“Excellent. Thank you.”
The guard saluted again, and Killían turned around. We all walked back to the SUVs and climbed in. Travis and Garrett took the lead, stopping at the gate and rolling down all the windows so the guards could check the vehicles. They also used some sort of wand beneath the carriage of the vehicles, probably checking for explosives. Even though we’d been cleared, they were sticklers about their rules for entering the base.
“I hope this little detour is worth it,” Travis growled as he followed behind Private Tilman, who was barely doing fifteen miles per hour in his Jeep.
We rolled through the base, passing houses, barracks, and other buildings neatly arranged in rows. Groups of soldiers jogged past us, wearing brightly colored belts. Each group wore a different color. It was strange to think Killían had lived here. It seemed so… controlled.
Finally, the Jeep ahead of us pulled to a stop in front of a one-story tan stucco building. Shots sounded from behind the building, varying from timed patterns to random fire.
“It’s the gun range,” Killían whispered, laying a soothing hand on my tense shoulder.
“I guess we all should go in,” Garrett said, unbuckling his seat belt.
“It would be rude if you didn’t. Plus, the better they know you, the easier and more helpful they will be if they come across any of you again.”
“Well, I guess introducing ourselves is a must then. A body never knows when it might need to haul ass across a border,” Travis added, jumping down from his seat and closing the driver’s side door. Alek had parked on our left, and he, Jared, and Mikjáll were already standing with Tilman, waiting for us.
The seven of us followed Private Tilman through two glass double doors. An older soldier glanced our way. He left the two men he was talking to and headed straight toward Killían.
“North! It’s been a long time. Wright said he bumped into you a few days ago on patrol.” The soldier extended his hand, and Killían took it.
“It’s good to see you, too, Commander. Thank you for allowing us to interrupt your day.”
“Lucky for us, it’s been quiet lately.”
“Except for the SECR squads sneaking around.”
Martins frowned. “Those damned sons of bitches just don’t know when to give up. But most of them end of disappearing without a trace. You wouldn’t happen to know where they go, would you?” He winked at Killían and then turned his attention to the rest of us. “Who are your friends? And are they wanting to join? I could use giants on my squad.”
Killían stifled a laugh and pointed to each of us. “Commander, these are new friends of mine. Jared, Alek, Mikjáll, Garrett, Travis, and Eira.”
“Nice to meet you all. Be sure and do let me know if you are ever in need of a job. North was a heck of a soldier, and any friend of his is a friend of mine.” The old soldier let his eyes rest on me last and remain for a few seconds, like he was contemplating saying something, but couldn’t decide.
“You’re the gal he lost. Her name was Eira.”
I nodded yes.
“But aren’t you… I don’t mean offense, but aren’t you a vampire?”
“I am now,” I answered.
“North told stories of the Viking woman he loved and lost when we got him drunk. I remembered your name, but I knew he said you were human.”
“You’re aware how old Killían and I am?” I asked, my eyes widening with surprise.
“Yep. There’s not much in the way of history taught anymore. People like you who’ve lived it are the only real windows to the past. Even the black market doesn’t have a lot to offer. Most of the good books that survived the fires were snapped up by people with deep pockets.”
It was true. Though I didn’t share that most people left in the US with deep pockets were Others. Those of us who were really old had money and assets stashed all over the world. Just because the US lost its grip with reality didn’t mean the rest of the world went crazy, too.
“I’d love to stay and chat, Martins,” Killían spoke up, his words reminding the group of the purpose we’d been distracted from.
“No, no. I understand. What is it I can help you with?”
“We need passage in and out of the Vicksburg border gate. Some friends of ours are being held in Savannah, and we aim to go pull them out,” Garrett said, stepping up next to Killían and I. “Being able to drive in and out would really help us move faster.”
“You know the SECR executes Others they’ve captured. I hate to tell you, but your friends are probably already dead,” the commander said with a grim sigh.
He could be right, but I refused to believe it. I hoped instead that Xerxes and Manda were hanging onto them, waiting for me to come for them. I needed to believe they were still alive. That I hadn’t lost one of my best friends.
“We have to be sure,” Travis said, moving up next to his brother. “Leaving them is not an option.”
The older soldier nodded. “Using the gate isn’t a problem. I’ll radio ahead and let them know to keep an eye out for you.”
“When we return, we’ll be coming fast,” I said, catching the Commander’s gaze.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be sure everyone is looking out for you. Good luck. I hope you find your friends alive.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Killían is lucky to have such loyal friends.”
A smile spread across the Commander’s face. “I’m the one who was lucky to have North. He saved my life at least twice. He’s something with that sword of his. You know he taught his entire unit how to handle a sword. Even to this day, we still have basic sword training included in boot camp now. Of course, it would be better with someone like North running it,” he said, glancing to Killían.
“That is something to talk about over a large bottle of whiskey,” Killían said. “Thank you for the help.”
“I’ll have a medical team on standby just inside the gate in case you need help. Good luck and God bless.” Martins shook Killían’s hand again before we all filed out of the building.
The highway flew past, mile after mile of brown grass and ice blue sky. The winter air held a chill, but nothing had fallen yet. The blue-grey expanse above us was clear and cloudless. The farther east we drove, the more the landscape changed from prairie to pine trees. I watched the wind dip and bend the tops of the evergreen forests as we traveled down the narrow two-lane highway.
It was close to sunset when we reached the TR border gate at the Vicksburg bridge. Emotions flooded through me, and I nearly wrenched the door off the hinge trying to exit the SUV. I could smell them. The bodies were still there.
So much had changed since the attack.
I’d found Killían. Agreed to become a Protector in Sanctuary. Made an ally in the TR army. What hadn’t changed was that my friends were still dead.
“Eira,” Killían called. “Wait.” He touched my shoulder, and I melted into him. His lips pressed against my temple. “Let me talk to them first and make sure Martins’ message went through.”
I nodded and gave his hand a quick squeeze before he left my side.
The guys were climbing out of the vehicles, and several soldiers were coming toward us. Killían walked quickly to meet them, and I watched as he shook hands with one of them. They made gestures to the gate and the bridge. I could’ve listened to the conversation, but I was so distracted.
My friends’ bodies lay exposed where those SECR bastards had killed them. They deserved a burial. Charlie wouldn’t want me to leave them like this. It wasn’t right.
Travis and Garrett stepped up next to me. “Most of the soldiers are curious who we are. But those two Killían is talking to, they know. They spoke with the commander and will remain at this post until we return with our friends,” Garrett said slowly.
“I never thought I’d see the day I was grateful to a human again,” Travis added. “But if they really are going to let us use the gate, it was definitely worth the stop. Moving a group of people over the
fences or under them is hard, especially if we have anyone with injuries.”
“I can’t believe he was so close all this time. For years, he’s lived only hours away from me.” The words fell from my lips without thought. My soul had cried for so long, and now we were together. However, we were about to go to a place that might steal him away from me. I couldn’t lose him again. I’d die first.
An unfamiliar hand rested lightly on my shoulder. “It’s good that you have Killían. So many of us wander through life with no one,” Alek’s deep rolling voice gave him away. The slight lilt he had to his words reminded me of my travels in the middle east.
I’d heard stories of Gryphons. They were described as lion-footed eagles with a beak that could snap a man in half, wings made of razor sharp feathers, and talons that could tear through steel. From what Diana, Calliope, and Bailey had shared with me, Sanctuary never had more than the occasional backyard brawl because not a single person dared to think they could take on Alek Melos.
Rose might be older than dirt and a hard-ass, but she was smart and knew how to forge alliances with the right people. Alek was definitely one you wanted on your side.
“You don’t have anyone, do you?” I asked, turning my head to catch his steel-blue gaze.
“Not for a very long time,” Alek whispered. His voice was even, but laced with just a hint of sorrow.
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged his massive shoulders and let his hand fall from where his fingers had rested on my arm. “Life has a way of surprising us. I can be patient. Taking care of the citizens of Sanctuary has been very fulfilling.”
Killían turned away from the soldier he was speaking to and started back toward us and the SUVs.
“They’ve offered to send over five men with us to help bury the dead,” he said, as he reached me. His blue eyes were filled compassion, but I couldn’t stop the tears threatening to spill from my eyes.
Trails of fire rolled down my cheeks and I nodded. “Thank you, but tell them we can manage alone.” How he’d known I needed to stop and make sure the dead were taken care of, I didn’t know. But he had. And I loved him all the more for it. I could bury them all faster by myself and make sure each one was lovingly laid to rest. They were family.
“Of course. I’ll let them know,” Killían said before leaving my side.
“We have enough light left if we go now,” I said.
“Let’s head out then,” Jared spoke up. “We’ve still got a lot of ground to cover after that.”
I wiped my cheeks. There would be time for tears later. Jared was right. We needed to bury our dead and move on. The living were counting on us… at least, I hoped they were.
Chapter 17
XERXES
I walked down the row of cells where the soldiers had locked up the Lycans caught in the raid. One of the Djinn stood guard in the black uniform of the SECR. He was still a low ranking soldier. Most of the Djinn in the SECR had been pushed by Manda into officer positions.
His blueish eyes caught my scrutinizing gaze, and he looked to the floor. Only the smallest hint of lavender showed through the special contacts, making him invisible as an Other to the humans around him.
I had Djinn hiding in a dozen different SECR units along with Manda as the Secretary of Defense for the entire Republic of the South East Coast. Her position was the only reason I hadn’t retired her rebellious ass to a quppu box and thrown her in a closet. She was too valuable an asset in their government.
I shouldn’t be surprised. She had a military mind. She did lead her people for nearly two thousand years before I took over. But she should have hidden her father better. With him as my puppet, she had no sway over her people. They would always answer to their king. And he wore my enchantment, which meant he answered to me.
Manda wore the same enchantment now, but I knew that bitch still tried to sidestep my orders when she could.
Like what had happened at the attack on the bridge.
They were supposed to kill that bitch of a vampire, Eira. But instead, she’d only brought me angry wolves. None of them would desert their pack. None would ever work for me. They knew too much. And they were loyal to that blood-sucking bitch.
Without Eira to help them sneak in and out of the SECR, the Masons were just a bunch of dogs scurrying around for scraps. I wanted the Lycans still living in the SECR to be enlisted into my private army. Many had already agreed and joined, but the Masons kept sneaking them away.
Slowly but surely, I would replace humans with supernaturals until I had complete control of the entirety of the government. The broken-up United States was the perfect breeding ground for building a new empire. Europe was already controlled by too many powerful supernaturals. It would be a bloodbath not even I was willing to take on, but here… here in the SECR, I could gain a solid foothold.
Hell, I already owned the Secretary of Defense. The presidency wasn’t far behind.
I stopped in front of one cell and stared at the man behind the bars.
His brown eyes glowed yellow, and a growl rumbled from his chest.
I raised my hand and grabbed his neck with my magick. The woman in the cell to his right screamed for me to stop. A younger brunette to his left cried out in protest. These were Eira’s personal friends. The Mason alpha pair and their daughter … Charlotte.
The alpha didn’t struggle against my magick. Resignation burned in his angry yellow gaze. He knew he was about to die, yet he refused beg for his life.
His indifference was irritating. He knew who I was, and still he didn’t quake in my presence. Fine. I’d just have to use a different tactic to break him down. I enjoyed pain and suffering whenever possible. It’s what made me an excellent guard dog in Babylon. I relished a good fight. Enjoyed killing those who tried to enter the temple of Shamesh without permission.
I glanced away from him, dropped him to the floor with a thud, and turned my attention to the sobbing woman in the cell on his right. If he wouldn’t beg for his life, perhaps he would beg for hers. A smile tugged at my lips. Perhaps a little fun could be had from this situation after all.
“You will lose this war, Xerxes,” the alpha Lycan growled, climbing back to his feet.
I stepped to the right and motioned to the Djinn guard at the end of the hall to open the cell. “What war are you fighting, Lycan? Because from where I’m standing, it certainly appears that I’m winning.”
The guard slid open the reinforced steel door, and I stepped inside with the alpha female.
“Mom!” Charlotte screamed from her cell. “You leave her alone, you bastard!”
The woman in front of me trembled, but said nothing. Strong and stubborn like her mate.
I lifted my hand and took a deep breath, feeling my magick wrap around her, a constrictor crushing its prey. Her heart raced, and her breathing was rapid and shallow. She might not be screaming for her life, but her body was. I pulled a long knife from the sheath at my waist.
“Please.” His voice was broken and choked with emotion.
There it was.
He would beg for his wife.
“Please? You brought your family to my doorstep, Lycan. You handed me your pack, pulling them from the relative safety of their homes into my territory.” I slid the knife down her throat, pressing in just enough to slice the top layer of skin. Crimson flowed in rivulets down her white neck where they disappeared beneath the collar of her black shirt. “You did this to her.” The words tasted so good coming out. I glanced back at the male and felt a flutter of satisfaction. His expression was pained and desperate now, even a bit guilt-ridden.
The female growled and snarled, but didn’t have a chance in hell of slipping loose from my magickal straightjacket. I raised my hand, levitating her off the floor, and pushing her arms up so they extended over her head.
“Please, kill me and let my family and pack go. They will stop coming into the SECR. They’ll disappear and you’ll never see them again.”
�
��‘Let my people go’? That’s original.” I turned toward him with a smile, pulled the knife away from his wife’s neck, and then plunged it deep into her stomach.
The male lunged for me, reaching through the bars in a desperate attempt to pull me off his wife. The girl screamed and called me some names I hadn’t heard in years. The sound was music to my ears. They would pay for their interference, and then that bitch of a vampire would pay, too.
I turned to the female alpha. Blood darkened her black shirt, and clung to her abdomen where I’d stabbed her. A pool spread across the floor as well.
“I really don’t like people meddling in my business. You dogs thought Manda was your ticket in and out without being touched. Well, guess again. Manda belongs to me.”
I jammed the knife into her stomach again, twisting the blade. The scent of her punctured bowels smelled of sweet, agonizing death. Pulling the weapon free, I shoved it into her lower diaphragm. Once, twice, again. Her moans mixed with the sound of her choking, the wheeze of punctured lungs, and the exhale of bloody gasps. Her werewolf DNA and magick attempted to heal her body, but eventually, the wounds would be too much.
“Let her go!” the male snarled again. “My love, I’m so sorry.”
“I l-love you,” the bleeding woman choked out.
“Oh fuck, isn’t that sweet?” I drew the knife across her throat, cutting deeply, and released her from my hold. She fell to the floor with a thud, and I stepped out of the cell as her blood spread across the floor to the cells on her right and left. “Now it’s your turn,” I said, pointing the bloody knife at the enraged man.
Glancing down the row, I noted that Charlotte was curled up on the floor in the corner of her cell, sobbing. But she was the only one. The other Lycans in the cells up and down the aisle shouted obscenities and rattled their doors.
It was utterly useless. I could care less if they howled for hours. Their pain brought only pleasure to my ears. No one could hear them outside of this soundproofed concrete room.
Sanctuary, Texas Complete Series Box Set Page 56
