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  I blinked through the tears and looked down to the tiny black bundle. Scales shimmered under the glow. I’d protect her with my life, and these Vampires would as well. My girl nestled her head against my breast, eyes closed, wings drawn up like a shield, and a mother’s rage swelled inside me, burning away everything else.

  The snap of a branch echoed, wrenching my gaze higher. The Vampires were a flash of pale light as they moved. One blurred, moving to the other side and the wolf stumbled. At first, I didn’t understand, until it happened again.

  The other shot across to the other side of the beast—not disappearing, but moving at lightning speed and the wolf yelped. Blood darkened matted fur. One hind leg buckled as the wolf spun, and the Vampire moved again, slicing the wolf’s rear.

  The gnash of teeth echoed loud and sharp. I timed the blows. The shifter moved, as did the Vampire, swinging to catch the undead as he struck. He hit the Vampire with the hard brunt of his head, slamming the undead into a tree.

  The Vampire rolled, and then slowly climbed to his feet, taking the time to brush remnants of the forest floor from his shirt. There was something so very human about the response. It reminded me of George Powell, perfectly poised in his actions while the rest of us always felt a little out of step.

  I clenched my teeth, waiting for the rush but there was a stillness as the Vampire stared at the animal. Energy crackled, sending a charge along my skin. For a second there was nothing but the heavy thud of my pulse, until a sharp whimper tore through the air.

  The Vamp never moved only held that controlled gaze. Movement came from the right as his kin joined in. The wolf turned and snapped the air. A howl cracked through the night sky, and then another.

  The wolf stopped, its ears twitched as its chest expanded, drawing it the winter air.

  “There are more coming,” Gabriel murmured. “Wolves…and more.”

  The rush of the commander’s breath filled my ears. He dropped his head, his shoulders sagged, and then he spoke. “And demons.”

  I stared at the perfect outline of his face as he glanced at me. “Prepare yourself, Doctor. This fight is about to get very real.”

  His shoulders stretched as he moved. Steel grated, sliding along a blade as he straightened and dropped his arm by his side. The handle glinted under the moon’s silver rays. But it was the edge that held me, drawing me along the blood red steel as it ran straight and tapered at the end.

  The Vampire pivoted and gripped the handle with both fists. A sharp whimper came from outside, followed with a yelp that bled to silence. The squelch of tearing flesh came after. I couldn’t tear my gaze from the sword at my protector’s side…the end was coming.

  I dropped my head and brushed her skin with the rasp of my lips. “It’s going to be okay. I love you.”

  I kissed cool scales. I kissed soft fur. I murmured words that were nothing more than a lie and between the heartbeats where death waited, I whispered the words I’d waited to say. “I’m coming home to you, Meg. Get ready little sister, I’m coming home.”

  Tears slipped down my cheek, but they were not of sadness, but of joy. This was my penance. Relief swept through me as the howls of wolves mingled in the night.

  It wasn’t Meg’s face that haunted me. It was the sweet innocent face of the shifter from the compound, and God knows I deserved it.

  Red steel shone as Gabriel readied his stance. I could hear them now, running through the forest like a stampede. My knees shook as I dropped to my feet. My words no more than whispered breaths. “Stay quiet now, not even a sound. I won’t let anyone hurt you…” A lump flared thick and hard. I forced it down, and tried again. “I won’t let anyone take you.”

  I probed for the blankets, finding the hollow, and eased them to the ground. The tip of a wing scraped my arm; the sting was swift and cruel. I swallowed the pain, nestled my boy against his sister, and pulled the cover high.

  My hands trembled as I shoved against the floor and rose. Even in the dark I felt them calling me, desperate for me, and a tiny mewl slipped out from under the cover.

  My hands shook, fear held me down as the floorboards vibrated with the pounding of paws. Darkness closed in, stealing everything but the tiny dust-choked room.

  The first wave hit the cabin with a deafening crunch. The sick sound of ravenous snarls circled the cabin. They knocked against the walls, testing the wood, and pressed their noses to the cracks. I flinched at the sudden draw of breath.

  The Vampires fought back to back, landing lightning fast blows where they could, but they were soon outnumbered. White fangs glinted and clear eyes shone as wolves and panthers stalked closer, moving in on all sides.

  There was no way out now, not for them or for me. Agony flared as one Vampire went down. Still he shoved against the ground and rose. Another blow came before he barely had a chance to steady his weight. He stumbled backwards, hit a tree, and slid to the ground.

  I closed my eyes as the savage sounds descended, and now there were only three warriors left. One lone Vampire against the feral horde never stood a chance. He bared his teeth and let loose a battle cry that rocked the night. I could hear the torment and the rage, but I couldn’t look…the low creak of a floorboard wrenched open my eyes. The shattered wall was gone, swallowed by a black blur.

  Gabriel stiffened. The sword at his side trembled. He relaxed his grip and re-tightened. “It was my pleasure, Doctor Leigh.”

  Those words consumed me as the darkness grew to consume the room. It was an endless nothing hidden under a hood. Its black cloak brushed the floor as it took a step closer.

  This thing raised its hand—white skeletal bones consumed my view. It wasn’t real, none of this was. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them. The pointed finger found its mark in the middle of Gabriel’s head.

  The warrior stiffened. A wordless cry of pain slipped free. His knees were shaking. This was it…this was it—until he slid a foot backwards, swung his sword up behind him and then charged.

  His steps mapped my panicked pulse as he crossed the room and cut the air with the blood-steel sword. There was no clash of blows, only a guttural howl of horror from this infernal beast.

  Gabriel moved once more, raising his weapon high to gut the beast in front of him. The slash came from nowhere. Gabriel hit the floor. The heavy thud of steel rocked the wood.

  There were no demands, no last minute words of surrender—just blow after bloody blow. Gabriel dropped his shoulder and charged, hitting the monster head on, and that was when the word came to me…this thing he called by name, and it filled me now…this…demon.

  Hell had come to claim those in this room. My head shook, tiny tremors became savage. “No you fucking don’t…no you fucking don’t!”

  The demon yanked its head upwards with the sound. I dragged my fist into the air. My body shook, rage spilled from every cell and fired with every sense. I wanted to kill in that minute. I wanted to consume every piece of its existence.

  The black beast swung, and gripped Gabriel by the neck. The Vampire’s feet left the floor and swung like a pendulum in the air.

  I ground my jaw, ready for the creature to near. “I’m going to kill you. I’m going to kill you dead.”

  The hood slipped, revealing bottomless eyes. I could still kill it. I could still make it pay. I stepped closer as long bony fingers wrapped around Gabriel’s neck. I shoved my heels into the floor and tensed my thighs.

  Links snapped taut as I lunged. Steel cut, gouging deeper. Agony flared somewhere in the back of my mind and for a second it felt like I was flying, until I hit the thing head on.

  My fingers sank into a bitter cold as we collided. I speared deeper, gripped what I could and yanked my hands free. A banshee scream tore through the room and for a second I didn’t recognize the sound until the burn spread through my chest.

  Gabriel swung his sword, slipping the blade between ribs and driving the steel deep. The demon stiffened. Whatever he was doing, it was workin
g.

  “Again!” I screamed and clawed like a feral cat in full fight.

  The demon dropped his head backwards and let out a shriek, before lunging forwards, and driving us into the wall. My head hit the wooden boards, sparks danced through my eyes. My hold slipped and dragged my fingers free. There was a pop, and then a low moan.

  Gabriel was crushed between us. He drove his clenched fist upward, the blow aimed for the demon’s jaw. A crack tore free before the beast stumbled. I sucked in a breath. We were winning…we were winning.

  A silver blur hit Gabriel from behind. He stumbled, lifted his head, wide eyes found mine. There was a narrowing of his brow, as though something lost was finally found. His shirt darkened, spreading out from his spine. Why wasn’t he healing like the others? He should be healing. He should be…

  A blow caught me in the side. The crack followed, stealing my air. I spun as the blow came again, low and hard, silver eyes gleamed as it drove into my belly. My feet swept out from under me. My face hit the floor. My body bounced, as they swarmed.

  Pain lashed along my legs. My breaths were short, sharp, driving unseen talons into my chest. Fight a voice screamed inside my head….fight or die. I swung a feeble blow, connecting with soft fur.

  Thorn’s tiny cry stilled me. My pulse pounded in my ears, driving panic through my veins. “No.” The word was a whisper as I dragged my foot along the ground and shoved my heel into the floor, pushing me closer.

  “No.”

  They couldn’t have her…couldn’t touch her. The demon gripped the edge of the cover and pulled the blanket across. Black melted into white. They were my babies. They were… “Mine!”

  The heartless monster turned its head, and damnation stared at me.

  “No!” I drove closer as it reached between the folds. “No!”

  Fire lashed my chest. The attack came again, punching my back. Razored teeth sank into my thigh, jerking me away with a violent shake. Agony lashed like wildfire as the wolf clenched its jaw.

  The room blurred with one savage shake of its head. I reached for them, desperate as the wolf yanked me across the room and let go. The shackle bit deep as the chain snapped taut. I hit the floor and stilled. Shallow breaths dragged dust and grit into my mouth. I hadn’t the strength to move.

  All I could do was watch.

  Little black wings flapped wildly in the air.

  Her tail whipped as a shrill screech took flight.

  Cold flared against my skin, a touch sought for a hold and then yanked. My belly scraped the floor. A shudder raced as cold wrapped its arms around me and gripped tight. Something heavy pressed against me, pushing me against the floor.

  The demon’s cowl shifted as it turned its head, but its words were not for me. “Kill them all.”

  Heavy paws thudded, sending vibrations into my cheek. I dragged in a tiny breath as the Demon turned, taking my Thorn with him.

  No…no…no. Please God, no. Don’t take them…don’t…

  Air filled my ears with a whoosh. The crunch of bone was sickening, but I felt no pain…I felt nothing…

  The hard thrust came once more. Agony tore through my head as I hit the floor, but there was nothing but that cold, heavy feeling against my back.

  Something smacked the floor next to me. Gabriel’s skin shone pale in the light. Red black to black under the glow as it trickled from underneath his cuff.

  “Hold on,” he whispered against my ear. “Hold on, Doctor.”

  The demon straightened with my Thorn in his arms. My Thorn…mine…

  Shadows closed in as the demon slipped away, and the screams of my baby followed. Gabriel held on, protecting me with his own body and took blow after punishing blow, until there was only silence left…

  Silence that had no face…silence that whispered no name.

  Silence that gave me no peace.

  My Thorn was gone…

  7

  Michael

  I need someone…We know where the babies are.

  Alpha’s words rang in my ears as I lengthened my stride, and then stopped outside Xael’s door. The Saint snarled, pale lips curled, revealing a row of razored teeth as I raised my knuckles to the wood.

  I stared at my fingers. Bloodlust didn’t come easy, not for these hands—but sometimes there was honor in revenge.

  No one hurt my family and lived…

  No one.

  She’ll need you. Don’t leave her behind.

  The seer’s words filled me. But I had to do this on my own. I wrenched my gaze high and drew my fist from the door. I had to do this for me.

  If I left, Xael would be alone—I scanned the hall and the quiet corners—and if she left, then so would the others.

  We needed a Guardian here. One to protect. One to be here if…the Echo pack returns.

  And there was no one more deadly than my sister. She’d fight. She’d save. She’d raze this place to the ground if she had to—she’d do it all and smile…

  Odessa hadn’t exactly said Xael’s name, nor did she say the word attack.

  We’d put our trust in the seer before, now it was my turn.

  Maybe this wasn’t about Xael at all—maybe, it was something else?

  Then hurry.

  The Saint growled, filling my head with thunder.

  My pulse sped, and my mind raced. I looked toward Marcus’s study at the end of the hall and the damn room urged me forward. Soft snores slipped between the cracks and under closed doors as my steps fell in line.

  Alpha and X were already headed this way. If I knew the Marine at all, he’d drive the damn car to the ground to get here. I glanced at the phone in my hand.

  Don’t you care that the babies are gone? My sister’s cruel words cut deep. To them I was cold, unfeeling, and any other day I’d sink into the shadows and let them believe what they wanted to believe.

  But not today.

  Today the Saint rode too close to the edge.

  Today they could judge all they wanted.

  Immortal or not, one day we were all going to die…today I intended to deserve it.

  I twisted the handle, and pushed. Darkness clung to the corners of the room. The tiny desk jutted out from the wall inside the doorway, barely leaving enough room to pass. Books were stacked in the corners, and papers littered the floor. There were hundreds of years of history here, all the wars, the burdens…everything right up until…we went to ground and forgot the world existed.

  Cold seeped into my veins as I flicked on the light and stepped inside—today the dead wouldn’t rise.

  This day was for the living—this day I’d find my kin. This day I’d bring Heaven to its knees and raise Hell from the ground.

  Today these hands wanted to get bloody.

  And my family would finally understand me once and for all.

  The sultry male scent permeated the air. This room reeked of Marcus; it was almost as though he was here with his dark eyes and quick temper.

  I shoved the swivel chair and it turned in a circle. He was everywhere in this room. Bills and papers covered the desk. I sank on the seat and skimmed the mess.

  Scraps of paper lined the wall in neat rows. I peered closer, Gunny’s number cut across the note above Senator Artemas Roth. Names and information filled the space—dates, data—most I knew nothing about.

  I yanked open the drawer and stared at the mess. Letters and papers crammed the corners. I needed a pen and paper, and that was all. An envelope stood out from the rest, fine and brittle, yellowed at the edges, stained with time. I leaned closer and plucked the corner free.

  Bloodletter

  The word not a request—but a command. Open me…

  I traced the loops and swirls—the perfect scrawl was too beautiful for the world today—and turned the letter over. I’d not seen a seal for hundreds of years, and never one like this.

  The red wax bulged at the edges, pressed with an even hand, perfect the entire way around. Dust and grit stuck out from the rim, and into t
he ridges, giving me little to go on.

  I lifted the seal closer…a crown, with swords…something personal…something private. The image nagged at me. The Saint drew in a breath, drawing me away from the paper in my hands.

  Fragments of my life seemed to slip into place; others seemed to dangle on a string…an ancient yellowed string. I dropped the letter back to the mess and glanced to the open door.

  But the command spoke of a higher authority addressing not my brother, the man, but the Guardian alone, and there was something unsettling about that.

  I plucked the letter from the fray and slid my thumb under the seal. The paper was stuck, fine edges crumbled under my thick fingers, but the pages held together as I splayed them wide.

  20th October 1515

  This is a call to war...desperately need your help...dark mage threatens our world…young women…mostly wolves…taken…and now she has my daughter. I need help…please…I beg you…

  Awaiting your response.

  Snatches of sentences stuck, and the rest fell away.

  This wasn’t a letter of acquaintance. This was a call to arms.

  Dark mage…threatens our world. I swallowed hard. The truth stuck in my throat like a scream.

  There was no name. Awaiting your response… Who ends a damn letter like that?

  Someone you knew, hissed my Dragon, pulling me away from the blur of words. Sparks ignited in his green eyes. Someone who needed no name.

  Violent images took flight, and the shadows of Hell came alive. I relived that recording, every sickening sound of it.

  Zadoc had been kept there, beaten, tortured…infected. Any one of those would break a man—but not my brother.

  He came back to us, shattered, but he came back. Only he wasn’t alone. Joslyn was an enigma. A human woman who somehow gave birth to a miracle—a Dragon not born of the stars and the Heavens, like us, but of flesh and blood with a soul of her own.

  A Dragon that gave us all hope.

  And for that sweet moment I thought we were done with the past…until five days ago—I glanced at the letter in my hand—but maybe we never really left it behind. Maybe we shoved the past into a deep, dark corner intending it never to see the light of day.