“Put it on your woman,” she said. “It will hopefully protect her and when the time is right, she’ll know when to use it.”
Rem frowned. “I need clearer instructions—”
His words were cut off as Lapis shoved the stone into his other hand. Blinding heat ripped through his body. Rem shut his eyes and did the only thing he could. He needed to wake up.
Chapter Thirteen
Rem remained unconscious and still. Jenna kept checking to make sure he was still breathing. Several of the hybrid men now stood in the room. Different men had come and go to relieve the guard over Rem and Jenna, but she barely saw their faces. All she could think about was what happened with Erebus and what that meant for their family. She’d been worried enough, but then Rem wouldn’t wake up, no matter how much she shook him. That could mean he’d succeeded and was in contact with Lapis, or could mean everything had failed.
What if Erebus had found him in there and finished him off? Even ignoring that possibility, that left Lapis. They hadn’t exactly had the best of luck with outsiders when it came to anything dealing with powers. She could only hope that Rem was right in going back to visit this woman.
Jenna ran a soothing hand over his brow. How long could they wait if he didn’t wake up himself? She gasped as a blinding light surrounded Rem. Someone pulled her away from behind. She struggled in the grasp until she heard Magnus’s voice.
“He’d want you standing back. He would never forgive himself if he hurt you or the baby.”
Rem’s body rose into the air. Jenna’s eyes widened, and more than one man in the room grunted in surprise. Their leader’s body now floated a good six feet above the couch. He’d shown off impressive abilities before, but flying wasn’t one of them.
“What’s happening?” she whispered, awe and worry mixed together in her voice.
None of the men in the room seemed to have an answer, or even dared to offer one. That would require them to understand what was going on. She held out hope that somebody knew some small nugget she didn’t. Magnus was the second-in-command. Rem might have told him something he was too afraid to share with her.
Jenna’s breathing picked up as Rem continued to float in the air. The wait was excruciating. Just as she was about to demand they let her check on him, he opened his eyes.
White blinding light shot out of them. She threw her arm up in front of her eyes and squinted. He opened his mouth and roared out the most inhuman noise she’d ever heard. It made the windows rattle, and she was forced to cover her hears or risk damaging them. The other hybrids surrounded her, concern on their faces.
Jenna’s heart thundered. Maybe Erebus had taken control of Rem. She didn’t want to even think it, but she couldn’t ignore any possibilities at this point.
Rem dropped back onto the couch, and the light vanished. Jenna had enough. She jerked away from Magnus and ran toward her panting mate, sweat-soaked on the couch.
“Oh, baby,” she whispered. “I worried that I’d lost you.”
“No way I’m going out that easily.” Rem reached up to cup her face. White flecks of light fell from the palm of his hand. Jenna didn’t mind, just as long as he was safe.
Rem turned and gave her a weak smile. “I think we have a way to kill him. One that doesn’t involve our son.”
Jenna leaned in, daring to hope. “What?”
Rem coughed a few times before looking at her again. “Me.”
Chapter Fourteen
Rem kissed Jenna hard. “This is the only way.”
He’d gone over his encounter with Lapis briefly, explaining what had transpired to Jenna, Magnus, and the others in the room, along with his plan to go after Erebus while Jenna was protected. His men stayed quiet, their faces pensive as Rem explained his new plan, to go looking for Erebus and take him down with the new power Lapis had given him. Based on what they’d seen, that might involve fighting through some monsters first. A lot of monsters.
Jenna wasn’t so passive. She frowned. “Well, I don’t like this way and what’s the point of giving me this if you’re going to lock me away?”
Rem stared down at the bangle on her wrist. The piece seemed to shine on her brighter than when Lapis was wearing it. He still couldn’t explain how he had it when he woke up or what it all meant, but that was par the course when it came to them. Shit happened, and they just tried to figure it out the best they could. At least he had the tools and potential power to do something about Erebus.
“Do you think she was telling the truth?” Jenna asked quietly.
Magnus frowned, but didn’t say anything. Rem knew he agreed with Jenna that the plan was risky, but they didn’t have a lot of options at this point that didn’t risk their son.
“Yes, I think she was telling the truth.”
The entire story was too detailed for a lie. Not only that, it’d made her position clear, along with her fault. A liar would have spent more time painting herself as purely altruistic. Instead, Lapis admitted to her bias. She might not be their friend, but she wasn’t their enemy, either. The whole annoying truth was that Erebus wasn’t their enemy.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to hurt them, and Rem had no problem putting down anyone who threatened his family, but it’d been like the hybrids when they were slaves of the Horatius Group. Erebus was another victim of circumstance. The wheel kept on turning, and people did what they had to in bad situations.
“Just stay here,” Rem said to Jenna before placing a hand on her stomach. “I need to know you’re both safe. That way I can fight without being distracted.”
He lifted his head and surveyed the room, his gaze landing on Nyx. If he and the other main force fell, she would be the last line of hybrid defense. Jenna sighed, still looking uneasy with the plan. It was Nyx who came to the rescue.
“Don’t worry,” she said, placing an arm around Jenna. “I’ll take good care of them both. You just go kick Erebus’s ass so we can get back to doing something fun.”
Rem nodded. He knew she wasn’t thrilled with missing the fight but also Jenna would feel safest being there with her. He felt better knowing there was at least one hybrid left who could help guard the Vestals and other non-fighters.
Magnus and the other hybrids present filed out of the room, the small space never intended to hold so many large men at the same time. No one looked worried or concerned, only determined.
Rem turned toward the door and stopped just short. He glanced back and found Jenna holding back tears. It killed him to worry her, but this was the only way he had of ending this and protecting their child. He didn’t care what Lapis had to say about his chances, and he wasn’t going to share that with his worried woman.
“I love you,” he said simply, and walked out the door.
He knew Jenna was safe. For the moment, anyway. If he wanted to keep his mate and his people that way, they would need to meet the army that now was laying siege to the compound. He’d barely been paying attention when it formed, but what little he saw made him wish he could go back to facing Glycons. Erebus might not be an actual god, but he’d brought along some monsters straight out of nightmarish mythology.
“How many are there?” Rem asked Sergius as they made their way up from the now locked housing level on the lower levels back toward a large meeting room near what used to serve as the offices of the highest-ranking officials in the Azilians.
“Too many,” the older hybrid said gravely. “I’ve never seen anything like them. Most of them aren’t even…” He shrugged. “They’re monsters.”
“Then we just have to destroy them. Simple as that.”
“Simple as that?” Sergius raised an eyebrow.
Rem nodded. “It’s not like we’re totally unprepared.”
He nodded as Marcus stepped into the room with two rifles with long straps. Marcus handed Rem one with a grim nod.
After slinging the rifle over his shoulder, Rem wasn’t sure if fate hadn’t been kind by having them attacked at the old Azili
an compound. They hadn’t finished transferring all the supplies, including the cult’s weapons. Hybrids might be strong, but taking out monsters called for some guns. He doubted it would be that simple, but no problem with trying the traditional method before relying on crazy ancestral magic.
“So what the fuck are these things?” Marcus scowled.
Several other men filtered in the room, Magnus being the last, all armed with a rifle or pistol. Magnus nodded to Rem when he stood in the door. Every hybrid was gathered, not to mention more than a few of the more able-bodied townsfolk who had been there for the weddings, men and women. Rem understood that they wanted to fight for their town, hell, their world, but this was one time the hybrids needed to take charge.
“I don’t know what they are,” Rem began. “Beings from the darkness Erebus was trapped in. I do know they aren’t going to go down easily. But I’ve been given something to help.”
“Monsters,” Marcus said with a grunt. “What helps with monsters that’s better than guns?”
Rem stepped forward toward Lucas who stood in front of him. He grabbed the younger hybrid by the arm and pulled up his sleeve.
Lucas raised a brow then winked. “If you wanted me naked, all you had to do was ask.”
“I don’t think this is going to come down to guns.” Rem stared him in the eye as he touched the hybrid’s tattoo.
It began to glow. Lucas gritted his teeth from the pain of it, but Rem knew it would be over soon. He let go and watched as the tattoos continued to glow a pale blue.
The gathered humans watched with rapt fascination.
Rem’s plan was all guesswork, and he doubted the transfer was anywhere near as strong as his own power, but it might just be enough.
“What the fuck was that?” Lucas panted.
“Lapis gave me the power to at least level the playing field,” Rem explained. “I’m transferring this to every hybrid. We need every one of us ready to go. Erebus is after Jenna, and I can’t protect her without you all, but there’s more than that. Tonight, we don’t just fight for our people but for the fate of the world.”
Lucas laughed, still doubled over. “No pressure, right?”
This time Rem laughed with him. “We fight like we always have, with everything we’ve got to protect what we have.” He turned toward the humans. “I’m not going to tell you not to defend your home and planet, but I have every reason to believe guns won’t work. I don’t have time to explain everything, and I’m not sure you’d believe me even if I did, but I have reason to believe we need this power to fight this monster and their source. I would rather you stayed behind as a last line of defense for everyone else around who can’t fight.”
The humans frowned and traded irritated looks before nodding.
“In exchange,” Rem continued, “I promise you that we’ll fight to the last man to make sure we win. For now, I need the hybrids to line up.”
The townsfolk offered final nods before heading toward the door.
“Good luck,” one man said.
The hybrids grunted and formed a line, each taking the brand of the Atlanteans and hopefully the ability to take out the beasts outside. There were so many things they still didn’t know, but there was no choice left.
“Isn’t this draining you?” Magnus said when he finally made his way over.
Rem could feel the sweat on his brow and knew his second-in-command was right, but there wasn’t a choice. The more he did it, the more convinced he became it was the key to winning.
“I’m tough,” he said quietly, and moved on to the next man.
There were only two more hybrids to go. Magnus stepped in front of Rem, reluctance on his face.
“You should save your strength,” Magnus insisted.
Rem frowned and reached out to grab the hybrid faster than had been expected. “You are my strength. Each of you are.”
With that, he pressed his hand against the tattoo. Magnus gritted his teeth as the process continued, the light flaring and leaving the tattoo glowing.
Rem pulled away. He was drained. Magnus was right. It was clear being the vessel of that much power was emptying him. He went over and poured himself a glass of water. He just had to focus. There had been times he’d pushed through worse.
“So what’s the plan?” Magnus asked.
And then it came to Rem. A chance for him to regain some of his strength while still getting the upper-hand. It might not have worked if they were trying to coordinate with the townspeople, but an all hybrid force had greater mobility. He turned to Sergius and Lucas.
“Do you remember how you got in through the vents? Think you can do it again?”
Chapter Fifteen
Being crammed inside the Azilian building with all the non-hybrid guests while her man might be marching to his death didn’t do wonders for Jenna’s mood. Some men and women stood near doors, guns in hand or slung over their shoulders, ready to provide a last line of defense along with Nyx. Most people chatted quietly, far less fear on their faces than Jenna would have expected given the situation. Perhaps they’d already become used to dangerous things happening when hybrids were around.
Jenna gritted her teeth as a dull ache spread across her stomach. It was Braxton Hicks. It had to be because there was no way in hell she was having her baby during the middle of a war in a fucking cult bunker against some crazy ancient enemy. She always knew things might not turn out the way she planned, but this was ridiculous.
“Everything okay?”
Jenna turned to find Dr. Myers’ kindly face. She tried to think about how he felt, how any of the others felt. Accepting the hybrids wasn’t the same thing as being ready for what was going on. The Glycons who attacked the town before were at least something within the realm of understanding, not the bizarre assortment of monsters now threatening them.
“Just some Braxton Hicks.” Jenna sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Same as before. It’s nothing big, just too much excitement and not enough sleep.”
She stopped herself from asking if he had patients deliver under similar circumstances. Of course he hadn’t. Sometimes she forgot how the unusual had become routine since she had first met the hybrids.
A small frown briefly crossed the doctor’s face before he nodded and patted her shoulder. “Just let me know if they start coming regular.”
His soothing bedside manner was welcome. Rachel had been her friend, but soothing wasn’t the way anyone would choose to describe the woman. It was nice to have one normal bastion of sanity in the insanity of the night.
Jenna smiled despite her pain. She kept telling herself she was having Braxton Hicks contractions, but she also knew what she was feeling. If she didn’t voice it, it wouldn’t be real. That’s what she clung to as part of her desperate hope. Her smiles could help hide the fact she was certain her contractions were far more regular than she wanted.
The doctor turned and made his way over to Nyx. He was far enough and speaking quietly enough that Jenna couldn’t make it out other than to see they were talking and both far more animated than she would have liked.
Jenna didn’t need hybrid hearing to understand. She could tell by the vague panic on Nyx’s face and the creased forehead and wearied eyes of the doctor what they were saying. They knew what she didn’t want to admit. More than that, they were talking about her and had absolutely no idea what to do.
Reality was charging her straight on in the form of an overeager baby. She hoped that didn’t mean anything for his future sleeping habits.
Jenna looked at her stomach. It was time to teach the boy who was in charge.”
“Now you listen to me. You better stay put if you know what’s good for you. This isn’t a good time.”
A small kick landed on her side. She scowled.
“Figures you’d be like your father and not listen,” Jenna mumbled, unsurprised.
She resisted laughing, thinking about all the women with their careful birthing plans. She’d known a
woman who had an entire soothing music playlist made up for each stage in delivery. The woman had picked the exact birthing center without the most minor consideration that she might not get to execute her exact plan. Jenna, in contrast, was relearning the old military idea that no battle plan survived unscathed once put into motion.
A soft breeze swept through the room. Jenna frowned and turned, trying to figure out just where it was coming from. All the doorways were closed, and there was no clear direction where it had come from.
She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath, trying to keep her already thumping heart under control. Maybe it was just the air kicking on. With all these bodies in one place it made sense.
“What the—” Nyx began.
Jenna turned to see one of the women lunge at Nyx, a Vestal from the Azilians that she didn’t know that well. The woman screamed and clawed at the hybrid. Nyx backed away, uncertain. It’d be one thing if the woman had been anything else but a Vestal.
Two of the men from town helped pull her off and push her to the ground, holding her arms and pinning her. The Vestal took quick, ragged breaths, hissing and struggling to rise again.
Murmurs rippled through the room. People exchanged panicked looks. Jenna swallowed. What was going on?
“We need to find somewhere to put her,” Nyx shouted, her brow furrowed in concern.
Jenna pointed to the room across the hall. There were beds in there, and it could be locked from the outside.
“I think that’s the best option.”
Uncle Dave advanced out of the crowd. “I saw some cords in a supply closet earlier when we were looking for weapons. We can use them to tie her up.”
Nyx nodded as they moved the poor woman into the other room, and Uncle Dave headed around the corner. The Vestal continued to struggle, though not as strongly as before. Uncle Dave returned with the cords and headed into the room, where the men and Nyx pushed the woman onto a bed. The doctor headed inside, shaking his head with concern.
Rem: #12 (Luna Lodge: Hunters of Atlas) Page 8
