by Brenda Trim
“Wow, somebody likes jerky,” the elderly female said as he approached the register. “My husband makes his own. Swears it’s the best in the state. Even won a ribbon at the local fair. Me, not such a fan,” she jabbered, throwing his items in a paper sack after scanning them.
Chuckling, Zander retrieved some cash from his pocket and replied, “I’m in agreement there. Doona care for the stuff, but my mate is pregnant and craving it, so here I am.”
“Awww, aren’t you a sweetheart. My husband never catered to me, God rest his soul, but I remember those days. I couldn’t get enough of cheeseburgers and ruby red grapefruit juice. Go figure,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “Where you from? That accent is very interesting,” she said, taking Zander’s money and handing him his change.
Zander found the female endearing and couldn’t help but smile at her. “It’s Scottish. Thank you for the snacks and have a verra good evening.”
“You, too. Take care of that lady of yours. Best wishes on the little one.”
Zander nodded and pushed through the door, exiting the store. He walked to the car and froze. Elsie wasn’t there. The car was empty. Unconcerned that the clerk may be watching, he used all of his speed and was at the car, yanking the door open and scanning the interior for any clue as to what had happened.
“Fuck,” he cursed, dropping the grocery bag into the seat when he noticed her purse was still on the floorboard. Where the hell could she have gone, he silently asked as he scanned the parking lot and inhaled, trying to pick up the trail of her honeysuckle scent. The pungent smell of dead fish permeated the area, confusing his senses.
Slamming the door, he ran around the side of the building and that’s when he saw her, surrounded by about twenty creatures. None that he recognized or had ever seen before, but apparently, there was a new breed in the realm.
They weren’t very big, only about five feet tall, but evil seeped from their pores like tar and as he moved closer he detected brimstone, the slightly sulfuric and rancid odor that denoted most demons, as well as, the nauseating stench of dead fish.
Their dark green skin was scaly and thick, accented with large spikes running down the length of their backs and long tails. They reminded Zander of large lizards, except the hind legs were longer which enabled them to stand up. Their elongated snouts opened to razor-sharp teeth that were as long as knives.
His fangs descended at the sight when he realized he had no idea what powers they possessed or how to kill them. The compulsion to annihilate these creatures roared through his blood. How fucking dare they approach his mate?
The urge to rip them limb from limb nearly had him jumping into action. Only the need to ensure his mate was unharmed kept him in place. Sending a silent prayer of thanks to the Goddess that she was uninjured, he noticed Elsie was clutching something in her palm and it appeared the object was providing a force field around her body. The demons were scrambling to get to her, but couldn’t break the barrier surrounding her. As his eyes locked with his mate’s, he sensed her tension, fear and anger through their mating bond.
Between one heartbeat and the next, Zander attempted something he’d never done before, but didn’t have time to stop and ponder if it would work. He opened his telepathic channels to all of the Dark Warriors at once. “Lock and load, motherfuckers, and get your arses to the gas station on the corner of 12th and Cherry, like yesterday. Elsie’s in trouble.”
Shaking off the surge of fatigue the expenditure cost him, he yelled out, hoping to distract the fuckers away from his mate as he charged them. “Yo, douchebags, let’s dance!”
Drawing two sgian dubhs from his boots, he ran into the fray. Half a dozen quickly scrambled and charged in his direction. The first two to reach him received a blade to the chest and crumpled to the pavement, while the remaining four tackled him, pinning him to the ground.
“We aren’t here for you, Vampire King. This is about the baby. We have our orders and the Queen is coming with us,” parroted one of the males. Its voice was raspy and thick, making it hard to understand words around the saliva dripping from its snout.
“I doona think so, fuckface. You will die before you touch one hair on her head,” he growled, baring fangs.
A quick glance through the throng of green, scaly skin and he saw that Elsie was screaming and pounding at the invisible wall that protected her. He couldn’t figure out if she had conjured the blockade or if it had come from somewhere else, but he didn’t care. She was safe and out of harm’s way for the moment.
Using their bond to connect, Elsie asked if he was okay. Quickly reassuring her that he wasn’t harmed and help was on the way he instructed her to sit tight, adding that he would turn her over his knee if she risked herself or the baby. When she started calling him Bossy Pants, he shut her out. Damn female, he was a little busy trying to stay alive, he thought, as he fought the demon’s tight grip.
“Have it your way, Zander. I’m certain Kadir will be fine with your head as a souvenir,” another male countered, snapping its jaws towards his face.
Zander jerked one hand free, lifting his arm and slicing his blade through scaly flesh as he went. Leaning forward, Zander put all of his considerable strength into the arch of his arm, removing the head of the overzealous male.
“Take that back to Kadir along with a message. Touch my mate, or my bairn, and I will skewer him alive,” Zander spat to the remaining demons holding him on the ground.
Zander could hear the cavalry coming, and, in the next moment, two SUVs skidded into the lot, barely coming to a stop before Kyran, Bhric, Breslin, Gerrick and Mack bolted from the vehicles, swords drawn. Fire and ice flew across the parking lot, singeing and freezing demons simultaneously.
“Need some help, brathair,” Bhric asked, extending his left palm while his right held a sword. Ice shot out of his palm and hit one of the demons on his left.
“Aye, aboot fucking time! Go guard Elsie and the baby. It’s her they’re after,” Zander instructed his brother as he easily kicked free of the remaining two demons and was on his feet.
“You assed out, motherfucker!” Bhric growled as he ran at the demon trying to slip behind Elsie and find a way to reach her.
The rest had engaged the other demons and fought quickly and viciously. Zander sliced and shredded scaled flesh, incapacitating the last two in front of him. A final stomp of his shit-kicker and the last demon’s head was detached. Panting, Zander lifted his head and let it fall back in exhaustion. The battle may have been a victory, he noted, as they stood alone in the parking lot, but the sight of black blood and bodies told him this was far from over.
As he looked to his siblings and friends, he couldn’t help but admit that the Dark Warriors were a force to be reckoned with. One thing was crystal clear. Nobody messed with their Queen. Pride swelled in his chest. These warriors were his family and he couldn’t have asked for better at his back. They’d had their ups and downs throughout the centuries, but their lives had changed for the better when the Goddess resumed matings.
Mack, Kyran’s mate, was the first to proclaim victory, shouting, “Did you see that, bloodsucker! I got three more than you. You must be getting old, or something,” she boasted, jumping on Kyran’s back and kissing his neck.
“And, as your reward, I’ll tie you to our bed and wreak havoc on your body all night,” Kyran promised.
Knowing Kyran’s penchant for deviance, that was way too much information for Zander and he ignored their banter, racing to Elsie’s side while silently appreciating how far his brother had come from the blood-covered male standing over the dead body of a prostitute. Zander would never forget the night Kyran killed the female and how broken he had been until he’d found Mack.
“A ghra, are you okay? What happened?” Zander asked, wrapping his arms around her.
“I don’t know. One minute I was enjoying the music on the radio, and the next, I was dragged from the car. They completely caught me off guard and I swear I locked the door li
ke you told me to,” she promised, looking into his eyes, “but Zander, something’s wrong with the baby. I feel it,” she mumbled seconds before clear liquid splashed to the ground.
“What was that?” Zander asked, eyes wide with shock.
“Pretty sure my water just broke. The baby is coming,” she uttered, shaking her head in disbelief.
Zander picked Elsie up, cradling her in his arms as he quickly made his way to their car. “Bhric, call Jace and tell him there’s an emergency with Elsie and to meet us at Zeum, now!” he yelled, placing her in the vehicle.
“I’m on it. We’re right behind you, brathair. Doona fash, it will be okay,” Bhric reassured, but Zander hardly heard a word.
His mind was consumed with worry for their baby. Obviously the stress of the attack had taken its toll on his mate. It was too early for Isobel to come and these complications could be fatal to Elsie. Speeding down the road, Zander pleaded with the Goddess to watch over them both. He didn’t know what he would do if anything happened to Elsie or their daughter.
CHAPTER TWO
Groaning as a contraction wracked her body, Elsie didn’t know what was more terrifying, the fear that something was wrong with the baby, or Zander’s reckless driving. She squeezed her eyes against the running of another stoplight and decided it was definitely Zander’s driving. One hand clutched her stomach while the other clung to the oh shit handle for dear life. She could hear the other two vehicles following behind them. It was chaos as they swerved around oncoming vehicles blaring their horns. Fortunately, they were nearing Zeum and she prayed they arrived in one piece and that everything was okay with the baby.
Suddenly, another pang consumed her and she doubled over in the seat, unable to stop from crying out in pain.
“Hang in there, a ghra, we’re almost home,” Zander blurted, eyes wide with terror.
She nodded her head, gritting against the pain as she rubbed her stomach, sending love and strength to their baby. Glancing down at her round belly, blue caught her eye, and she realized she was still holding her mating stone, and it suddenly dawned on her…the stone had to be what had created the bubble of protection around her at the convenience store.
Ever since becoming pregnant, it was habit to carry the stone with her at all times. The Goddess had told her their mating stone would protect her womb, and Elsie had learned enough since joining the Tehrex Realm not to take those kinds of messages lightly. Over the past several months, she’d found herself constantly holding and rubbing it whenever she was away from Zeum. Its power comforted her so when the demons snatched her from the vehicle, she immediately retrieved it from her pocket.
Surrounded by the creatures, she began praying to the Goddess for the baby’s safety and that was when the force field appeared. The significance of the power behind the stone in her hand sunk in. The Goddess’s reach was limitless and she was able to act through their mating stone to save her and the baby.
“Elsie, answer me! Are you okay?” Zander shouted, startling her.
“Huh, oh yes, I’m sorry. Yeah, I’m better. The contraction passed,” she replied, looking at Zander. She could see the worry on his face and reached over and smoothed away the creased lines between his eyebrows. He was going to be a remarkable father and she couldn’t wait to see their daughter snuggled in his strong arms.
This big, strong vampire would die fighting to protect his family. Hell, Elsie would do the same. A sharp pain lanced through her abdomen, stealing her concentration. This one was different which caused worry to worm its way into her mind. She had heard the stories about mothers and children dying during childbirth. She didn’t want to die, not when she’d just started a new life.
More importantly, their child had to be okay, there was no other option. Her premonitions may have taken a vacation during her pregnancy, but she knew in her soul that Isobel was vital to the realm.
The vehicle skidded off the street as they pulled into the long driveway that led to Zeum. Elsie breathed a sigh of relief when the iron gates opened as they reached them. There was no doubt in her mind that Zander would plow right over the gate in his rush of getting her to Jace.
Speeding to the house, Zander hit the brakes and slammed the car into park. Before Elsie could reach the door handle, Zander was at her side, lifting her out of the car and racing towards the house.
Looking over his shoulder as he carried her, she watched as the other two vehicles pulled in behind theirs with Jace’s car on their tails. The Dark Warriors jumped out and followed them to the house. Nate was standing at the open door with Cailyn by his side.
“Jace, where should I take her?” Zander roared, not pausing his hurried movements.
Zander was as upset and worried as she’d ever seen him. Elsie hadn’t been conscious when he’d found her on death’s door all those months ago in the cave where Lena had tortured and nearly killed her, but she’d been told that he was inconsolable. Placing her hand on his chest, she tried to calm him.
“To the medical room downstairs. Everything is set up and ready to go,” Jace responded, quickly embracing Cailyn before adding, “I’m right behind you, Liege.”
Zander pounded down the stairs and the movement brought another round of pain. Elsie thought she might pass out as she became light-headed and dizzy all at once. Zander used his foot to kick open the door and rushed her to the waiting bed. The pain receded when he laid her down and she found that she could think more clearly.
Glancing around the room, Elsie barely recognized the space that treated injuries the warriors suffered. Jace wasn’t kidding when he said everything was set up for her. Typically, there were several twin beds lined against each wall to accommodate numerous warriors at one time, but now it was cleared of all beds except one, complete with stirrups at the foot of it. A small incubator sat to the side along with several tables lined with various implements. Huge lights came out of the ceiling and shone on more machines than she’d ever seen in her life.
Jace entered the room followed by her sister who shut the door behind them. “Get Elsie changed into a gown while I wash up,” Jace ordered.
“Zander, I’ll do this, go make yourself a drink. You look like you could use one,” Cailyn suggested.
Her sister squeezed her hand and tears welled in Elsie’s eyes. She hoped Cailyn and Jace got pregnant soon. Her sister was a natural mother and had assumed that role after their parents had been killed in a car crash when they were teenagers. In fact, as far back as Elsie could remember, Cailyn had always been more like a second mother rather than a sister and Elsie was grateful she was by her side now.
“Aye, you’re probably right.” He leaned down and kissed Elsie on the lips before walking to the small bar in the room.
Elsie watched as Zander poured golden liquid to the rim of a glass, downing it in one long swig. It was odd that a medical room would be equipped with a bar, Elsie thought. Given the chaos that reigned in the room, it made sense. And, upon further reflection, more times than not, the warriors opted for a shot of alcohol over pain medication.
Whoever had the idea was a genius given how frazzled Zander was at the moment. In fact, she nearly asked if there were two bottles on hand. It was possible they were in for a very long and strenuous night.
Cailyn grabbed a gown while Elsie quickly undressed. Acting before another contraction hit, she was out of her clothes, relieved that there was minimal discomfort.
“Here, let’s get you more comfortable. Jace is going to take care of you, and Isobel,” her sister said in a soothing tone as she helped her into the cotton fabric.
“Thank you. I’m so glad you’re here for this. She has to be alright, Cailyn,” Elsie whispered as a tear formed in the corner of her eye. She wanted to be strong and brave, but she knew her sister would see through to her worry so she didn’t even try to hide what she was thinking. Plus, Cailyn had the ability to read thoughts and wouldn’t hesitate to get to the root of the issue.
“Listen to me. You are fin
e and the baby is going to be fine, as well. Tell her, Jace,” Cailyn declared.
“Let’s get you hooked up to the monitors and see what’s going on,” Jace offered. Elsie didn’t miss the fact that he didn’t make any promises, and that had her heartbeat racing.
Jace was quick and efficient as he inserted an IV and began fluids to keep her hydrated. After checking her pulse and blood pressure, Jace put on a pair of latex gloves. “Elsie, lay back with your feet in the stirrups. I need to do a cervical exam,” Jace instructed, making eye contact with Zander when he bristled at the statement.
They’d had several conversations with Zander about Jace’s need to do pelvic exams during the delivery. Mates were very possessive and males in particular didn’t take lightly to another male seeing their mate’s nude body. In fact, Jace had forgone doing any kind of cervical exam during the pregnancy to avoid confrontations with Zander. He assured Elsie that between the ultrasounds and Cailyn talking to the baby he was certain her daughter was developing perfectly.
