by Julia Mills
Laying his hand on Maddox’s shoulder, the King slowly shook his head, “There is no mistake.” He motioned towards his sister and Beta. “Ask Sophia and Juan Carlos. I have shown them the evidence and they have visited the site of the twelfth murder to date in South Florida.” He leveled his gaze. “I am sorry, my friend, but what I’m saying is the truth.”
“Son of a bitch,” Maddox growled under his breath as his chin dropped to his chest. “How is this possible?”
Looking at his sister before he continued, it was obvious from the buzz in the air that they were communicating telepathically. It was confirmed when Max said aloud, “Yes, I will tell them. Thank you, muñeca” Then looking up he continued, “As Sophia reminds me, here is why I believe there is a Family of at least forty or fifty.” The King accepted the folder Juan Carlos handed him, opened it and took out a stack of papers. Handing the documents to the Dragon Leader, he went on, “Jake checked Interpol and found many cases both in the United States and internationally with the same MO and all occurring within the last year. The documents I have given Rian detail all we have been able to locate, and as he said, there are more coming in from all over the world.”
“I’m guessing you have a theory as to why we’re seeing these abominations again after so many years?” Kayne asked through gritted teeth.
“I believe they were dormant, in a hibernation of sorts, buried underground in all parts of the world after that fateful day when we all lost so many of our friends and family.”
Lennox knew Max’s grandfather had led the raiding party in South America and although alive, Antonio had abdicated his leadership of their Pride to his son in order to become a Hunter after all he’d experienced fighting the soul-sucking leeches.
The King looked around the table, stopping when his eyes landed on Lennox. “It is my further belief, and that of Sophia and Juan Carlos, that either by intent or accident, they have been unearthed and after so many decades underground are hungry and searching for their place in this bright new world of ours.” Max’s sarcasm wasn’t lost on the mad bomber who was trying to figure out exactly why the Panther King continued to look at him with such a knowing expression.
“Okay let’s say you’re right. From the stories we’ve heard those bastards look and act human. They’re damn near undetectable and evil as hell. I mean come on, the last time anyone had to deal with this shit was in…” Rory, Rian’s youngest brother, stopped midsentence, immediately looking at the mad bomber and shaking his head, “Aww, dammit, Lenn, I’m sorry.”
Holding up his hand despite the pain beating at his heart, the mad bomber shook his head, “Don’t worry about it. It was a long time ago and there are those who don’t know the story.”
“Why don’t you tell it?” Rian urged from his place at the head of the table.
Looking down at the picture of what he imagined had at one time been a beautiful young woman, but now looked like nothing more than a hundred-year-old corpse, Lennox let out the breath he hadn’t known he was holding, and slowly began to tell the story of the day he became an orphan… “You all know the stories about my mom, Lorna, the warrior dragoness.” He looked up, surprised to find every eye on him, and attempted to smile through the pain beating at his heart. “She was better with a sword than most Guardsmen and twice as quick. My grandfather, old Lorac, never had sons, so he trained my mom and her sisters in the art of battle. She was sharp and cunning, just like my dad. Together, they were damned near unstoppable.”
He took a deep breath, “Stories of the humans disappearing from the nearby village had reached our lair about a week before one of the other females found a body that looked just like these pictures.” He motioned to the photos on the table in front of him.
“She came to my dad, who took my uncle and the rest of his Force to check it out. It was my mom who recognized the woman, even in her mummified state, as the farmer’s daughter she had befriended and was teaching to use a sword and a gun.”
“Sounds like Lorna,” Kayne smiled sadly.
“Yeah, that was her alright,” Lenn nodded. “And she was fightin’ mad when she got home. I remember she demanded they go hunt the thing that did that to her friend that very night, but dad said they couldn’t go until he talked to the Elders. It took less than a day for them to get the approval from Ronan.” He nodded to Rian in recognition of his father who had been the Blue Thunder Clan Leader before him.
“What they found was much worse than anyone had ever imagined. I used to stay up late at night and sit at the top of the stairs in the dark listening to them talk about the mass graves with so many bones they finally had to count the skulls to know the total death count.”
“It took several months of tracking but they finally got a lead. A Tracker from a nearby Lion Pride had located a group of shifters and vamps being led by an Incubus and his Succubus mate. They had three children, all Cambion. From the Lion’s information, the Incubus and Succubus lured the humans in, had sex with them to get what they needed then let their children take their life forces while the vamps drained their blood. The shifters were their Enforcers, just the hired muscle.”
“I sat on the porch, watching as all the Guardsmen from three clans gathered to help bring the rag-tag group of murderers down. And that is where I sat, ate and slept for the next three days.”
He cleared his throat, trying to stop the memories threatening to drown him in misery and grief. Looking over Rory’s shoulder, the mad bomber stared out the window at the same mountain he’d been watching when his father’s brethren came over the ridge on horseback.
Visions of that day replayed like an old movie in his mind as he spoke, his voice like a whisper in the dark. “Ronan, along with Alexander MacLendon, Angus’ brother – the Leader of the Golden Fire Clan, led the Guardsman through the mountain pass and straight to our house. I will never forget finally seeing the horses they pulled along, one carrying the body of my father, the other my mother.”
“I listened in silence, unable to take my eyes off the bodies wrapped in dark blue cloth with their swords and shields on their backs, in death as they had been in life. The two great Dragon Leaders explained how valiantly my parents had fought, ridding the world of some of the fiercest, most deadly enemies our kind had ever known. In the end, they had gone to the Heavens in an explosion of my dad’s design.”
He chuckled, it’s echo sounding so lost and alone in the silence around him. “They died like they lived, fighting for what they believed in. I didn’t and still don’t blame them or regret what they did.”
Anger, like a hot poker from the blacksmith’s pyre, shot through the mad bomber. Jumping to his feet, he bellowed, “But now the sons of bitches are back! And they need to be taken down …once and fucking for all this time!”
“Hell yeah!” Came the war cry from every shifter in the room.
It took several minutes for Rian to once again get control of the meeting, but when he did, they spent the next two hours discussing a plan to eradicate the parasites on their own soil and in the States. Finally able to return to his mate, Lenn jogged across the Courtyard and through the center of the Lair, anxious to hold Tessa in his arms, knowing one look into her eyes…one touch of her lips would drive back the demons of the past that he’d forced into the light.
Opening the door to his home, kicking it shut with the heel of his boot, Lennox took the stairs three at a time and raced into his room, stopping short when he saw Tessa in the exact same position as he’d left her. The ominous growl of his dragon had the Guardsman jumping onto the bed and pulling his mate into his arms.
The beat of her heart was sluggish, her skin cold to the touch and no matter how many times he yelled his name she gave absolutely no response. Wrapping her naked body in the comforter from his bed, Lennox held Tessa close to his chest begging, “Hold on, baby. Please hold on. I’ll be damned if I’m letting you die on me. Not after just finding you.”
Bolting out the door, ignoring Kayne and Pearce�
�s yelled inquiries as he almost ran over them, the mad bomber burst through the doors of the Clinic bellowing, “Help me! My mate is dying!”
Chapter Eight
The hushed sounds of whispers combined by a myriad of beeps, bloops and bleeps woke Tessa from her day sleep with a start. Slamming her eyes shut almost before they were completely open, she slowly cracked just one enough to recognize the light above was huge and blinding fluorescent and the man at her bedside was not Lennox.
Sitting upright while holding the sheet she was covered with close to her chest, Tessa croaked, “Where is Lennox? What happened?”
Giving her a cocky grin Tessa had no doubt had worked on many women over the ages, the dragon with the long blonde hair and sparkling eyes, smiled, “He’s not here right now. I’m Kayne, one of his friends and I’ve been given the great honor of watching over you until you woke.”
His words were smooth and his smile alluring, but he couldn’t disguise the steel behind his compliments. Tessa could sense anger, and if she wasn’t mistaken, a heavy dose of disappointment…but knew for sure it wasn’t aimed at her.
Then who?
Clearing her throat, she nodded, “Nice to meet you, Kayne. I’m Tessa.” Then she asked again, this time in a gruffer tone, “Where is Lennox?”
“He…”
“He’s a stupid son of a bitch who needs his ass kicked, that’s where he is,” replied the tall, strawberry-blonde witch who walked into the room and frowned at Kayne before continuing, “Don’t let Casanova here cover for that rat bastard the Goddess saw fit to stick you with.” She set a tray with tea and a few bottles of herbs, along with a small vial of blood, on the table next to Tessa’s bed, looked up and smiled then went on, “Sorry to be so forward.” The pretty witch stuck out her hand and as Tessa reached forward added, “I should’ve started with ‘my name’s Calysta, and it’s nice to meet you’, but that man of yours,” she nearly shook with anger. “He makes me mad enough to spit.”
“Why? What happened?” Not only was Tessa getting a really bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, but the female panther with whom she shared her soul was growling low in her throat and pacing the confines of the woman’s mind.
Never a good sign.
Looking at Kayne, Calysta shook her head. “And you said you could handle it. Just go. Find that stupid dragon and tell him I’m mad as a wet hen and he needs to stay clear of me for a very, very long time.”
Kayne tipped his head and with wide eyes mumbled, “You got it, Callie.”
Calling over her shoulder as the dragon had just disappeared into the hallway, Calysta added with a grumble, “And tell him I told Maddox, so he needs to watch his back.”
“Yes ma’am,” came a faraway chuckled response.
“Now,” Calysta shook off her frustration and smiled as she pulled up a chair and sat next to Tessa’s bed. “First of all, you are in the Clinic here in the lair of the Blue Dragons. Lennox brought you in because you were barely breathing, your heart rate was low, and you were unresponsive.”
“But…” Tessa stopped speaking when Calysta raised her index finger.
“But you thought the dumb butt was smart enough, or at the very least perceptive enough since he shares a soul with one of the oldest creatures known to any of us, to know you are a hybrid, right?”
“My family has always said I’m a Vaepanther, but yes, I thought he knew what I was just as I knew what he was.” Tessa looked down at her hands clenched on the sheet and sighed as sadness seeped into her every pore and her heart felt like it might break, “I’m guessing he has a problem with my heritage?” She looked up to find rage burning in Calysta’s expressive emerald eyes and added, “And it’s not the panther side of the family that bothers him, am I right?”
Patting Tessa’s leg, the witch nodded as she growled, “Yes, and when he started to get upset and spout off, I threw him out on his ass. I’ve got no patience for that kinda shit.”
Not sure what to say, or feel past the bone-deep sorrow, or think after what she’d thought was the beginning of her happily ever after, Tessa could only put up a good front until she could be alone, cry and then plot Lennox’s slow and painful death. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and pushed back the tears burning the back of her throat.
With her thoughts chaotic and her panther wanting to be let free to sink her claws into her dragon’s hide, all Tessa could think about was leaving the Clinic. She wanted to get as far away as possible from the dragons and anyone who knew she’d been brutally rejected by the man created for her by the Universe. Apparently, ‘blessed by the Goddess’ didn’t seem to cover being part vampire.
Guess I should’ve read the fine print on that legend…
“Am I free to go?”
“Well,” Calysta’s shocked look was immediately replaced by a renewed anger as she went on, “I really wish you wouldn’t.” The witch handed Tessa a cup of tea along with the vial of blood. “Have something to drink and rest for a bit. Della, my sister, will be in soon to check on you and get you something to eat.” Her smile widened. “I have a feeling your dragon will be back when he realizes what an ass he was.”
Taking the cup from the witch, Tessa poured in about half the vial of O Negative and took a sip. Letting the warm liquid calm her nerves, the Vaepanther faked a happy face and smiled, “Sure, I’ll wait for a bit.” She laid her hand atop Calysta’s where it still sat on her thigh. “You go on and do what you need to do. I’m sure this is a busy place.”
When the witch started to object, Tessa quickly added, “I’ll be fine.” She snickered, “Heck, there wasn’t even anything really wrong with me.”
“If you’re sure…” Calysta left her question hanging as Tessa took another drink of her tea before nodding. The witch then added as she pointed to the tray, “There is also an herb mixture for anemia. I did a real quick exam just to be sure you were okay when Lenn brought you in.” She tapped her temple to let Tessa know she had mentally scanned the Vaepanther’s body and mind, “You seem a tad low on iron, but I also know things work differently for you all with both vamp and animal alter egos.”
“Thank you so very much for everything, Calysta,” Tessa spoke as the witch walked towards the door.
“Not a problem at all, Tessa.” She stopped and turned, looking right into the Vaepanther’s eyes. “Don’t give up on Lennox. Trust me, being mated to a Guardsman is gonna make you want to pull your hair out. They are obstinate, opinionated and on the best of days overbearing. I should know, my mate’s nickname is the mad dragon.” Calysta winked and gave Tessa a wicked grin. “But Lenn will love you with all he’s got and make you the Queen of his world.”
“Yeah,” Tessa tried to laugh, but even to her ears it sounded flat and lifeless. “If he can look past the fact that I drink a little blood and sleep like the dead during the day.”
“Stop that,” Calysta scolded. “He was just shocked, shouldn’t have been, but was.” Calysta leaned on the door. “Think of it this way, he was so taken with you, so wrapped in what you made him feel, that he totally missed your vamp side.” She nodded and smiled. “I would say that dragon isn’t gonna be able to live without you.”
Needing to be alone, Tessa gave an Academy Award winning performance as she smiled brightly, nodded and even sounded chipper when she said, “I guess you’re right. As my mom always says, it’ll all come out in the wash. Thanks again.”
“Your mom sounds like a smart cookie,” Calysta chuckled as she opened the door and walked out.
“That she is.”
“Take care. I’ll be back soon.”
Letting out the breath she’d been holding as soon as the door clicked closed, the Vaepanther set down her cup of tea, threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. Looking in the full-length mirror on the wall across the room, she examined the T-shirt and sweats that were four sizes too big and thanked the Goddess she wasn’t still naked.
Creeping to the door, well aware that everyone in the C
linic was supernatural in one way or another and equipped with extra-sensitive hearing, Tessa stuck her head into the hallway, looked up and down several times then when she was sure the coast was clear, made a beeline towards the back of the building. Stepping out the double glass doors, she had just taken a deep breath of the cool evening air when she heard voices coming from around the far corner.
“Yeah, your boy really stuck his foot in it this time, Pearce.”
“My boy?” A low, smooth voice she guessed belonged to a dragon named Pearce, objected. “Since when is Lennox, my boy? I’m the last person to try to tell that hard-headed jackass what to do.”
“Yes, but you live with him. He listens to you.” The Guardsman’s words flowed towards her a split second before both men appeared and Tessa realized one of them was Kayne, whom she’d met a little while before.
Laughing out loud, the Guardsman she now knew was not only named Pearce but was also Lennox’s roommate, shook his head, “Proximity means absolutely nothing except that I have had to listen to him whine about finding a mate for so very much longer than you or anyone else. He has been positively insufferable.” The dragon shoved his hands in his pocket and kicked a rock with the toe of his boot. “And true to form, he finds her and before even giving her a chance, has walked away over something completely outside of her control. What an idiot!”
“You said it, my friend. I met Tessa and she’s a very sweet girl, not to mention she’s drop-dead gorgeous. Lenn’s a dumbass fool, plain and simple.”
