When she looked Mila’s way, she put her hand to her mouth. Crystal blue eyes observed her. She’d seen those eyes before in her vision. Rhys’s sister.
“Solange?”
The young woman looked at her with confusion.
“Do you know this young lady?” Luther asked, watching their interaction with interest.
Both women remained silent.
Luther’s eyes went wide as realisation dawned. “You saw her in a vision, didn’t you? Tell me about what you saw.”
Mila turned to him. “I saw you and your bastard son dead on the floor. Ripped to pieces by the shifters.”
Luther indicated to the guard holding Solange. He placed one long claw at her jugular. “Tell me the truth this time, or she dies.”
Mila threw her an apologetic look. “She’s here to rescue her brother. They escape. I don’t. Sorry, Solange.”
“Ah, that must be the man you were talking to in the cell.”
Mila sighed with resignation. “Let them go, Luther. If you do, I promise I’ll do anything you ask.”
Solange remained silent, but Mila knew she was still trying to work out just what was happening.
“Can’t do that, Mila. It would be seen as an act of weakness. She’s a pretty young thing. A playmate for Drake, perhaps?”
“NO.”
Luther looked at Mila with surprise. “Giving orders now, Mila?”
“If you want me to hand over my babies when they’re born and be a dutiful mate then I have something to ask.”
Luther laughed. “This will be interesting. Please, do tell us, Mila.”
“How badly do you want to mate with me, Luther?”
Excitement rolled off the revolting man. He sauntered over to her. Luther’s mouth clamped down on hers. His breath smelled of death and decay, his tongue plundering her mouth. She attempted to push away from him, but she was still weak after being sedated. After he pulled away, she tried to prevent herself from gagging. It was nothing like the beautiful kisses she’d shared with Elias. It was vile, an obscene intrusion. A violation.
“What do you want in return? There has to be something if you allow me to kiss you in that way.”
“Solange and her brother are to stay here with me. I want them under your protection. If anything happens to them, I’ll take my own life.” She raised her chin and held his gaze.
“You’d kill your own children?”
“No. You can’t do that.” She heard Solange’s impassioned plea.
“Yes. They’d be better off dead than being born here.”
Mila understood that Luther knew she’d never kill her children. But it appeared to amuse him. This was a way for her to survive, with allies.
“Guard, take this woman to Drake. Tell him she’s a gift from me. Oh, and schedule her brother to be released tomorrow morning. Our newest soldiers could do with the thrill of the hunt.”
Mila’s blood ran cold. She heard Solange fighting against the hold of the guard as he dragged her to the door. Luther backhanded Mila across the face, sending her reeling to the floor. Blood filled her mouth. He dragged her up by the hair, his eyes aflame with anger.
“Don’t ever dare to dictate to me again. If you do, I’ll have your babies cut from your womb and use their DNA to create others.”
“You… you wouldn’t dare.” Even as she said the words, she realised he would. Her hands covered her belly.
“Secure!” Solange’s voice tore their eyes away from one another.
“What the…?” Mila was speechless.
The door glowed and crackled a deep-blue colour. When the guard touched it, he was blown backwards, along with Solange.
“Bind. Now,” Solange called out in a loud voice.
This time, Mila watched in fascination when Solange’s hands reached out towards Luther. A large piece of mesh, the same colour as the power surrounding the door, flew at him. It wrapped around him, forcing him to the ground. His fangs reappeared, and he growled and tore at it.
“The more you fight it, asshole, the tighter it gets,” Solange warned.
The guard started to get to his feet and strode towards Solange. Mila saw a paperknife on a nearby table. Without too much thought for her safety, she grabbed it and launched herself onto the abomination’s back. She stabbed it repeatedly. Blood sprayed everywhere as it screamed with pain and rage. It threw her from its back. Mila’s head hit the floor. She saw stars, but not enough to knock her out.
“Dissolve,” Solange ordered.
The guard disintegrated right in front of Mila’s eyes. Solange towered above where the monster had been. Her hair crackled and popped with energy, her eyes shining brightly. Luther sat still but continued to growl.
“Silence,” Solange ordered, waving her hand nonchalantly over towards to him. Instantly, he became quiet.
She helped Mila to sit up. “What… what just happened?”
Solange grimaced. “This has been occurring with more frequency since Rhys vanished. I’ve always been a little bit odd, but…”
“Looks like you may be a Supernat. Perhaps Rhys is too.” Mila patted her arm.
“I don’t know what a Supernat is. What I do know is, when I’m in danger, it feels like someone takes over my body and does what it has to in order to survive. How’s that for weird?”
Mila laughed. “About as weird as my life right now. Supernat is short for supernatural, by the way.”
“Why does Luther want your babies?”
Mila glanced over to the now silent man. Absently, she rubbed at her mouth in an attempt to erase the feeling of his savage lips on hers.
“I’m mated to a shifter. Not only have I now got the power of sight, but pregnant with twins who will be even more powerful. Sorry.” She looked apologetically at Solange. “Is this too confusing?”
She shook her head. “Not really. I’m guessing you’re Wild Thing, who met Rhys. He told me about you shortly before he left.”
“Yes.”
“Rhys has always been interested in the supernatural. I don’t know how, but he understands about shifters, supernatural powers, and everything in between. My intuition told me, when he vanished, that he was in danger.”
“How did you track him here?”
She tapped the side of her nose, grinning. “I’m also an extremely accomplished hacker. Good with electrics.”
“So I see.” Mila indicated to the still glowing door.
“Hmm, I think this is all connected.”
“I take it they haven’t put a microchip inside you?” Mila touched the back of her own neck.
“No,” Solange responded. “I’ve only just been caught. Why?”
“I can’t access my powers because I have one embedded at the bottom of my neck. And it kind of disrupts the airwaves around us, making it impossible to use our abilities.”
“Let me take a look.”
Mila turned away from her, so she could check her neck.
“I can see it. Only just below the surface.”
Mila picked up the paperknife from the floor and rubbed the blood off on the side of the couch. She handed it to her.
“Cut it out. Please.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Look,” Mila said, facing her once more. “We won’t be able to stay here long without someone becoming suspicious. If you can get this thing out of my neck, I can contact my mate, Elias, via telepathy.”
“Hang on then.” Solange grabbed a bottle of whisky from the desk and covered the knife with it.
“This is going to hurt like a bastard,” she warned.
“It’s okay. Just do it… and fast.”
Mila gripped the arm of the couch and closed her eyes against the pain.
“Almost got it. That’s it. It’s out.”
Mila yelped when Solange covered the wound with alcohol. Not waiting any longer, she reached out for Elias. Praying her power was strong enough.
“Elias. Can you hear me?”
She didn�
�t have to wait long for a response.
“Honey, thank God. Where are you?” His voice caressed her mind with love.
“I’m okay. Danger Man’s sister got the chip out of my neck, so I can reach my powers. We’re in Luther’s apartment at the facility. Lots to explain later. We’ve, or should I say Solange, captured Luther, but you need to get here fast. Not certain how long we’ll be safe.”
“Hang tight, Mila. We’re all coming.”
He went silent and she realised he needed to know about her pregnancy.
“Baby, I have news. I’m…”
“I know, you’re pregnant. Lily saw. Twins, Mila. You’re carrying our twins.”
The emotion in his voice made tears leak from her eyes.
“The way I discovered it wasn’t the best. But oh, Elias, I am so excited.”
“Me too. Now, you ladies keep safe and don’t move. We’re coming to get you. Evan is with me.”
Evan. She’d forgotten about the revelation she’d plonked on him.
“Mila?”
“Sorry. I haven’t told Solange about the whole mating thing. Don’t think it’s the right time. Just tell Evan… tell him to be gentle around her. This is going to come as one hell of a shock.”
“Understood. I love you and I’ll see you soon.”
Their intimate connection was cut, leaving her feeling bereft.
“All good?”
Mila stared thoughtfully at Solange. She was stunning, and she just knew Evan would be totally smitten when he met her. But how would Solange deal with this?
“Mila?”
“Yes, all’s good. And now we wait.”
* * *
Hearing Mila’s voice caress his mind brought him some relief. He had to remind himself she was still in danger, though.
“Hey, bro. You okay?”
He glanced over at Mathis and the rest of the shifters gathered around him. “Sorry. Mila contacted me.”
“Jesus, how did she manage that with a chip implant?” Evan asked.
“It’s been taken out by your mate, Evan. Her name’s Solange. Mila says she’s a Supernat too.”
A dazed expression of wonder fell over Evan’s face.
“Dude, she doesn’t know about you yet. Mila said treat her gently. Okay?”
“Of course, Elias. Solange.” He whispered her name like a sacred prayer.
“Look.” Elias stood up and paced the room. “There are lots of unanswered questions which will have to stay that way for now.”
“I agree with Elias.” Mason thrummed his fingers on the top of the table. “We need to get going immediately. Can I suggest something?”
“Sure,” said Elias. “Go right ahead.”
“They’ll be expecting a rescue attempt. It’ll be better if we shift, because they’ll think we will come by vehicle. That way, we can cut across country.”
“That sounds ideal. I can fly on ahead and check for any potential hidden dangers,” Morgan responded.
“Thanks, Morgan. That will be most useful.” Elias smiled grimly.
“Shifting to get there quickly is all well and good, but won’t we need transport if some of the prisoners are injured?” Josh suggested.
Elias turned to face him. “That’s where you come in, Josh. I want you to arrange the transport. You’ll have to make sure you bring clothes for us, too. We’ll sort out a rendezvous point in a moment. Petra and Luna, are you up for helping Josh out?”
Luna smiled, a fierce expression on her face. “Sure, no problem. Plus, Mum and I can assist by using our magic.”
Petra smiled at her daughter. “Absolutely right, Luna. We’ll be more than happy to help in any way we can.”
“Thank you, ladies.”
“But, Elias, I want to help you free…”
Elias put up his hand to silence Josh. “I know why you want to be with us, bud. None of this is your fault. You do not have to prove yourself. Being in charge of the vehicles is important too.”
Josh looked deflated. Elias went to him and put an arm around his shoulder. “We do not have time for guilt trips. I trust you implicitly. Mila made the right call. Those kids would’ve been taken and used or torn to shreds by Drake’s hounds. You helped save them today.”
Josh huffed out a long breath. “Okay… I guess. What do you need me to do?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mila and Solange paced Luther’s apartment floor, both deep in thought. Luther had ceased struggling a while back and now sat quietly on the ground, still encased in his electrical prison. The overriding desire to replace Solange’s prison with nasty spiked brambles was very tempting. She promised herself she wouldn’t stoop to his level of torture, even though she desperately wanted to. A loud shout and thumping on the other side of the door had both women looking at one another.
“Do you reckon they can see your shield on the other side of the door?”
Solange shrugged her shoulders. “I have absolutely no idea. Can you ask your mate if it’s the good guys?”
“Elias, have you reached the facility yet?”
“Almost there. You ladies okay?”
“Solange’s power still has the door secured. Someone’s hammering at it, though. She’s only just come in to her power and has no idea how long the door will remain secure.”
“On it, honey. Sven, one of Mason’s community, has a similar kind of power. He’ll be with us. Does the brother have the same ability?”
“We don’t know…”
The noise of the door shuddering and breaking into smithereens caught her attention. At the same time, Luther appeared to have broken free from his electrical bonds. He headed directly for Mila. Without conscious thought, power flooded through her. Putting her hands out in front of her, she felt energy flow from her. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she heard screams of pain emanating from him.
“Mila, what’s happening?”
She could hear Elias’s voice in her mind, but her focus was inflicting pain on Luther. In the background, she could hear Solange using her powers to bind anyone who attempted to come through the door. Opening her eyes, she saw Luther covered in welts and blood. Brambles were wrapped around his hands, thorns digging deeply in his flesh. The same bound his ankles, causing him to topple over.
“Talk to me, Mila. Please.”
“Elias, help me. I don’t want to kill him, but my power wants him dead. I can feel it.”
“Mila!”
Solange’s plea brought her back to reality. Her power focused itself on the door. There was all manner of horrific abominations clamouring to get inside. Men and women, different parts of their bodies replaced by horns, claws, fangs and other hideous things. Prickles, thorns, pine needles, and poisonous berries shot outwards, covering the monsters before her. Shouts and howls filled the air, along with the smell of burning flesh.
The steady stream of monsters wore the women down. Neither one spoke, their full concentration centred on stemming the flow of things trying to gain access to the room. Something grabbed Mila’s ankle. Teeth sank deep into her flesh. She screamed loudly. Looking down, Luther’s mouth was clamped down hard on her skin. He made a slurping sound. Blood. He was drinking her blood.
Anger filled her and she refocused her attack on him, desperate to get his mouth away from her. The wound burned. Mila became terrified that her babies would be affected. She wondered if he was trying to poison her. Brambles caught him around the neck. His teeth loosened from around her ankle. This time, she’d show absolutely no mercy. Now he would die. Frantically, he tore at the brambles. Gurgles and squeals emanating from him surrounded her.
“I let you live the last time. Not now. You’ve threatened my children. Now you die!”
The brambles wound tighter and tighter, wringing the life from him. The crack of bones in his neck was a satisfying sound. The brambles wound tighter, almost ripping his head from the rest of his body. There was one last gasp, then he fell dead on the floor. Mila should have felt victorious
. She didn’t, though. She’d taken a life. Something no one should ever have to do. The burning in her ankle was getting worse. Why wasn’t she healing?
Her vision blurred. Solange appeared to be winning the fight. There were shouts coming from behind those still trying to access the room. She could smell Elias’s scent. Pushing past Solange, he raced to her and held her in his arms.
“Elias, Luther… I killed Luther.”
“Hush, honey. Don’t talk. We need to get you out of here.”
“He…he bit me. It isn’t healing. Why? Our babies. Oh, God, our babies. I…”
The room spun and darkness reached out to her. She heard Elias call out her name. But it was too late. All too late. Mila allowed sleep to claim her.
* * *
Elias’s heart chilled at the sight of his mate lifeless in his arms.
“I can help,” said Luna close by Elias’s side.
“How? She should have healed by now. You’re supposed to be with Josh.”
“Mum sensed we’d be required here,” she explained. “He wasn’t only injected with Supernat DNA. I can smell dark magic on him. This sick son of a bitch has been playing with dark witches and possibly demons too. Mum, I need your help here,” Luna called out.
Petra walked calmly over to them. Solange followed. Elias watched her with confusion.
“I’m staying. I can protect them, Elias,” she assured him.
“She’s right,” Sven called out from the doorway. “And I can help if she requires it.”
“Elias,” Petra spoke in a quiet voice. “Go and help with the clean-up. We can manage here.”
“The babies?” He hated the fear he heard in his own words.
“Trust us, Elias. Now, lift her onto the sofa and go help the others rescue the poor souls from the cages.”
Wild Desire (The Protectors Book 1) Page 18
