Against All Odds (Kaliss Book 3)

by Cree Storm

  “Not yet. I would have never given Heskel this much credit, but the asshole surprised even me. He had someone put in a few firewalls since the last time I was digging around in here,” Strife replied as his fingers danced over the keyboard.

  “So he’s made it impossible for us to hack. Damn it,” Orion cursed as he ran his hands over his head.

  Strife chuckled, then said with confidence, “I didn’t say that. I just said he added some firewalls. It will slow me down a bit, but it won’t stop me. Just give me a little more time and I’ll get in.”

  “Take whatever time you need,” Orion said, then turned toward Sabien who was sitting behind Heskel’s desk looking through some files. “Have you found anything?”

  “There’s an order here for a shipment of guns, which I don’t understand seeing as we’re preternatural entities. Then there’s a file here for an order of a hundred cases of something called Kaleidotrip and each case has over five hundred units in it,” Sabien replied.

  “Kaleidotrip? What the hell is that?” Nelson asked, as he moved closer to peer over Sabien’s shoulder.

  “I have no idea, but I’ll keep looking,” Sabien mumbled then began rifling through Heskel’s desk drawers.

  “I can put a tag on the computer to send me a notification if that word is mentioned anywhere, then it will lead me right to that file,” Strife offered.

  “That’s great. Thanks, Strife,” Orion said.

  “No problem.” Strife continued to stare at the computer screen as his fingers began to move faster.

  “I need to go check on Jael and see how he’s doing with the questioning and when he wants Nelson to join him. I’ll be back in a little while,” Orion announced giving a light kiss to Nelson, then turned to leave.

  Just as he took a step, Sabien cursed in surprise and Orion spun back around to find Helio sitting on the edge of the desk.

  “Helio,” Nelson exclaimed in excitement and hugged his friend.

  “So, did I miss anything?” Helio asked sweetly.

  “Yes. So how did everything go back at home?” Orion asked as he walked closer to the desk.

  “It was all perfect and was going according to plan when I left. Once they were all inside the conference room, Briar and I sealed them in with plenty of wards. There is no way any of them are getting out, except for Ezra if he uses the spell we taught him. So, what can I do here?”

  “Sabien was just telling us about a shipment of something called Kaleidotrip. Have you ever hear… Helio? Helio, what is it?” Nelson asked anxiously as he put a hand on Helio’s shoulder and gave him a gentle shake.

  Orion stepped closer, his gaze locked on the little butterfly dragon. “You’ve heard of this before, haven’t you? What is it, little one?”

  Helio’s eyes filled with moisture and his bottom lip quivered. He looked at Orion. Orion could see fear in his pretty pink eyes. “That’s what that evil woman was making,” he whispered, his voice filled with emotion.

  “What women? What was she making?” Nelson asked as he took Helio’s hands.

  “Lucinda, the dragon lady. And I don’t mean that in the term of her being evil, although she was, but I call her that because that’s what she was. A dragon.”

  “That’s the one that held you and Briar captive, right? The one who had you when Ezra found you? I remember being told she was running a blood brothel,” Orion inquired.

  “A blood brothel? Really?” Sabien asked, his eyes going wide.

  Helio nodded, softly saying, “Yes, that’s her. She was trying to find everything she needed to make that… that… stuff you just mentioned. That’s one of the reasons she wanted me and Briar, for our blood, so she could make that evil stuff.”

  “What is it sweetie?” Nelson coaxed Helio gently.

  “Kaleidotrip is what she called it. You know how a kaleidoscope makes you see things?” Helio asked.

  “Yes. It’s all broken up and moves around,” Nelson replied.

  “Yes and the drug would make you see things like that, all psychedelic, like hallucinations.”

  “And this woman, this dragon, was making this shit? Why?” Sabien asked.

  “If a vampire drinks the blood of a butterfly dragon, it will make them hallucinate, except for their mate I am told. Rogue vampires crave it for that high. When a rogue comes down from the effects, it makes them very hungry and they go into a blood lust. If a shifter drinks our blood it can cloak them and make them invisible. Other paranormals all have some kind of effect from our blood.” Helio answered, as he licked his lips and looked Sabien over a few times.

  “So what was her end game with this concoction?” Nelson asked in horror.

  “I think the better question is, why was Heskel ordering that much of it?” Orion asked.

  CHAPTER 4

  “May I see that?” Helio asked as he indicated to the paper Sabien was holding.

  “Of course,” Sabien answered, and handed the paper over to the gorgeous creature.

  He had never seen anyone as stunningly beautiful as the petite man who had just popped into the room. Originally, he was ready to strike and defend at the sudden appearance, but when Nelson’s eyes lit up upon seeing the sprite and Orion smiled, Sabien knew whoever this was, he was a friend. Then, when Nelson called him Helio, Sabien remembered them talking about a butterfly dragon joining them. Which shocked the shit out of him. All his life he had heard of the myth of the butterfly dragon, but he always thought it was just that, a myth. But then, to come to find out they were real, and the Re had two of them within his coven that he was protecting, was a trip.

  Now here one sat, only a few inches from him, and Sabien was enthralled by his elegance and beauty. And damn, if the little guy wasn’t giving him a hard on.

  A picture of Jael’s face flashed before Sabien’s eyes and guilt washed over him. He had a mate, and even though they hadn’t done anything about it, not even discussed it, he should still be showing the man more consideration and respect then to be ogling another. But shit, it was so damn hard with the man who sat beside him.

  Helio was so sexy and sensual, with feminine features, but he could tell from the Adam’s Apple and strong jaw that this creature was all man. The most beautiful and captivating man he had ever laid eyes on, but man all the same. He had the most smooth and creamy white, flawless skin, and long Magenta hair that went down to his knees, and had the most stunning deep, dark, pink eyes that Sabien just wanted to look into all day. Then there was his voice. When Helio spoke, it was as if sunshine and heaven could actually talk, and it filled Sabien with happiness. What the fuck?

  “I’m not sure what he is after with all of this, but there is enough here to make an army go crazy. Each unit is one dose,” Helio said, bringing Sabien out of his thoughts.

  “That’s fifty thousand doses. What the fuck is he doing?” Orion asked angrily.

  “I think I may have found something on that,” Strife announced, and they all turned to look at him.

  “Not what he’s using it for, but my tag just notified me of a file, and when I brought it up it looks like a recipe.”

  “A recipe for this crap?” Orion asked.

  “Yup.”

  “What’s in it?” Helio asked in a small, nervous voice, and Sabien had the desire to pull the little sprite into his arms and make him feel better.

  “Um… butterfly dragon blood, blood of something called a Harkey, and then the blood of a―” Strife started but Helio cut him off.

  “Lemox,” Helio said, in a whisper that was filled with terror.

  “Yes, Lemox. I don’t know what that is though,” Strife replied.

  Helio jumped to his feet, his eyes wide, scared. “I need to go home.”

  “What is it, Helio? Is there something we should be worried about back at the coven? Are they in danger?” Orion asked frantically.

  Helio shook his head. “No, not that home, my real home. I need to go back to Saturnalia. Or I need to send Briar. Either way, one of us needs
to go.”

  “That’s the garden you and Briar told me and Jewel about, right?” Nelson asked.

  “Yes, and my friends should be there safe and sound. They should not be here. But if that thing says… oh no, what if they’ve been found?” Helio began to panic and tears rolled down his cheeks.

  Sabien felt a need to comfort the sexy creature and found himself getting closer, just to offer support.

  “Your friends? What does that mean, Helio?” Nelson asked calmly as he came to stand in front of the butterfly dragon, his eyes filled with concern.

  Helio stared straight ahead and it looked like he had zoned out and was thinking of something else. Then he softly replied, “Harkeys and Lemoxes are others like me and you, Nelson. Made by Kali. Special, magical creatures, but none of them should be here. They are never supposed to leave Saturnalia.”

  “Shit,” Orion hissed. “I’m getting a very bad feeling about this.”

  “And you should,” a strange voice suddenly spoke.

  Everyone glanced around the room, but no one could be seen. There was still just Helio, Nelson, Orion, Strife, and himself, along with the two guards who still stood at the door looking in, listening to their conversation.

  “Who’s there?” Orion asked in a very deadly voice that had even Sabien worried.

  Suddenly a small man of about five foot five and a little pudgy—maybe a hundred and forty pounds—with short chestnut brown hair that was longer on the top, which flopped down over his hazel eyes, hiding one of them, appeared. He looked to Helio and gave him a sad smile. “Check home. Keep your friends close.” And with that, the little guy just disappeared again.

  “What the hell was that?” one of the guards at the door asked as he looked around.

  “What and who?” Nelson asked, and looked to Helio.

  Helio dropped down into the chair and sighed as fresh tears filled his eyes. “I don’t know, but what he said, ‘Check home’, I need to go. Ouch!” Helio said, then pulled his hand back and stuffed his finger in his mouth, sucking on the appendage.

  He pulled it free and looked at the finger. “Paper cut. That hurt.”

  Sabien’s fangs began to itch and he could feel his eyes switching to that of his vampire. The coppery scent of blood called to him, and before he even realized what he was doing, Sabien reached out and snatched the cutie’s hand, then shoved the finger into his own mouth and sucked.

  “No! You must not do that. I told you my blood is very bad for a vampire,” Helio insisted as he tried to pull his hand from the man.

  Holy shit! The taste of this blood was beyond ambrosia. Hell, ambrosia had nothing on this. Sabien closed his eyes as he drew in the succulent blood, loving the feel of it as it spread out across his tongue. Now he knew what heaven must be like. His head began to spin, and he was consumed with the need to keep drinking and never stop. His euphoric state of mind must have been why he hadn’t heard his name being called right away, but he suddenly heard both Nelson and Orion screaming his name frantically.

  Sabien opened his eyes and his gaze locked on pretty pink eyes rimmed with long thick lashes looking back at him and Sabien knew. He pulled off, releasing the finger from his mouth, but still held the hand it was attached to. “Mate,” he whispered, his voice coming out awestruck.

  “Oh fucking hell!” Nelson and Orion said in unison.

  “Really?” Strife said at the same time.

  “M-m-mate?” Helio squeaked, as his eyes became the size of saucers and the hand that held the paper dropped into his lap.

  “I couldn’t scent you, but your blood, it tells me so,” Sabien declared.

  Helio’s eyes opened even wider as he stared at Sabien. “You’re a vampire, you can’t drink my blood,” Helio said in a panic as he yanked his hand away.

  “Besides feeling horny I don’t feel any differently. I’m supposed to have hallucinations, right?”

  “But Helio, you did say that your blood didn’t effect mates the same way,” Nelson said, reminding them of what Helio had only just said a few minutes ago.

  “I know, that’s what I have heard but I wasn’t sure. I…” Helio stopped speaking as his head dropped and his gaze focused on something on the paper still in his hand.

  “What is it? Are there delayed reactions? Am I going to die?” Sabien asked, as he placed a hand on Helio’s knee. A bolt of electricity rushed through him, and suddenly Sabien’s cock was as hard as granite and he just wanted to pull the sexy sprite into his arms and kiss him.

  Sabien looked down to where he was touching Helio and his gaze landed on the page that Helio stared at. There was a red drop of blood now on the paper that before had none. Sabien quickly looked at Helio’s finger, but the paper cut was healed. Where was the blood coming from? He thought. As the question came to mind, another drop hit the page, surprising him.

  Sabien and Helio raised their heads and looked at one another. Sabien could see the confusion in his mate’s eyes as he was sure was in his own. After a moment they both raised their heads higher and looked up.

  There was a wet, brownish ring in the pressed fiber ceiling tile and it looked like it was sagging. Where the tile sat in the metal groove holding it in place, hovered another drop of blood. Sabien watched it as it dripped down and landed on the paper with the other two.

  “What the hell is up there?” Nelson asked, his voice laced with fear.

  Orion held out his hand to his mate. “Nelson, Helio, Strife, come, exit the room. Theron, stay with them, Jasper, come in here,” Orion ordered, and everyone quickly did as he asked.

  Once Jasper was in and standing next to the desk, Orion climbed upon it and raised his hands toward the tile. He pushed up on the one beside it with both hands, raising the tile slightly, then he peered inside. “Shit.”

  “What is it?” Sabien asked, but as the words fell from his lips, there was a cracking sound, then the ceiling caved in, causing Orion to tuck and roll. Jasper jumped out of the way as did Sabien, but it wasn’t far enough, and they were both hit by fallen tiles.

  A loud thud came with it and when he turned to look back at the desk, there lay the body of Remus McGovern, the coven Regal.

  Orion straightened as he brushed off his clothes and coughed. His gaze fell on the body and his brows rose. “Isn’t that the slimy little Regal?”

  “One and the same,” Sabien replied.

  “But I thought we locked them up in the dungeons?” Jasper said in confusion.

  “That’s exactly what I thought. Theron, get Jael, now,” Orion ordered.

  CHAPTER 5

  Jael rushed to the dungeons, frantically looking for his warriors he had left guarding the prisoners. Stopping in his tracks, Jael was shocked to see his men were standing side by side looking straight ahead. “Keir, what the hell is going on?”

  Keir stepped forward with his head high, “Sir, I don’t know. We never left our posts. No one came in or out, sir, but…” sighing heavily, Keir replied, “McGovern got away.”

  Jael knew that Remus was dead, but he knew his men. He trusted his warriors to do as they were ordered, and Keir, Draven, and Anton were three of his best warriors. “Stay where you are, and I will be out to talk with you shortly.”

  Keir stepped back in line with the others. “Sir. Yes, sir.”

  Jael made his way to McGovern’s cell. The scent of his mate hit him before he reached the door causing his cock to take notice. Fuck! This mating pull is getting harder and harder to control. The need to grab Sabien and take him to a private location, then fuck him into submission and claim the man as his own, rode Jael hard. What Jael had not expected was to walk in to see Sabien standing and talking with Orion with his arm around another.

  A low growl escaped Jael’s throat before he was able to control himself.

  Orion turned quickly as did Nelson and Sabien, and to Jael’s shock, Helio, the dragon butterfly, too. What the fuck is my mate doing playing nicey nice with Helio?

  Feeling his rage escalate from
the site, suddenly realization hit him and as quickly as the anger rose, it fled and was soon replaced with a deep despair. His mate ignoring the very fact they were mates made breathing next to impossible. Pain like Jael had never felt before encompassed his body, heart, and soul. Sabien had spoken earlier and given Jael hope that Sabien wanted to explore their discovery of who they were to each other when time permitted… but… but, if he could be so open to a relationship with someone other than his actual mate, then it was clearly Jael Sabien didn’t want. It was the only answer as to what Jael was seeing at this moment.

  “Jael, what is it?” Orion asked in concern.

  Unable to continue to look at the two men cuddled closely together, Jael shook his head, quietly saying, “I just wanted you to know I am here, and I will question my men and have them check on the others.”

  Sabien stepped forward still not letting go of Helio. “Jael you won’t—”

  “I will have my report to you within the hour, Regal Orion,” Jael quickly replied, cutting Sabien off before he could say another word then turned and rushed from the room.

  Seeing an empty room just ahead and needing a few moments to gather himself, Jael made his way inside. There was nothing but a washbasin, toilet, and dirty cot in the dank and dark room.

  Jael went to the cot and sat down, dropping his head into his hands and running his fingers through his hair.

  Helio? Why had Sabien chosen the little butterfly dragon over him? Jael couldn’t deny that the butterfly dragon was a beautiful creature in his human form as well as in his butterfly dragon form. Hell, before meeting Sabien, Jael had been attracted to Helio from the moment he had laid eyes on him. However, knowing the laws to protect both he and Briar, Jael had curbed his attraction, even going so far as to make sure he was rarely close to the man. Snorting, Jael rasped, “Well, it seems Sabien didn’t have the same thoughts on the subject.”

  What would happen to him now? Jael knew that by finding his mate, his body would crave… no, hunger for Sabien. It would consume every thought and action Jael would make from this day forward. Fuck, Jael just knew that it would eventually drive him to insanity. Sabien was in his coven now and Helio was also in his coven.