’t the only one who cared more than he should.
Sometime later, she looked over at a sound from the doorway. Mckenzie was hovering there, ringing her hands nervously. Daneya held out a hand and smiled. “Hi, baby. I forgot about you in all the fuss, didn’t I? Sorry if I worried you.”
Mckenzie took her hand. “I don’t mind. Is Saden going to be okay?”
“I think so. He’s tough.” She glanced at her daughter who stood so bravely beside her. “You like him, don’t you?”
Mckenzie’s lips curved up. “He’s nice. Don’t you like him?”
“Yes, I do,” she answered honestly.
Her daughter nudged the chair and canted her head to the side. “You know, I wouldn’t mind if you really like him. He’d be good for you. Better than Vincent, I think.”
“Kennie!”
“What? It’s true. And I can tell he has a thing for you. He asks about you a lot.”
Despite her efforts to remain indifferent, she could feel heat rising in her cheeks. When curiosity got the best of her, she asked, “Better than Vincent, huh?”
Mckenzie nodded vigorously. “And cuter.”
They watched Saden quietly until Mckenzie stirred and edged toward the bed. “Mom?”
“Hmm?”
“I can help him.”
Daneya sighed and scrubbed her eyes. “I know you want to, baby, but I think we’ve done all we can for him.”
“No. I mean, I can heal him. With my power.”
She snapped her head up and searched her daughter’s timid expression. Everything in her froze and her mouth went dry. She’d known this day would come. When the other side of Kennie’s heritage would make itself known. Yet, she was unprepared for it.
Cherri had argued with her in the beginning about telling Mckenzie the truth of her parentage. That she was part Vampyre and would eventually grow into the power of her aethra. They had both been afraid it might cause Mckenzie to feel alienated among her peers. But Daneya had feared the consequences of ignorance more. Being as integrated as they were into the DCM, she hadn’t wanted to take the chance of Mckenzie accidently displaying her power in public.
Or, worse, hating her for withholding the truth. Mckenzie’s unconditional love and friendship were the only things she truly cherished in this world.
“How do you know you can heal?”
Mckenzie shrugged and spoke quietly. “I’ve tried it on a couple of animals. You remember the stray dog you let me take in last year?”
Baxter. Named by Mckenzie after one of her favorite children’s shows. The mangy thing had been run over and left to die. Daneya had wanted to take it to a vet at first but after a few days, it had made a full recovery. That had been Kennie?
“Do you hate me?”
Tears pricked her eyes at the slight tremble in her daughter’s voice. She wrapped Mckenzie in her arms and squeezed tightly. “I could never hate you. There’s nothing wrong with what you are, I’ve told you that. I hunt only the bad Vampyres who deserve to die. Okay?” When Mckenzie nodded, she added, “I’m so proud of you, but I think Saden will live without your help.”
Mckenzie squirmed and stepped back, her eyes pleading. “I can do this. Please, Mom. I’m not afraid.”
The maturity her daughter exuded awed her. When had her Kennie grown up so fast? She looked to Saden who was still sleeping in the bed. “It doesn’t hurt you?”
“Nope. Just makes me a little tired. Can I do it?”
Indecision warred within her. This was new territory for both of them. However, if she said no, Mckenzie might perceive it as a lack of faith in her abilities. “All right. Just this once, and promise me you won’t do it again on your own.”
Mckenzie beamed excitedly. “I promise. Where was he hurt?”
She pulled down the blanket to reveal Saden’s wounds underneath. She watched closely as Mckenzie placed her hands on Saden’s abdomen and shut her eyes, wrinkling her forehead in concentration. Nothing happened for several tense minutes. Then, without warning, Saden’s breath stuttered and his chest rose on a deep inhale. Upon letting it out, he relaxed farther into the mattress and his head lolled to the side.
Mckenzie looked up, her face worn but satisfied. “Better. See?”
Daneya gently lifted one of the bandages. The skin held together by stitches was healthy, pink and no longer seeping blood. As was the same for the wound on his shoulder. She filled her tone with as much confidence as she could muster. “That’s amazing. How are you feeling?”
“Fine. I’m gonna go take a nap. Love you.”
Daneya kissed her daughter then leaned back wearily in the chair. It wasn’t hard to admit she was scared. Of the future and what Mckenzie’s burgeoning power meant to their way of living. Staying on with the DCM see
med too risky and, at the same time, it was the only life she knew.
For a crazy moment, she wished Saden would wake up and give her the answers she desperately needed. Would he lend his strength, or ridicule her for keeping Mckenzie’s heritage a secret?
Somehow, she didn’t think it would be the latter.
After a while, her jumbled thoughts became a blur and she fell into a fitful sleep with Saden not far from her mind.
Chapter Ten
The great hall trembled with the roar of over two hundred men and women. Their cheers echoed along the walls, adding to the fervor of energy that rippled through the air. Roshon raised his glass with the others in a toast to the new alliance between his Thorien clan and that of the Mirkshaw.
It was a double victory for them. The Mirkshaw clan had political ties which had enabled them to put a halt to the deforestation of the land Roshon’s clan had been about to lose. In turn, the Thorien clan had an abundance of warriors willing to offer their protection in exchange for potential mates. This hard-won alliance would combine their lands as well as increase their numbers.
Roshon only hoped his leader, Brice, would uphold his agreement to share power with the leader of the Mirkshaw clan for at least the next few centuries. Often, the pride and strength required to maintain leadership of a clan allowed for only one Rakshasa to preside over his people. Two territorial alphas living and working so closely together clashed with the natural order of their kind. Which made their relationship tentative at best.
It was necessary, though, if they were to stay on top of the threat their enemies posed.
More and more Rakshasas were turning Vanaras. Shifters who forsake the afterlife upon their deaths and become the nightmares of legend. Trapped in their bodies without souls, Vanaras quickly go mad as the hatred that drove them to make such a decision eventually consumes them. Unfortunately, their inevitable mindlessness makes them easily influenced and controlled by those who know what they’re doing.